Solihull: A Historic Town on Birmingham’s Edge
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands, southeast of Birmingham. It combines an older center around St Alphege Church with shopping streets, leafy parks and residential neighborhoods. It is also the center of a wider borough that includes Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre and major employers such as Jaguar Land Rover. Solihull is not a conventional sightseeing destination, but it is useful to understand if you are visiting an event, staying near the airport or looking for a quieter base with access to Birmingham.
The old center and modern shopping streets
Parks and the wider Solihull borough
A practical base for Birmingham and the NEC
What is there in Solihull?
A quick overview of the most notable things you can find in Solihull.
Historic town center
The area around St Alphege Church retains older buildings alongside Solihull’s modern shops.
Connected central parks
Brueton Park and Malvern Park provide walking paths and open green space close to the High Street.
Touchwood shopping center
This central complex is a major focus for shopping, dining and cinema trips.
NEC exhibition complex
The National Exhibition Centre hosts large shows and events in the wider Solihull borough.
Jaguar Land Rover plant
The vehicle plant is one of the area’s defining industrial employers.
Grand Union Canal
Canal paths around Knowle and elsewhere in the borough offer quieter walks away from the town center.
What to see in Solihull?
Notable places and attractions connected to Solihull.
St Alphege Church
This medieval parish church is Solihull’s most prominent historic landmark, standing near the High Street.
Brueton Park and Malvern Park
These adjoining central parks make an easy walk from the shops, with open lawns, paths and wooded areas.
Touchwood
The town center’s main shopping complex is useful for stores, meals and a cinema.
Tudor Grange Park
A large public park near central Solihull, suited to a walk or a break from the shopping streets.
National Motorcycle Museum
Near the NEC, this museum holds a substantial collection of British motorcycles.
National Exhibition Centre
The NEC is worth a trip when a show, concert or exhibition you want to see is on its calendar.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Easy access to Birmingham without staying in the city center.
- ✓Central parks are within walking distance of the main shopping streets.
- ✓Convenient for NEC events and Birmingham Airport.
- ✓A compact town center with shops, restaurants and a historic landmark.
- ✓Rail stations serve both central Solihull and the airport–NEC area.
Cons
- −The NEC and airport are not in the town center, so trips between them take planning.
- −Traffic can be heavy on main roads, particularly around major events.
- −Much of the area is suburban rather than a concentrated sightseeing district.
- −Public transport is less straightforward for some outlying neighborhoods.
- −Evening entertainment is more limited than in central Birmingham.
Location
Solihull is located in West Midlands.
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