Solihull is a city with a rich history, starting from farming and manufacturing and reaching the level where it’s considered one of the most thriving cities in the UK. Travelling to Solihull offers unique experiences, including amazing local restaurants and entertainment shops. At the same time, walking around the city to explore historic architecture will take your holiday to the next level.
If you want to visit Solihull this summer, the hottest temperatures reach 21°C, so it would be best to prepare for a chillier vacation and have your raincoat ready for when precipitation hits the city. Regardless, the weather is pleasant for a walk around the city and even a hike since the countryside has plenty of paths to explore the town’s beauties.
Places to visit
The rich history of Solihull is still on its feet through castles and old buildings. The town’s ancient feeling is packed with knowledge from the past, so you must visit the following:
- Saint John Baptist Church is a mediaeval building extended through a crypt you can enter. The octagonal antechapel and chambers beautifully framed will impress you, so you should go check out the history behind the architecture;
- Knowle Parish Church is more prominent, and it takes about two hours to visit properly. The church has some of the most beautiful stained-glass windows and is linked with the history of the Grave Tomb and the King of Gypsies;
- Parish Church of Saint Mary Magdalene Tanworth-in-Arden is a small yet colourful church that has recently been restored. One of its centre points includes the graveyards where famous people are now resting.
Besides churches, there are many parks where you can walk, such as the Dorridge, the Tudor Grange and Akamba Garden Centre. While there, you can also visit Millisons Wood Local Nature Reserve and Hobs Moat Ancient Monument. These places are close to each other, so if you want to leave your car somewhere safe and continue your journey on foot, you can check out Parkos for the best parking lot deals around the area.
Places to hike
Whether you’re a local or are simply looking for great hiking locations, choosing Solihull is the best choice. The picturesque sights with pretty villages and churches complete the greenery around the area, but nature is the most astonishing.
Some of the easiest hikes include the following:
- From Earlswood through Clowes Wood. The trip takes about two hours and covers almost five miles;
- From Berkswell to Saint John Baptist Church. The journey is less than two hours and has accessible paths.
However, if you want to spice things up, here are more challenging hikes:
- From Meriden to Berkswell. The trip requires you to be in good shape, as it can extend up to four hours;
- From Dorridge to Baddesley Clinton. For an almost five-hour hike, the starting point is accessible via public transport so that you can leave your car at home.
If you’re travelling to Solihull, the closest airport is Birmingham International Airport, but if you’re on a cruise around the UK, you can also choose Stansted Airport for your holiday. You can also rent a car left at the parking Stansted spot for more security.
Places to eat
Although Solihull can’t compare to bigger cities in terms of population, it surely has some interesting places to eat. And don’t worry, if you’re looking for diversity, most restaurants offer delicious alternatives for those with allergies or different food preferences.
Starting with Asian food, you can have your meals at KIBOU Japanese Kitchen & Bar, where you can have the most exquisite experience with Japanese foods. Although the place can be considered as expensive, it provides qualitative and special meals. On the other hand, if you want to taste some Indian, Thai and Bangladeshi foods, Lavang is the place for you. Most customers praise the curry, a tricky dish to master, so make sure you get some.
But if you want to taste a delicious steak, you should go to the Miller & Carter Steakhouse, or if you want to eat a healthy Portuguese meal, Porto Douro is the best location. But you can also taste the local British foods at the Barn at Berryfields or the Boat.
Places to engage in interesting activities
There’s more to Solihull than food and churches, so if you want to experience the town for its cultural and entertaining events, here are our recommendations:
- Go to the Core Theatre in the town centre at any of the theatrical presentations and music events. Although the venue is relatively small, it’s a cosy place to spend time and have fun. In July, some of the most interesting events include a Photography Course, a show of the Solihull Symphony Orchestra and plenty of recent movies;
- Visit the Heronfield Small Breeds Farm and Animal Rescue Centre. This is the place where you can engage in taking care of rescue animals and have a good time playing around with them. At the end of the visit, you can also help the farm with donations for the gulls, squirrels and foxes that live there;
- Check out Planet Ice Solihull if you’re up for some exercise. The ice-skating facility has many show & skate sessions that you can participate in, but skate lessons are also available if you’re around the area for longer. You can even host a birthday party on ice or an event as the location offers all things necessary to accommodate your stay;
- Visit the Berkswell Museum, where you can catch a glimpse of the past of the village. The picturesque stop has an Ancient Church nearby and even a tiny tea shop you can stop at to take a break. However, you need to check out when the museum is open since, due to the lack of visitors, it isn’t accessible every day.
What do you think about Solihull?
Solihull is one of the UK’s most emerging towns and the best one for exploring history and nature. We highly recommend visiting this small yet ancient city if you’re around Birmingham.
