Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>Peace and quiet with a splash of style. Despite its polished image, Solihull feels anything but pretentious. With its blend of leafy suburbs, top-rated schools, and a strong sense of community, it offers the best of both town and country living, attracting everyone from families to young professionals (hello, nippy London transport links). There’s a vibrant town centre, indie boutiques, and a brilliant foodie scene, and that’s before we get onto farmers’ markets, village festivals, and cracking theatre. No matter what you seek, Solihull makes a strong case for calling it home.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/3-Grace-and-Savour-walled-garden-Hampton-Manor.jpg" alt="Michelin-starred Grace &amp; Savour, Hampton Manor" class="wp-image-64326" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/3-Grace-and-Savour-walled-garden-Hampton-Manor.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/3-Grace-and-Savour-walled-garden-Hampton-Manor-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/3-Grace-and-Savour-walled-garden-Hampton-Manor-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/3-Grace-and-Savour-walled-garden-Hampton-Manor-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Grace &amp; Savour overlooks the stunning Victorian Walled Garden at Hampton Manor</figcaption></figure>



<p>What do you fancy? From elegant fine dining and stylish casual eateries to Instagrammable coffee spots, there’s something for everyone. For Michelin star scoffing, <a href="https://hamptonmanor.com/grace-savour/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grace &amp; Savour</a> is utterly divine and the service is impeccable. <a href="https://www.lavangsolihull.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lavang</a> is very highly regarded for its excellent South East Asian plates and sleek setting. <a href="https://www.cheals.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cheal&#8217;s of Knowle</a> is another Michelin Guide hottie with respectable foodie cred. <a href="https://www.platformthreeolton.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Platform Three</a> is a buzzy wine bar and restaurant in Olton that&#8217;s worth your time, as is <a href="https://www.foxhamptonlane.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fox</a> in Catherine-De-Barnes. </p>



<p>For brunch, <a href="https://www.thebarnatberryfields.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Barn</a> at Berryfields is Muddy Award-winning and fab. <a href="https://atthewoods.co.uk/the-caf%C3%A9-solihull" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Café at The Woods </a>and trendy <a href="https://www.brondi.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brondi </a>are a good shout. In terms of pubs, we love countryside hottie <a href="https://www.themaltshovelatbarston.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Malt Shovel</a> at Barston and <a href="https://www.theboat-catherinedebarnes.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Boat Inn</a> in Catherine-de-Barnes. Closer to town, <a href="https://www.beechhousesolihull.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Beech House</a> blends the feel of a stylish gastropub with a buzzing, sociable atmosphere. Then there’s <a href="https://www.innatthefarm.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Farm Inn</a> Monkspath. Open fires, craft beers, and Sunday roasts. Perfection.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/Solihull-jonny-gios-rye95DtUJbU-unsplash-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="Solihull by Jonny gios, Unsplash" class="wp-image-64334" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/Solihull-jonny-gios-rye95DtUJbU-unsplash-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/Solihull-jonny-gios-rye95DtUJbU-unsplash-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/Solihull-jonny-gios-rye95DtUJbU-unsplash-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/09/Solihull-jonny-gios-rye95DtUJbU-unsplash-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Solihull. Photo by Jonny Gios, Unsplash</figcaption></figure>



<p>Butchers, delis, chocolatiers – there’s plenty of ways to shop local in addition to your regular supermarket big wigs. Check out Balsall Common Country Market and Shirley’s Stratford Road for lots of quirky shops. For the fun kind of shopping, Solihull nails the blend of luxury, high street, and indies. At the heart of it all is <a href="https://www.touchwoodsolihull.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Touchwood</a>, an elegant retail destination chock full of brands (John Lewis, Jo Malone, Mango, Sephora). Just a short stroll away, Mell Square offers a mix of well-known names and local boutiques. Fab indies in Knowle include wine shop and tasting bar <a href="https://www.lokiwine.co.uk/knowle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Loki</a> – sister to the two in Birmingham – and <a href="https://cristal-boutique.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cristal Boutique</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>In terms of spas, Solihull should keep you firmly in zen territory. <a href="https://www.achillspa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Achill Guest House &amp; Spa</a> or <a href="https://libertyleisure.com/solihull-leisure-centre-and-gym/spa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Liberty Spa</a> are good picks. There’s also <a href="https://www.thebelfry.com/the-spa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Belfry Spa</a> with extensive luxe facilities. It goes without saying there are tons of beauty salons. Some of the best include <a href="https://www.thebeautiquestudio.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Beautique Studio</a>, <a href="https://www.glowbeautytreatments.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glow Beauty Treatments</a> and <a href="https://pureretreatsolihull.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pure Retreat</a> in Dickens Heath. <a href="https://serene-serenity.fixlinic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Serene Serenity</a> offers therapies including acupuncture, massage and nutritional advice for women. And for the more outdoorsy types, there are lots of scenic parks and walking trails right on the doorstep.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>The community here feels tight knit without being insular. It’s vibrant, welcoming and the kind of place you get to know your neighbours. Plenty of community events, groups, sports clubs, and volunteering opportunities to get involved with, including village fêtes. The town centre hosts a series of family-friendly events, including the Solihull Music &amp; Food Festival, Spooktacular and the newly introduced Solihull Pride, featuring a parade, live music, and celebrity guests.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://solihullsummerfest.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solihull Summer Fest</a> takes place every July and there’s also the <a href="https://www.knowlepartyinthepark.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Knowle Party in the Park</a> with live music, craft stalls, workshops, and activities for all ages.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1010" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/hampton.jpg" alt="hampton manor solihull" class="wp-image-62930" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/hampton.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/hampton-792x800.jpg 792w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/hampton-990x1000.jpg 990w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/hampton-768x776.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hampton Manor</figcaption></figure>



<p>Fun days out are two a penny. Just a few minutes from Solihull, <a href="https://hamptonmanor.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hampton Manor</a> is a stunning country house hotel with beautiful gardens, award-winning dining and seasonal events, the recipient of two Michelin keys. For more prancing about like Lady Bridgerton, National Trust property <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/warwickshire/packwood-house" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Packwood House</a> is a historic Tudor mansion with breathtaking grounds. Check out <a href="https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/brueton-park-wood/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=923099488&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAD4sptyT8nk9zy2IpOp08uiNh8y52&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwy7HEBhBJEiwA5hQNogZxwGDmZjzqLfUMA97at_UBnlxqyUpD3zNeMCoJuhgFNXQX9wn1FhoC47cQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brueton Park &amp; Gardens</a> with its lakes, woodlands, and play area too. The perfect picnic spot. Petrol heads will love the National Motorcycle Museum, and the charming Dickens Heath village is always worth a mooch. That’s not forgetting that Shakespeare’s birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon is about 10-miles down the road.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p>For your theatre fix, it&#8217;s curtains up at the revamped main theatre at <a href="https://www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Core</a> for cracking comedy, live, music, dance and youth theatre programmes and workshops following a grand reopening in May 2025. It had been closed since Aug 2023 for improvement works. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.rosestheatre.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Roses Theatre</a> in Tewkesbury is about a 30-minute drive, and <a href="https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Birmingham Hippodrome</a>, just 20 minutes by car, is your best bet for touring West End musicals, ballet and opera. Just up the road is the major cultural hotspot of Stratford-upon-Avon with <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Royal Shakespeare Theatre</a> and The Swan Theatre, which regularly stage world-class productions of Shakespeare’s plays and other works. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>It’s one of the pricier areas in the West Midlands. The average house price in Solihull flirts around £326,000 – a 4.1% increase from the previous year. Detached homes will cost you around £570,000, semis £336,000, terraces £255,000 and flats £188,000.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/10/Solihull-hot-prop-1000x667.jpg" alt="Hot property worth £2 million in Solihull" class="wp-image-65240" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/10/Solihull-hot-prop-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/10/Solihull-hot-prop-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/10/Solihull-hot-prop-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/10/Solihull-hot-prop.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Location, Location Location</em>&#8230;meets <em>Grand Designs</em>. A stunning RIBA award-winning home by Khoury Architects with open plan living, cinema and sunken courtyards. <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/162410654#/?channel=RES_BUY">On the market</a> for a swanky £2 million.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>Child-care needs? No problemo. For the outstanding kind, try <a href="https://www.firststepsnurserysolihull.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">First Steps Nursery</a>, <a href="https://www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk/nursery/solihull" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Busy Bees Day Nursery</a> at Solihull Blythe and <a href="https://www.kpc.org.uk/Groups/451594/Stepping_Stones_Pre.aspx">Stepping Stones Pre-School, Knowle Parish Church</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>Lots and lots of brilliant schools for all ages. Starting with primary, <a href="https://www.sharmans-cross.solihull.sch.uk/">Sharmans Cross Junior School</a> is very highly regarded, as is <a href="https://www.olton.solihull.sch.uk/">Olton Primary School</a> and <a href="https://www.stalphege.solihull.sch.uk/">St Alphenge CE Infant School</a>. For secondary, <a href="https://www.st-peters.solihull.sch.uk/">St Peter’s Catholic School</a> is one of the highest-performing secondary schools in Solihull and <a href="https://www.woodrushhigh.worcs.sch.uk/">Woodrush High School</a> in Wythall has a good reputation too. If you’re looking at the independent route, try the outstanding <a href="https://langleyschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Langley School</a> or prestigious <a href="https://www.solsch.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solihull School</a>, with its rich history and day and boarding options.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>In 1936, two farms in Solihull were requisitioned to build “shadow factories” — these were hidden or dispersed manufacturing sites designed to avoid concentrated bombing during WWII. After the war, one of these evolved into part of the Land Rover plant.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Solihull station offers regular direct trains to London Marylebone, with journey times averaging around 1 hr 25 mins. If you’re looking to drive into central London, it will take you around 2 hrs to 2.5 hours using the M40.</p>



<p><em>View the full <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 260 Best Places to Live</a>.</em></p>


Solihull

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