A complete guide to Solihull, West Midlands — what to see, where to eat, and door-to-door private chauffeur transfers from London from £484.
Solihull occupies a particular and quietly confident position in the West Midlands: consistently rated among England's most desirable places to live, it combines the amenities of a prosperous metropolitan borough with a town centre that retains genuine historic character around its medieval parish church and the handsome streets of the old market town.
The presence of the National Exhibition Centre and Birmingham Airport on its eastern edge gives Solihull an international dimension, while the villages and countryside of the North Warwickshire border — the ancient Forest of Arden, celebrated by Shakespeare — lie within easy distance. It is a place that manages, rather successfully, to be several things at once.
Solihull's medieval origins are evident in the Church of St Alphege, a substantial parish church with a thirteenth-century chancel and tower that has presided over the town since the borough received its market charter in the medieval period. The town's prosperity through the twentieth century was linked to the growth of manufacturing in the West Midlands and latterly to financial and professional services, and the resulting built environment is predominantly prosperous suburban in character, with older buildings preserved at the historic core. The wider borough includes the village of Knowle, with its fine medieval church, and touches the historic Arden landscape celebrated in Shakespeare's works.
Solihull's dining scene reflects its prosperous demographic, with a strong representation of quality restaurants, brasseries, and coffee shops in the town centre and the surrounding suburbs. The borough's villages offer traditional Midlands pubs in characterful settings, and the proximity of Birmingham means that the full range of the city's celebrated restaurant culture is within easy reach.
The Solihull borough encompasses a surprising amount of green space: Malvern Park provides accessible parkland close to the town centre, while the North Warwickshire countryside to the east and south offers more expansive walking through the bocage landscape of the old Forest of Arden. The Grand Union Canal passes through the borough, providing flat towpath walking towards both Birmingham and the wider Midlands waterway network.
Solihull's arts offer is anchored by the Core Theatre, which presents a programme of drama, music, and comedy, and the town's prosperous character supports a lively calendar of civic and community events. The NEC on the eastern edge of the borough hosts major music concerts and events at the Resorts World Arena, bringing internationally significant performers to the area.
Solihull town centre is compact and walkable, with St Alphege Church and the principal shopping streets all within easy reach of one another. For those combining a Solihull visit with Birmingham, the two centres are close enough to treat as a single day — the chauffeur flexibility makes this particularly straightforward. Knowle village, a short drive south, is worth the detour for its medieval church and village atmosphere.
Door-to-door, per vehicle, locked at booking — from Central London and every major London airport.
| From | Distance | E-Class | V-Class | S-Class · BMW 7 | Sprinter (16) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central London | 110 mi | £484 | £605 | £726 | £968 | |
| Heathrow Airport | 100 mi | £425 | £531 | £638 | £850 | |
| Gatwick Airport | 125 mi | £568 | £710 | £852 | £1136 | |
| Stansted Airport | 115 mi | £516 | £645 | £774 | £1032 | |
| Luton Airport | 75 mi | £305 | £381 | £458 | £610 | |
| London City Airport | 120 mi | £548 | £685 | £822 | £1096 |
Fixed price, professional chauffeur, luxury fleet — your driver can wait while you explore, then carry you home.
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