Solihull hotels

Hotels in Solihull

Named the best place to live in the UK in 2013, Solihull is a leafy, attractive and vibrant town surrounded by pretty countryside.

Book one of our Solihull hotels and explore a town whose motto, urbs in rure – town in the country – tells you everything you need to know about its lively yet relaxed appeal.

Shopping

The town centre is excellent for shopping, with hundreds of designer boutiques and high street stores. The Mell Square shopping centre has more than 90 stores, and the Touchwood shopping centre has about the same number, as well as bars, restaurants, cafés and a cinema.

Solihull's vast retail offering includes well over 100 independent businesses. Fashionistas will be pleased to discover the independent Bridge boutique and a branch of the tiny Aspire Style chain, which sells vintage-inspired clothing. The family run BB Boutique stocks organic children's clothes made by local designers.

Attractions

The National Motorcycle Museum is one of the largest motorcycle museums in the world, with more than 650 bikes on display, dating from 1898 to 2006.

The Blue Ice Solihull Rink is open in the daytime at weekends and during school holidays, and every evening except Sunday and Monday. There are several discos each week, and a Friday session for parents with young children.

The Tudor Grange Leisure Centre has a gym, three pools, including a learner pool, tennis courts, a dance studio, a sports hall, an all-weather pitch and an athletics track.

Parks and countryside

The Malvern and Brueton Park has a nature reserve and woodland where you'll find oaks, giant redwoods, gingko biloba and Indian bean trees. There's also a play area, ornamental gardens, a lake and tennis courts.

At Tudor Grange Park, next to the leisure centre, you'll find an 18-hole pitch and putt course, a skate park and a cycle track created by Olympic silver medallist Harry Reynolds.

Arts

Solihull Arts Complex hosts both professional and amateur productions, including comedy, variety shows, concerts, children's shows, musicals, plays, dance performances and talks. It also runs workshops for adults and children, and more unusual events including yoga classes and tea dances.

The 13th-century St Alphege Church is noted for its choral tradition and has four choirs. Evensong is held on Sundays, and the church hosts frequent performances by professional artists from across the country.

Eating and drinking

Head to Giovanni's in Dickens Heath for authentic Italian food, or the Spice Club or Panchuli for a curry. The latter has some unusual options on the menu, including garam masala quails, salmon masor bhuna and a curry made from boiled egg, potatoes, chilli and turmeric. All three are TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winners.

At Café Viola, an independent coffee shop in nearby Knowle, you can enjoy organic coffee, dozens of herbal teas, cakes, pastries and light lunches in pretty, stylish surroundings. Try the Turkish-Greek breakfast – or, if you want to sample a new dessert, the spinach cake.