Explore Things to do in Solihull
You can find Solihull’s layered urban life rooted in its past. Iron Age settlements like Berry Mound in Shirley once served as hill forts before Solihull became a medieval town with a market charter granted in 1242 and St Alphege Church, now a lasting civic landmark. The church remains central to daily life today, hosting religious services and cultural exhibitions through the Solihull Arts Complex.
Neighbourhoods including Hampton-in-Arden, Malvern and Brueton Park, Shirley West, Bentley Heath, Balsall Common, Olton, Elmdon, and Touchwood each have their own rhythm shaped by recurring events. The annual Crufts International Dog Show at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) draws global attention every spring with over 250 breeds participating, this event has firmly placed Solihull on the map for large-scale national exhibitions.
The Solihull Fireworks Extravaganza, held annually in Mell Square during late autumn, remains West Midlands' largest fireworks display. It attracts about 15,000 people yearly and is seen by locals as a shared moment that strengthens community ties.
Ongoing cultural activity includes the Solihull Jazz Festival, hosted across multiple venues like Tudor Grange Park, and the Free Music Festival which activates over 15 locations in Mell Square, Elmdon, and Shirley. These events maintain accessibility without relying on spectacle.
Families find green space at Elmdon Park, Tudor Grange Park, venue for mid-summer’s Shirley Round Table Festival, and Malvern and Brueton Park Local Nature Reserve. This area protects habitats along the River Blythe and supports urban biodiversity.
Public transport links remain uneven; routes to Birmingham Airport lack coverage. The Air-Rail Link, Sprint Bus Rapid Transit Network, and rail services via Solihull Railway Station support commutes across Greater Birmingham. Cycling access is growing through the Cycle Hire Scheme connected to Meriden, Elmdon Airport, and Shirley stations.
Issues persist: parking shortages around New Road shopping zones; traffic congestion near Touchwood Shopping Centre Car Park; limited visibility of Hobs Moat Castle ruins due to incomplete preservation efforts. Green space loss from projects like Sprint continues as a point in civic debate about urban development trade-offs. Crime hotspots are reported near retail areas on New Road.
All listings reflect actual conditions updated daily, showing footfall changes and temporary closures tied to infrastructure work or site maintenance across Solihull’s varied boroughs.