Solihull factfile

How to get to Solihull
Solihull is part of the West Midlands conurbation, situated 9 miles (14.5 km) to the south east of Birmingham city centre. Solihull is easily reached from the M6 motorway and has regular rail links to the rest of the country and continental Europe from Birmingham International railway station.

How Solihull got its name
The origin of the town's name is thought to lie in the "soily" hill on which the parish church was built.

Solihull through the ages
Although the industrial revolution changed the area surrounding the Midlands town forever, Solihull itself remained relatively untouched. Solihull remained a small market town until the early 20th century.

It was only in the 1960s that its population began to soar, triggered by Birmingham slum clearance programmes and the opening of nearby Land Rover and Rover car plants.

The area continues to attract many new residents from across the UK on account of the release of large tracts of land for new residential developments.

Shopping in Solihull
The Touchwood centre contains over 80 shops in three Arcades, as well as a relaxing dining terrace, which features a number of different eateries to suit all budgets.

Arts and culture in Solihull
Solihull is home to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), one of Europe's largest exhibition centres. The NEC has hosted a number of high-profile events in the past, including the 1998 G8 World Summit. The neighbouring NEC Arena, part of the complex, is one of the country's most popular music and event venues.

The Gallery at Solihull Arts Complex hosts a series of exhibitions throughout the year, including exhibits of professional contemporary work by both local and national artists, as well as commissioning work from new artists on a regular basis. The Solihull Society of Arts also offers a varied programme of events, covering art, drama, literature, local history and recorded music.

Natural beauty spots around Solihull
Despite its urban nature, Solihull boasts no fewer than 11 local nature reserves within easy reach of the town, encompassing semi-natural ancient woodland and lake and grassland habitats.

Also worth a visit is nearby Earlswood Lakes, which combines beautiful mapped lakeside and woodland walks with a craft centre where local artists and craftspeople sell their work directly to the public—anything from rugs and ceramics to cakes and upholstery.

Solihull's claim to fame
Solihull is home to the National Motorcycle Museum, thought to be the largest motorcycle museum in the world.