Shopping
The town center is excellent for shopping, with hundreds of designer boutiques and high street stores. The Mell Square shopping center has more than 90 stores, and the Touchwood shopping center 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. Fashion enthusiasts will be pleased to discover the independent Bridge boutique and a branch of the small 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 during the daytime on weekends and during school holidays, and every evening except Sunday and Monday. There are several disco sessions each week, and a Friday session for parents with young children.
The Tudor Grange Leisure Center 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 offers 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 center, you'll find an 18-hole pitch and putt course, a skate park, and a cycle track created by Olympic silver medalist 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 offers workshops for adults and children, and more unusual events such as 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 try the Spice Club or Panchuli for a curry. The latter has some unique options on the menu, including garam masala quails, salmon masor bhuna, and a curry made from boiled egg, potatoes, chili, 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.