Getting around Solihull
Solihull is a market town in the West Midlands, sitting a short distance southeast of Birmingham and west of Coventry. For a visitor, the good news is that the town centre itself is compact and easy to explore on foot, while the wider borough and the nearby airport, rail station and exhibition centre are linked by a solid network of trains, buses and taxis.
On foot in the town centre
Solihull town centre is small enough to walk around on foot, and much of the central area is pedestrianised. That makes it straightforward to wander between the shops, the High Street and the parish church without needing any transport at all. For attractions further afield, though, you will want to use the buses and trains described below.
Rail
Solihull railway station is just a couple of minutes' walk from the town centre, which makes rail a convenient option for arriving or for day trips. Services from Birmingham Moor Street run every few minutes, so you rarely have to plan around a timetable. Chiltern Railways also operates services to Solihull from London Marylebone roughly every half hour, with adult single fares starting from around £14.90.
A second key station is Birmingham International, a few miles north of Solihull near the airport and the National Exhibition Centre (NEC). Trains arrive there from Coventry, Birmingham New Street and London Euston. This is the station to aim for if you are combining a visit to Solihull with the airport or the NEC.
Airport and the Air-Rail Link
Birmingham Airport (BHX) sits a few miles north of Solihull town centre and about eight miles east of central Birmingham. It is a major airport serving the West Midlands, with frequent domestic and international flights, including several direct arrivals a day from major UK and European destinations and a smaller number of long-haul routes.
The most useful connection for visitors is the free Air-Rail Link, a people mover that connects the airport passenger terminal with Birmingham International rail station. It runs between roughly 5:15AM and 2AM, departs every two minutes, and the journey takes less than two minutes. From Birmingham International you can continue onward by train. The NEC is adjacent to the airport and can also be reached via the Air-Rail Link through Birmingham International station.
If you would rather go straight to Solihull by road, a taxi from the airport into Solihull town centre costs about £15. National Express coaches also serve the airport every half hour during the early hours of the morning, which is handy for early flights when the trains have not yet started running. Coach fares vary depending on whether you book in advance, though tickets can be bought on the coach subject to seats being available.
Buses
Solihull is well served by Travel West Midlands (NXWM) buses. Services from Birmingham city centre to Solihull town centre include the 4, 6, 37, 57 and 57A. For the airport, NEC and Birmingham International rail station, the 966 and 966A services connect with Solihull town centre.
On fares and tickets, a few practical points are worth knowing:
- Adult single fares cost around £1.90 on all TWM services.
- A Daysaver day ticket for all NXWM buses is available for £4, or £4.60 before 9AM, and can also be purchased for €5 on any airport service. Exact change is required.
- If you are travelling as a group, a Group Daysaver for £8 covers up to five people for unlimited journeys in a day.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Solihull has plenty of taxi ranks around town, with the best-served being Solihull town centre. Both hackney carriages (black cabs) and private hire vehicles (minicabs) are easy to find. As always, exercise normal caution: do not get into an unmarked car or one you have not booked.
Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest times, when clubbers head home en masse, and waits of over an hour are possible. Popular local providers include A2B, Able Radio Cars, Senator Cars and Royal-Ambassador Cars. Solihull is also covered by the Uber app, which is often a cheaper alternative to a traditional taxi service.
By car
If you are driving, the M42 motorway is the main artery for the area. For Solihull town centre, leave the M42 at junction 5. For the NEC and airport, leave at junction 6.
Practical summary
For most visitors, the simplest approach is to walk the pedestrianised town centre, use the frequent trains from Solihull station for trips toward Birmingham and beyond, and rely on the 966/966A buses or the Air-Rail Link when heading to the airport, NEC or Birmingham International. Taxis and Uber fill in the gaps, particularly late at night, and a Daysaver or Group Daysaver makes bus travel good value if you plan to make several journeys in a day.