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Voykit pocket guide · United Kingdom
Solihull
Spend a single day in Solihull, focusing on the town centre and its museums; for the NEC, add a separate trip via Birmingham International station. One night is enough unless you are attending a multi-day event.
Solihull sits just east of Birmingham, offering easy access to the National Exhibition Centre, a few niche museums and good shopping. Its compact centre is walkable, so a day covers the highlights; longer stays suit event-goers.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited daylight)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GBP
- Money
- Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; some places are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget £50–£70 excl. bed · Mid £80–£120 excl. bed · High £130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines, no registration needed.
- Emergency
- Police / Ambulance / Fire 999 · Non‑urgent police 101 · NHS non‑urgent 111
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Three-pin Type G only; European, US and Australian plugs need an adapter. Bathrooms have two-pin shaver sockets only.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.; Pub or bar: Not expected; 'and one for yourself' offers the bartender a drink.; Taxi: Round up or 10%.; Hotel porter: £1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: £5–10 per person for a day tour; free walking tours expect £10–15.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Free refills are common; restaurants will bring tap water if you ask.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 or are card-only. Stations, museums, department stores and pubs (if you buy a drink) are the fallback.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee in a café | £2–£3 |
| Pub pint of lager | £3.50–£5 |
| Bus single fare (Travel West Midlands) | £1.90 |
| National Motorcycle Museum entry | £10 adult |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BHX · Birmingham Airport
- 5 km (3 mi) north of Solihull centre; Air‑Rail Link to Birmingham International station.3 mi (5 km) north of Solihull centre; Air‑Rail Link to Birmingham International station.
Typical fares
- BHX → Solihull taxi
- about £15 (check)
- Solihull railway station → Birmingham New Street
- about £4–£5 one‑way
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town centre is pedestrian‑friendly; buses (routes 4, 6, 37, 57) connect to Birmingham and the airport; Solihull railway station is a 2‑min walk from centre; taxis and Uber are widely available.
See and do
Known for
- National Exhibition Centre (NEC)
- National Motorcycle Museum
- Land Rover Experience factory tour
- Touchwood shopping centre
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Coventry | Train from Solihull to Coventry, about 20 min (check) | About 35 min (check) |
Sleep
- The St John's Hotel
- Central, 180 rooms, good for NEC visitors.
- Ramada Solihull
- Town‑centre, easy walk to shops and bus stops.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sorrysɒri |
| Thank you | Thank youθæŋk juː |
| How much is it? | How much is it?haʊ mʌtʃ ɪz ɪt? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card?kæn aɪ peɪ baɪ kɑːd? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet?wɛər ɪz ðə ˈtɔɪlɪt? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake at first meeting; 'hi' and first names quickly; avoid: Cheek kisses with strangers
- Conversation: Weather is a safe opener; understatement and self-deprecating humour; avoid: Asking about salary or class
- Queues: Join at the back; avoid: Pushing onto buses or trains before others get off
- Apologies: 'Sorry' is said constantly, even when not at fault; avoid: Taking it as an admission of blame
- Pubs: Buy rounds in a group; wait at the bar without waving money; avoid: Clicking fingers at staff
- Nations: Call Scots Scottish and Welsh Welsh; avoid: Calling the whole UK 'England'
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxi ranks can have long waits on Friday/Saturday nights; book or use a reputable app.
- Check NEC event schedule; some exhibitions require pre‑booked tickets.
Solihull is generally safe; stay alert on late‑night taxi ranks and keep belongings secure in crowded venues.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Solihull yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- National Exhibition Centre (NEC)
- National Motorcycle Museum
- Land Rover Experience factory tour
- Touchwood shopping centre
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Solihull official site: visitsolihull.co.uk/
- Wikidata – Solihull: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Solihull, revision 5323870 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5323870
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/solihull). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.