UK- Solihull

I ended up in Solihull for work in the middle of January last year and was pleasantly surprised by the charm and beauty of the area, even in the dead of winter. My flight was the first one in after a serious winter storm so the area was covered in a lovely blanket of snow. Solihull is home to the Land Rover factory and rather industrial, but is a great launchpad for many stunning day trips, including the Cotswalds, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Warwick Castle. Not to mention many hidden estates and gardens dotted all along the countryside. A true hidden gem that I will return to in the spring or summer!

Stunning Winter Views of Solihull Countryside

The Essentials:
1) Direct flights into Birmingham airport, quiet and easy, such a great experience.
2) The Ramada Hotel "the George" is a rustic option in the centre of town, a bit dated but best option. Staff is nice, the bar area is very cozy, convenient grocery store close by.

Solihull pedistrian area - Ramada on this street

3) Adjacent to hotel is one of the best Indian restaurants I have experienced - Panchuli - sit upstairs by the windows on a cold night, perfection. Not too many other options but there is always the Wagamama in the Touchwood Shopping area.

View from Panchuli on a cold night

4) It was winter so I didn't head into the Cotswalds area as much as I wanted to, but Stratford-upon-Avon is perfect for a cold day. The birthplace of Shakespeare has lots of museums, a great downtown, Anne Hathaways cottage is stunning, and if you're lucky, you can catch a show at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Stratford-upon-Avon

5) Waiting for train, had tea at the Stratford Hotel which is close by and better than standing outside on a cold platform. You can stop at Warwick castle on the train ride back to Solihull, you have to transfer trains at this stop anyways.
6) The Land Rover factory and drive experience are quite impressive if you are into performance vehicles - a fun thing to do for an afternoon.

Land Rover Experience @ Solihull

Beautiful Estates around Solihull