The complete guide to Solihull Town Centre

Solihull Town Centre has a mix of high street shopping, independent businesses, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and historic streets, all within a relatively compact area.

At its heart is Touchwood, while the High Street remains one of the main routes through the centre. The town is also home to The Core, St Alphege Church, a range of restaurants and cafés, and several parks and green spaces within walking distance.

But Solihull Town Centre is also changing.

The redevelopment of Mell Square has now moved into its next stage, with demolition work beginning in October 2026 as part of plans for the new Holbeche Place development.

Here is everything you need to know if you are planning a visit.

What is in Solihull Town Centre?

The main shopping and leisure areas include:

• Touchwood

• Solihull High Street

• Mell Square

• Mill Lane

• Drury Lane

• Poplar Road

• Theatre Square

• Homer Road

• Station Road

These areas are close enough to explore on foot, making it possible to combine shopping with lunch, coffee, entertainment or a visit to one of the town's historic buildings.

Shopping in Solihull Town Centre

Touchwood

Touchwood is the biggest shopping and leisure destination in Solihull Town Centre.

The centre has more than 80 shops and brands, alongside more than 20 restaurants and cafés. Its current line-up includes major names such as Zara, Apple, Next, JD, Superdry, Schuh, River Island, Boots, Superdrug and Wagamama, alongside independent and specialist businesses.

There is also a Cineworld cinema and Spinners entertainment venue, meaning Touchwood can form part of a full day out rather than simply a shopping trip.

Touchwood celebrated its 25th anniversary in September 2026, having first opened in 2001.

Solihull High Street

The High Street provides a different experience to the larger Touchwood complex, with a mixture of shops, restaurants, cafés, professional businesses and historic buildings.

It runs through the traditional heart of Solihull and towards St Alphege Church.

For visitors who want to explore beyond the shopping centre, the High Street is one of the best places to start.

Mell Square

Mell Square is currently undergoing a major transformation.

The Mell Square car park and public toilets closed permanently on 31 March 2026, while demolition work began in October as the first phase of the new Holbeche Place development got under way.

The finished development is planned to include up to 1,600 homes, alongside shops, cafés, restaurants and new public spaces.

That means Mell Square is currently very much an area in transition, rather than the finished destination it will eventually become.

Where to eat in Solihull Town Centre

There is a large choice of restaurants, cafés and bars around Solihull Town Centre.

Touchwood has a particularly wide dining offer, including restaurants and casual food outlets such as Wagamama, Nando's, Five Guys, The Real Greek, Pizza Express, Yakinori, Jamaya and Beleza Rodizio.

The High Street and surrounding streets also have plenty of options, including Italian, Indian, Japanese and modern British restaurants, alongside cafés and pubs.

For coffee, there are options throughout the centre, from chains inside Touchwood to independent cafés around the High Street and Mill Lane.

If you are looking for somewhere to eat before or after an event, Theatre Square and the area around Touchwood are particularly convenient.

Things to do in Solihull Town Centre

Watch a film

Touchwood's Cineworld gives Solihull a nine-screen cinema in the centre of town.

It is an easy option for a rainy-day activity, a family trip or a night out combined with dinner.

Visit The Core

The Core is Solihull's main arts and cultural complex and includes the theatre, library, café, gallery and studio spaces.

There is an important update for visitors in October 2026, however.

The main Core Theatre auditorium remains closed while remedial work is carried out following investigations into the auditorium and stage roof.

The rest of The Core remains open, including The Core Library, Encore Café Bar, Courtyard Gallery, Studio, Core Creatives and Solihull Connect.

The venue continues to run events and activities, with October's programme including Dear Evan Hansen, Cult Figure and Beatlemania.

Explore Solihull's history

Solihull has a history stretching back centuries, and the town centre still contains some of the clearest reminders of its past.

St Alphege Church is one of the town's most recognisable landmarks, while the High Street retains much of the character of the historic centre.

Solihull originally developed as a market town, with the railway arriving in the 19th century helping to transform it into the connected town it is today.

A heritage trail is also available for people who want to explore the history of the town centre on foot.

Visit the parks

One of the advantages of Solihull Town Centre is its proximity to green space.

Malvern Park and Brueton Park are both close to the centre and provide an opportunity to escape the shops and restaurants for a walk.

They can easily be combined with a town-centre visit, particularly for families looking for somewhere to spend time outdoors.

Getting to Solihull Town Centre by train

Solihull railway station is around a 10-minute walk from Touchwood.

The station provides connections towards Birmingham and London, making the town centre accessible without a car.

There is also now an interactive wayfinding unit at the entrance to Solihull Station. Installed in August 2026, it provides information about local attractions, restaurants, shopping, events and transport.

Getting to Solihull Town Centre by car

There are several car parks around Solihull Town Centre.

However, visitors should be aware that Mell Square car park is no longer available because of the Holbeche Place redevelopment.

Current council-operated options include:

• Poplar Road car park

• Lode Lane car park

• Dominion Court

• Church Hill car park

• Brueton car park

• Malvern car park

• Monkspath Hall Road car park

• Council House car park, when open

Touchwood and John Lewis also have their own car parks.

Touchwood and John Lewis use automatic number plate recognition, meaning there are no traditional entry tickets. Payment can be made at the exit, at pay machines or through RingGo.

Parking charges and opening arrangements can change, so it is worth checking the relevant car park before travelling.

Is Solihull Town Centre good for families?

There is plenty to do for families, particularly around Touchwood and The Core.

Cineworld provides a straightforward family entertainment option, while Touchwood regularly runs seasonal activities and events.

The Core also runs creative activities, workshops and family programming throughout the year.

For families who want to combine a town visit with some outdoor time, Malvern Park and Brueton Park are both nearby.

What's happening in Solihull Town Centre?

Solihull has a regular programme of events throughout the year.

Solihull BID organises events including markets, festivals and seasonal activities.

The 2026 calendar has already included the Solihull Music Festival, Solihull Pride and the Solihull Food & Harvest Festival, while the Solihull Spooktacular is scheduled for 31 October.

Touchwood also runs its own programme of seasonal events, entertainment and activities.

For the latest events, it is worth checking What's Up Solihull's What's On section before visiting.

What's changing in Solihull Town Centre?

The biggest change underway is the redevelopment of Mell Square.

The new development, known as Holbeche Place, is planned to create a mixed-use neighbourhood with up to 1,600 homes, shops, cafés, restaurants and public spaces.

The first phase is now moving forward, with demolition beginning in October 2026.

The redevelopment is intended to change one of the most prominent parts of Solihull Town Centre and create a new public space at the heart of the area.

For visitors, the immediate impact is that the old Mell Square car park is no longer available and parts of the area will change considerably as construction progresses.

Is Solihull Town Centre worth visiting?

Yes.

For shoppers, Touchwood remains the main attraction, while the High Street and surrounding streets provide a wider mix of restaurants, cafés and independent businesses.

There is also more to the centre than shopping, with The Core, Cineworld, St Alphege Church, regular events and nearby parks giving visitors plenty of options.

The town centre is also entering an important period of change. The redevelopment of Mell Square means some parts of Solihull will look very different over the coming years, but the existing shopping, dining and leisure offer remains firmly in place.