Moving to Solihull - advice please!

[claireb8]

Hi everyone

My husband and I and our 13-month old daughter are moving out of London so we can be closer to our family in the West Mids.

We're considering a move to Solihull because it has such fabulous reviews. We want to move to an area that has excellent state schools and transport links (for Brum and a once-a-week commute to central London).

Please could local Mumsnetters advise us where to narrow our property search down to. The two most important considerations are primary school catchment areas and proximity to rail stations for easy access to Birmingham and London. Ideally, we're looking for a period property too. Most of the houses we've seen online seem to be quite modern though. Our budget's around £750k (which gets you a shoe box in London but should get us more space in Solihull).

Someone mentioned that Dorridge and Knowle are lovely places with a quaint village feel and that's where we're more likely to find period properties? What are the transport links like there though? Any other areas we should consider? Where are the best state primary schools in Solihull and the most pleasant places to live?

Any advice much appreciated so we can start to narrow down our search for a house.

Many thanks

[Iwanttobe8stoneagain]

Knowleand dorridge are very nice and next to each other. Good schools (as has the majority of Solihull). Dorridge has very regular trains to Birmingham and I think hourly ones to London. The countryside, airport and motorway are all very close too. Solihull town centre has great shopping, bars etc. Knowle high street is very nice. Knowle and dorridge are astronomically expensive though, so much depends on your budget. Solihull underwent a massive expansion in the 1930s so a lot of properties are from that era and later. Knowle and dorridge do have some period properties as does central solihull but they are extremely expensive. If a period property is very important to you areas closer to Birmingham e.g. Harbourne, edgebaston or Mosley are also very nice areas (you would need to travel into the centre of Birmingham for trains to London. Or somewhere like leamington or Warwick

[Whatsits]

You pretty much can't go wrong with state primary schools in Solihull, so many excellent ones to choose from. That also applies to state secondary. The B94 postcode might be worth a look. It is beautiful - quite rural, made up of a handful of villages, but it is just on the doorstep of Solihull and also within easy reach of Stratford upon Avon and Warwick which are great to visit.
Knowle and Dorridge are good villages, with lots of amenities and good schools. There are some beautiful period properties in each of them - I imagine your budget will fare quite well.
Good luck. It's a great place to live!

[Dinkydoos]

The train station in Solihull is very handy for london trains
And if you look in area either side of streetsbrook road then primaries near there are good and you are close to train and town centre. Pm me if you are looking at certain houses and I can give you some further info!

[Evangeline20]

Solihull is a lovely area per se, however Dorridge, Knowle and Bentley Heath (suburbs of Solihull) are where a number of commuters live with the same goal as yourself excellent schools & transport links. The house prices reflect the exclusivity of the area and schools, with Arden (senior school) one of the top ten state run senior schools in the country. It is a lovely lovely area with lots to do, kids clubs, brownies, walk to school, socially there are a selection on quaint little pubs/bars/coffee shops. With a 750k budget you would pick up something nice in this area too. Good luck with your decisions and house move x

[Marmaladeorange]

Bit dull. Very white middle class, which I would think might be slightly claustrophobic after living in London.

[Jommyjommy]

Hello Good morning please did the requester move to Dorridge afterwards. Will like to know because we are considering that location too.