Sutton Coldfield or Solihull

[Bisa]

We currently live in London and want to move to either Sutton Coldfield or Solihull. We have 2 boys 6&3 so primarily need to live close to excellent state schools especially secondary in a safe area.

We don’t really know these areas and will greatly appreciate any advice we can get with recommendations on which of these towns to be looking at and the area to focus on.
Many thanks in advance.

Solihull is generally considered to be 'nicer' more affluent than Birmingham, and has a nice shopping centre, but obviously is much, much , much smaller than Birmingham.
Being right on the edge of the City though, you can easily access all the things you might want from a big City by going into B'ham City Centre.
There are a few estates you wouldn't want to end up on, but I think you'd soon spot where I mean by the price, compared with 'actual' Solihull (as opposed to a Solihull LA address.

Sutton Coldfield is considered to be one of the best parts of Birmingham for schools - Primary and secondary. The house prices reflect that - but then, if you are moving from London you'll probably think Sutton to be a bargain. It is on the cross City train line, so convenient for traveling into the City Centre when you need to, although traffic is very heavy in the mornings coming across from spaghetti junction into the City Centre (and of course, in reverse in the evenings). There is a massive Country Park (Sutton Park) which is lovely, and huge.

I don't know either Sutton Coldfield nor Solihull particularly well, but hopefully this will lift you off Unanswered threads.

There are quite a few Birmingham dwellers on here who love a property search thread

I don't know Solihull but have a soft spot for Sutton Coldfield having lived in Birmingham for a few years in my younger days

It is a bit leafier than the majority of Birmingham and has some good state secondary schools

Sutton Park is lovely too

I'd avoid Solihull, I've worked there many times and found the locals to be stuck up and rude (obviously generalising but that's been my genuine experience!) Seems to have a high number of retired people as well.

Sutton is said to be good for schools but you’d need to look in specific areas for schools with spaces which may be few and far between.

I also find Solihull ridiculously pretentious.

Solihull is more pretentious than Sutton Coldfield (although the nearer to Four Oaks you are - especially in it - it gets pretty pretentious too). Solihull seems to make a big deal - and pride itself - on not being part of Birmingham, which can be really annoying as a Brummie (because it's generally said in a derogatory way).

Almost all the schools in Sutton Coldfield are either Good or Outstanding - most of the ones that were either a 3 or a 4 have been academised, so are awaiting Ofsted inspections - but be aware most of those Good and Outstanding inspections were at least 5 years ago.

Sutton also has the grammar schools for secondary, if that's important to you - from Solihull it would be a bus into Birmingham for King Edwards.

Solihull has some great schools, but as mentioned, be aware that Solihull authority covers a wide ranging area, with a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds - Chelmsley Wood, Smiths Wood and Kingshurst are all Solihull areas, but don't always have the best reputations (personally, I regularly shopped in Chelmsley Wood and went to secondary school in Kingshurst, but it wouldn't be for everyone I don't think).

Sutton Coldfield has the Gracechurch shopping centre, but last time I was there (admittedly a few years ago) it was looking tired and I think they were going to do some regeneration work to it.

Both are easy to get into Birmingham City Centre from if you want/need to, but traffic from (and then to) can be bad at rush hour, as previously mentioned.

I would pick Sutton Coldfield just because it has the park, which although it can get busy, is a lovely space!

Thank you so so much for the advice. Really very useful .

They are both nice. For better connectivity to London I would go Solihull side if important to you but it's minimal difference. At Solihull you are that bit nearer to M40 and trains from Solihull / international / Warwick parkway. Just a consideration. It also depends how close to the town you want to be and if you'd consider areas like Dorridge to be more rural.
If you want excellent state schools also consider Hagley.

I actually live in Solihull
( within 20 min walk of town centre ) and I find some of the replies quite 'pretentious' 😯
Although I don't know Sutton Coldfield very well, I would recommend Tudor Grange Academy (Tga) in Solihull as an excellent school. There's a great transport connection to the town centre and also Birmingham city centre if required. Trains run from here to Stratford and Leamington Spa to name a few other nice places.
We're not all up our own arses in Solihull 😂

Sutton Park is a really great resource. I have relatives in both and the park would swing it for me. If you are looking for a good city commute with great countryside nearby then both tick the boxes. But not all that different to so many suburban towns... Have a look at Stratford, Warwick, Leamington depending on commute.

As a Brummie I would say: Go spend the day in Sutton coldfield and then a day in Solihull.
Get a feel for the town centres/local areas.

I’m guess you’re going to want to be closer than solihull town centre rather than the outskirts-chelmsley, kingshurst etc.

Either way it’s going to be a bit of a culture shock. A safe area for some can be completely different to another person.
If you’re looking more suburb go for Sutton coldfield.

Have you looked at Lichfield? It also has train to Birmingham & has nice town centre & good schools.

I lived in Sutton Coldfield for over 20 years,never liked it,it is soulless.I actually preferred living in Birmingham itself rather than Sutton.

I moved to Lichfield which I love,but there is an insane amount of building going on at the moment,so a good choice of housing.The schools are good,direct train to London Euston and easy access to East Midlands and Birmingham Airports.

I currently live on Sutton Coldfield, the shopping centre is slowly disappearing. I used to live browsing around. Now I barely visit.

The catchment for secondary schools is ridiculously small for some of them. If you live in four oaks you can easily find yourself in a situation where you are not in the catchment for the most desired secondary schools.

I'm not sure I'd move here if I had a choice. My DC are bow late teens and I think my next move will be out the area.

*love

I can’t comment on Sutton Coldfield as I’ve never been but Solihull is lovely!

I live in Dorridge (which is in Solihull borough) and it’s a lovely village. We have a station here with an hourly service to London and has lots of shops in the village. Solihull itself has lots of shops and restaurants. Not sure what people mean about the pretentious people but we aren’t all like that! Come to Solihull for the day and Sutton Coldfield and see which one you prefer.

Also from Solihull- bit upset by these pretentious comments! Lovely area- dont know sutton coldfield that well.

I very much appreciate all your comments.Thank you!. Have given us great insight and direction. We intend to visit these areas for a day of two to have a better feel.
Living close to the station isn’t necessarily a requirement as we will be working from home. The few days in the office we will likely drive down or by train if easier.

A QUESTION please. some of the areas we are looking are pretty close to Birmingham int’l airport which makes us think about noise from departing/arriving aircrafts or experience of low flying planes. Please what are your experience around noise? We want to avoid living under a flight path.
What are your experiences in terms of noise from flights please. And areas under flight path to avoid.
Thank you!

Oddly, there are some really, really nice areas that come under flight paths. Places that are expensive to buy in.
People say 'you get used to it and don't notice them after a bit'.

I'm from both those areas and didn't worry about flight paths, and after twenty years in London they don't bear any comparison to flights over any part of London. I wouldn't add this into decision making (and this from someone who moved out of London to escape noise)

Actually at my DPs in Solihull its the M40 you hear most - but you'll never escape traffic unless you really move out to the sticks

There was a time Solihull was considered better not anymore. There is nothing as prestigious and of the scale of Four Oaks private estate. It’s easier to get into Birmingham or King Edward’s schools or University for QE from Four Oaks station. Sutton Park is on the doorstep and there’s many newly renovated bars and restaurants such as The Bracebridge and The Four Oaks pub as well as much more in Mere Green.