Is Solihull far away enough from Birmingham?

[Hatebirmingham]

I live in Edgbaston and HATE Birmingham. I’ve been here for 6 years and I think it’s bloody awful. It’s run down, unsafe to the point where I could list multiple areas where I barely feel safe driving through, never mind getting out of the car and there are so many areas that don’t even feel like you’re in the UK. I see teens around and would be throughly depressed for these to be the children that my own would attend school with - lots seem to be wannabe ‘gangsters’, rude, intimidating etc. I find the vast majority of Birmingham incredibly depressing.

We can’t leave the West Midlands unfortunately.

I was wondering if Solihull may be a better fit for us. My oldest DC is starting school next year so we still have time to move without interrupting education. My question is - is Solihull (particularly Dorridge/Knowle) far enough away from Birmingham to not be affected by Birmingham’s ‘issues’?

IABU: Solihull is still too close to Birmingham
IANBU: Solihull is much better than Birmingham

That you Nigel?

Great train links to brum - we commute from a lovely town in Staffordshire. Lovely areas close to Birmingham too - but we needed grandparent help during the week! Try Lichfield?

No? I have no problem with multiculturalism. But when there are areas where white British people would be stared down, forgive me for not wanting to live near there.

Don't feel like you're in the UK? Too many people of colour?

Mars isn't far enough away from Birmingham

Why don't you list the areas you feel unsafe. Rather than Solihull have you looked at Barnt Green/ Alverchurch. There are some lovely parts of Birmingham like Bournville, however you have to take the rough with the smooth.
Also where abouts in edgbaston do you live it's a diverse area?

Though I'm a bit😳 at your post, in answer to your question yes Solihull is full of middle class white people so seems like it would be perfect for you

To me Solihull is Birmingham.

But seriously Birmingham is a big place - nice areas and shitholes.

But I think Solihull is the whitest part so if that is what you mean it will be fine for you.

I’m in Droitwich spa. I left Birmingham for exactly the same reason ten years ago, and have never looked back. Look to Worcestershire - excellent travel links into Brum

edoted to add I didn’t leave Brum because of multiculturalism- I wanted to keep my kids who were approaching secondary age, safe

Speaking as a proud Brummie (who doesn't live there anymore), have you thought about Bromsgrove?

What parts are 😯?

Have you ever been to Birmingham? Believe me when I say not feeling as if you are in the UK. Please feel free to google Sparkbrook and Sparkhill!

What parts are 😯?

Have you ever been to Birmingham? Believe me when I say not feeling as if you are in the UK. Please feel free to google Sparkbrook and Sparkhill!

If you want to move to a 'white' area just say so instead of beating about the bush.

We can all read between the lines.

I cannot think of one part of Birmingham where I don’t feel like I am in the UK. Not one.

Genuinely, I’m not looking for the whitest place. Hand on heart, I don’t have an issue with multiculturalism - when the cultures are a net positive!

You’re telling me that you feel like you’re in the UK down the high street in Sparkbrook?

I haven’t but I’ll take a look - thank you!

Yes, the place feels unsafe for children and teens.

How about Halesowen or is that too close? Or Bromsgrove?

Birmingham and Solihull are very different imho. I'd take Solihull over Brum any day. YANBU

I have a sibling who lives in the area and I visit often and IMO No it’s not far enough away and they are trying to move away. There was a machete attack on 13/14 year olds in Shirley earlier this month as well as a stabbing. Solihull town centre is full of feral youths wearing balaclavas as well as other knife crime - you wouldn’t want to walk past them in the evening. The local parks are rife with kid on kid bike thefts and other trouble at 5/6pm so not late. The police force apparently openly admitted it has the smallest number of police officers covering the widest geographical area of almost any other force
Whilst outwardly it may visually appear what you are looking for it’s still closely bordered by many other areas and trouble finds its way
Knowle and Dorridge appear quieter and at less have the m42 to separate them

Amazing that someone feels that posting this without any shame is appropriate. What a brave new world we live in where overt racism is the norm.

OP, I’ve worked across and around Birmingham for two decades, making professional visits and meeting a wide range of people from all backgrounds. I can honestly say I’ve never been made to feel unwelcome, I’ve always been treated with respect and have never felt unsafe anywhere, including Sparkhill and Sparkbrook, which you so charmingly single out for your contempt.

I find if you treat other people with respect and openness, not fear and suspicion, you get the same in return.

Yes I do. The houses, the shops, the surroundings are quintessentially UK.

I have travelled extensively and it does not ressemble any other place I have visited.

But those are just two areas within the whole of Birmingham.

Now, come on now….

What part of my post is racist in the slightest?

I’ve stated that Birmingham doesn’t feel safe and that I don’t want my children attending school with the sort of children and teens I see around. In no part did I mention colour here.

I also said that so many parts are unwelcoming to white British people and this is true. I have felt unsafe in parts of Birmingham due to being a white female.