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

Oh come on, OP! I grew up in Birmingham and I go back several times a week. It's no worse than any city for the 'dodgy' bits. I certainly don't feel unsafe anywhere. Not really. I drive through spark hill and sparkbrook fairly regularly. I only avoid it because of the horrendous traffic along the high streets! In all my 40+ years I have never had any trouble from anyone. Honestly.

Solihull on the whole has a different feeling to what you're describing. But it still has it's less desirable areas.

My biggest issue with living in Birmingham/city was the traffic! We moved to Stratford for work and are close enough to commute. Fab schools around here too. My DC say they prefer schooling around here compared to where they were in Birmingham. But I think that's more the fact there is lots of space and fields at their current school compared to what they were used to in the city. Like I said, we go into Birmingham a lot for a hobby. I'm glad that they still get to experience people from lots of different cultures.

But do you LIVE there? Because that's the issue not visiting/working living I love visiting Birmingham I was there yesterday but live there? No thank you

With these kind of views, please don't come to Solihull.

If you live in Edgbaston Birmingham then you must have a very good idea of what Solihull is like already?

Birmingham is a big place and some parts are terrible but others are quite nice. You don’t really have to venture into the horrible parts if you don’t want to.

Having said that I don’t really blame you for wanting to move away, but keep in mind that most towns and cities will have good and bad parts.

Oh do stop being so performative. There is nothing wrong with expressing the views that I have expressed here.

Stourbridge?

What part of what I said was performative?

I know Sparkbrook and Sparkhill fairly well,

They are NOT quintessentially the UK. They are run down areas of Birmingham. People can google to see who is living there (and also who is standing as a local councilllor despite the fact they have a very unpleasant background) I know Ladywood too. Another area no one in the right mind would want to move to unless they had to. Birmingham has a couple of MP's who were voted in on one issue - Gaza. They are MP's but no one every hears from them.

I grew up in Knowle which you mention specifically. Knowle was very separate to Solihull town and Solihull was quite separate to Birmingham. There were a large number of Solihull folk (Silhillians!) who were weirdly obsessed with being Not Birmingham and actually campaigned for Solihull to leave the 0121 exchange and join the 01564 one in Knowle/Dorridge.

It was always a fairly nondescript place. It's fine. Apparently Dorridge is seen as far more desirable these days. I can't imagine it's more interesting than it was but it's fine. Teens will still want to go into Birmingham to go out though.

Yuck, I have lived in Birmingham for years never once felt unsafe anywhere in it.

I have no idea what you are on about "so many parts are unwelcoming to white British people" yuck yuck racist.

OP I hear ya, I feel safer in London.

I think OP is getting a hard time here. I lived and worked in Brum most of my adult life. Whilst living in Bournville, I had my house robbed while me and my kids were in!
I lectured at a college there for two decades - so many of my students had their phones robbed at knifepoint at bus stop outside. Anyone who says this is about racism is mistaken -and is denying the reality of what it’s like to live there. It’s a deprived, dangerous place and I don’t blame OP for wanting to get her kids out.

North Solihull would suit you op

Perhaps you hold this view as you haven’t experienced living elsewhere.

I’be lived in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Yarm and the UAE and have never experienced anything as bad as Birmingham.

I live in Solihull. It's a fair commute to Birmingham bout 30/40 mins and it's a lovely place to live.

Exactly! Stabbings are a daily occurrence here.

I'm confused as to why you are talking about Sparkbrook and Sparkhill when you live in Edgbaston.

Birmingham is a massive city. Parts of it are safer than others, the same as any other city.

Generally speaking it is a safe place to live.

I agree with @HairsprayBabe and I have lived in several places. Born and brought up in Solihull with family still there (and in Birmingham), also lived in Yorkshire, London, and abroad. I, and my family who live in Birmingham, do not feel unsafe there.

I drive through these areas on a near daily basis and I don't like living in such close proximity to be honest.

I was born and lived on the Smethwick/Bearwood/Edgbaston borders for the first 38 years of my life. My family still live there. I'm 50 now & the decline in those areas when I go back to visit is drastic. Its very deprived now and I wouldn't blame any one of any colour/race/ethnicity for wanting to move away. Solihull is a nice option imo.

Do you read or watch the news? There have been multiple unprovoked stabbings recently.

I have been going to Birmingham for work at least monthly for over 20 years from Worcestershire. I also lived there for a full month last year. It has gone up and down in that time but I do think it is on a downward slide at the moment, especially the city centre. I grew up working class in the east end of Glasgow so don’t come from some privileged background. Personally on balance I think it is a bit of a dump, although most Brummies are nice people. Look at Worcester or Malvern - direct train link to New Street. Malvern is only 1 or 2 more stops further and is easier to park in and you will definitely get a seat. Bit pricier than Worcester though but nicer, decent schools, nice people and generally lovely place to live.

Crime in Birmingham has dropped 17.6% in the last three years please stop it is embarrassing.

they are more than 2 miles apart!

Why don't you like driving through Sparkbrook/ Sparkhill?

Out of interest, why did you move to Birmingham in the first place? It's not changed hugely in 6 years.
As people have said, it's a big city, there are nice bits and not so nice bits. You can quite happily base your life around one or two suburbs like we do in South Birmingham. We really appreciate the amenities, independent businesses and loads to do for kids.

I agree with previous posters, your tone and username seems like you've come on here to stir up some negative options and bait a bit. Why not just drive to Solihull and check it out?