This is my local shopping centre and I thought I would share with you the many joyful shopping trips I have experienced at the touchwood shopping centre
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Background information
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Touchwood takes its name from Touchwood ... Read review
Advantages: Over eighty shops in one place Disadvantages: Teenages hang out round here
...I have experienced at the touchwood shopping centre
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Background information
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Touchwood takes its name from Touchwood Hall, which was situated on Drury Lane until it was demolished in 1963. The house was built in 1712 on the site of several buildings dating back as far as Saxon times.
Touchwood building work started ... ...are some gardens in the touchwood Shopping Centre and these where named the Jubilee Gardens.
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Where is Solihull?
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Solihull is a metropolitan borough located in the west midlands. It borders with places such as Birmingham and Warwickshire. It is a very affluent area. There are many sleepy villages within Solihull, one called Hockley Heath which has more ... more
This is my local shopping centre and I thought I would share with you the many joyful shopping trips I have experienced at the touchwood shopping centre
--------------------------------- Background information ----------------------------------
Touchwood takes its name from Touchwood Hall, which was situated on Drury Lane until it was demolished in 1963. The house was built in 1712 on the site of several buildings dating back as far as Saxon times.
Touchwood building work started to be built in January 1999 by Lend Lease and Solihull Council. It was finally finished in September 2001. It replaced an old indoor market, which really needed to go as it was a 1960's building and the market stalls where shabby and not very well looked after. They sold mostly cheap clothes and general tat. It took a whole year to build the shopping centre and as I worked over looking the building site I watched each day the workman slaving away building this exciting new shopping centre for Solihull, which was really needed for the town centre.
It was officially opened in the following June by the Queen herself. The town started to get ready for the visit. There where so many security checks being done in preparation of our special visitors arrival. They even put security stickers on manholes to prevent people putting bombs in them! On the day of the official opening, Solihull Town centre was heaving with people wanting to catch a glimpse of the queen. As I was working that day I didn't have the chance to join in the crowds but I watched from above and it looked like chaos with loads of police on guard. There are some gardens in the touchwood Shopping Centre and these where named the Jubilee Gardens.
-------------------------- Where is Solihull? ---------------------------
Solihull is a metropolitan borough located in the west midlands. It borders with places such as Birmingham and Warwickshire. It is a very affluent area. There are many sleepy villages within Solihull, one called Hockley Heath which has more millionaires per square mile than any other place in the UK.
---------------------------------------------------------------- How to get to Solihull's touchwood Shopping Centre ----------------------------------------------------------------
Solihull is very central to most places within the west midlands as it has exceptional links with the motorway network. Solihull town centre is just off Junction 5 of the M42. Follow the signs to the Town centre.
Solihull has it's own train station and is just a few minutes walk from the station to the town centre and it is very well sign posted.
There is many buses's passing through Solihull from all directions. If you plan to travel by bus then I would check out www.centro.co.uk for all your bus information.
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This is a big issue with parking in Solihull. Basically there are not enough car parks for the amount of people wanting to visit the shopping Centre. It is chaos on a weekend and I avoid it at all costs and tend to do my shopping during the week when the car parks are less busy.
Touchwood has it's own car park and has spaces for 1700 vehicles. There are others situated very close by including John Lewis Car Park, Lode lane Car Park, Mell Square Car Park and Churchill Hill car park. All are pay and display and the charge for parking is
If you are planning to stay for the whole day then there is a long stay car park situated In Monkspath Hall road. It will take you a few minutes to walk from the car park or you can catch the free bus from the car park to the shops. These buses run every 10 minutes.
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Touchwood is really well laid out and has been really well designed with some really nice features including some fancy lighting and high designed ceilings.
The old library in Solihull was moved to make way for the shopping centre and has been incorporated with the shopping centre. You have to go outside the centre to access it and the way to the library features a fantastic modern water fountain.
The actual building has been designed with different Arcades with different shops in each section. The two Arcades join together to form a huge round place, which is filled with relaxing chairs and couches. A coffee shop is never far away which is great as you have a coffee and recharge your batteries and then carry on shopping. As the bottom of Mill Lane arcade you will find John Lewis Department store.
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The shops are mostly located on the ground floor, but there is an upstairs, which is the eating area. Here you will find Cineworld and eating places such as Burger King, TGI Fridays, Tiggis, Yellow River, La Tapas.
There are about eighty shops here including some well know names like Bodum, Top Shop, Wallis, Principles, Miss Selfridge, Gap, Lakeland, French Connection, The Bear Factory, Past Times, Superdrug, Tie Rack, Virgin, BeaverBrooks, Jane Norman, Bravissimo,
There are several coffee shops located around the centre including Costa Coffee, Starbucks and Druckers.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday Saturday From 9am till 6pm
Late night shopping on Thursday from 9:30am till 8pm
Sunday shopping from 11am till 5pm
The bars are still open and still accessible until late.
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There is easy access to all of touchwood shops and facilities as they have included ramps and wide lifts.The only disadvantage is that young children and teenage kids hang around and take over the seating areas at the weekend and after school. They can be quite annoying at times. Other than that I love shopping here.
The shopping center is currently building thier website http://www.touchwood-solihull.co.uk/
