$SiO_2$-coated $TiO_2$ composite materials with enhanced photocatalytic activity under UV light was prepared by a simple catalytic hydrolysis method. XRD, TEM, UV-vis spectroscopy, Photoluminescence, FT-IR and XP spectra were used to characterize the prepared samples. The obvious shell-core structure was shown for obtained $SiO_2$@$TiO_2$ sample. The average thickness of the $SiO_2$ coating layer was 2-3 nm. The interaction between $SiO_2$ and $TiO_2$ restrained the recombination of excited electrons and holes. The photocatalytic activities were tested in the degradation of an aqueous solution of a reactive dyestuff, methylene blue, under UV light. The photocatalytic activity of $SiO_2$@$TiO_2$ was much higher than that of P25 and mechanical mixing sample $SiO_2/TiO_2$. The possible mechanism for the photocatalysis was proposed.