Midlands

The Midlands is the broad central region of England covering both the West Midlands and East Midlands administrative areas and several counties. It is a major population, transport and manufacturing heartland with significant urban and rural diversity.

The region contains major cities and attractions including Birmingham, industrial heritage sites, large cultural institutions, and market towns. Rural highlights include the limestone and gritstone landscapes of the Peak District, the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon with Shakespeare-related sites, and accessible green spaces and canals that trace the Industrial Revolution.

Historically the Midlands was the core of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia and later a focal area of industrial expansion during the 18th and 19th centuries. Industrial growth created extensive urban centres, transport infrastructure and manufacturing specialisms that shaped modern Britain.

Geographically the Midlands sits in central England between the North and South, extending from the Welsh borders and the Severn plain in the west to the agricultural lowlands and river systems in the east. Major cities include Birmingham and Nottingham, with good road and rail links to London and the rest of the UK.

• Administrative split: The Midlands is split administratively into the West Midlands and the East Midlands, each containing distinct cities, transport hubs and landscapes.
• Transport: Birmingham Airport and major rail corridors such as the West Coast Main Line provide primary national and international access to the region.

What to See #

• Birmingham: Birmingham is the region's largest city and an historic industrial and commercial centre that now hosts major rail and motorway connections and international airport services.
• Stratford-upon-Avon: Stratford-upon-Avon is the market town associated with William Shakespeare and contains his birthplace and related Shakespearean heritage sites dating to the 16th century.
• Peak District: The Peak District occupies the northern edge of the Midlands and offers upland scenery, walking routes, and limestone dales that contrast with the region's urban centres.
• Nottingham: Nottingham is a historic city known for medieval connections, nearby Sherwood Forest and industrial-era estates, serving as a cultural and commercial hub in the East Midlands.