The Midlands

Introducing The Midlands

Forget what the snobs say about the Midlands. Yes, the cities are scarred from WWII bombings. Yes, the 1950s’ town planning was pathologically drab, and there are some bleak urban landscapes – what do you expect in the area that gave the world the Industrial Revolution? But the cities are vibrant and brim with influences from a hundred different nations, while the nightlife, restaurants and shopping give that uppity London a run for its money – and a thorough drubbing when it comes to value.

And, in a region known for being built-up, the countryside isn’t half pretty. Just a short drive through suburbia or a gentle wend on the canals and you enter a different world. The stunning Peak District may be ‘discovered’ but it still feels isolated and wild. Charming villages dot the Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire countryside while stately homes pocket the area, testament to its rich past.

Nowhere is that past more evocative than in the russet crumbling walls of Kenilworth Castle, the magnificent triple spires of Lichfield’s cathedral or in Coventry’s ruined old church cathedral.

And the Midlands are home to two of the country’s best-known attractions: Warwick Castle, one of the finest medieval buildings in England, and Stratford-upon-Avon, a pilgrimage site for Shakespeare-lovers from around the world. Much ado about nothing? Not a chance.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009