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26 Best Places to Visit in the Midlands, England

• Last Updated 28 May 2024

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Over the last few years, many of us have been planning holidays a little closer to home. I’ve always been a big advocate for travel at home as well as overseas, so I couldn’t be happier! If you want to explore a few new places in England, this guide to the best places to visit in the Midlands is a good place to start. 

I’ve rounded up recommendations from a bunch of great bloggers, many of them local to the area. Plus I’ve also included a few of my own suggestions, to create a bumper list of all the most spectacular places to explore in the East and West Midlands. As well as the famous Peak District, of course! Enjoy…

Places to Visit in the Peak District, Midlands

11 places to visit in the west midlands, 10 places to visit in the east midlands, places to visit in the midlands: map, peak district national park.

Recommended by: Maja, Away with Maja

The Peak District National Park is the oldest national park in the UK, and one of the best places to visit in the Midlands. This is a great destination for outdoor adventures: hiking, camping, cycling, rock climbing, and more!

The Peak District is home to some picturesque and charming villages like Castleton, Bakewell, and Eyam. There’s also stunning scenery like Curbar Edge, the Roaches, and the Dragon’s Back (Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill).

Chatsworth Hall and Haddon Hall are two magnificent stately homes if you’d prefer history to outdoor adventures. Having a car is the best way to get around, although there are some train connections and a local bus network should you be visiting by public transportation.

RECOMMENDED TOUR: Derbyshire and Peak District Day Trip from Manchester

Recommended by: Roshni, The Wanderlust Within

The small chocolate-box village of Castleton is one of the best places to visit in the Midlands. Situated in Hope Valley in Derbyshire, this quaint spot is a favourite for walks in the Peak District as it is home to Mam Tor and Winnats Pass, two popular hikes in the area.

Castleton is also home to the 11th-century ruins of Peveril Castle, one of England’s first Norman fortresses. Castleton village is particularly known for its show caves. There are three in close proximity that are rated some of the best in the country. A visit to Castleton isn’t complete without visiting the quaint village centre and enjoying a traditional afternoon tea at one of the tea rooms.

Recommended by: Tracy, Tracy’s Travels in Time

The popular market town of Bakewell is located in the beautiful Peak District in Derbyshire. Bakewell is perfect for a day out or for a longer break if you wish to explore the area. Chatsworth House estate is only a few miles from the town and there are lots of hiking trails and walks across the local area.

Monday is market day in Bakewell. Visit on the third Saturday of the month for the popular farmer’s market where you will find a large variety of local produce for sale. Don’t miss the opportunity to sample a Bakewell Pudding when in the town. I recommend the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop . There is a café upstairs which is great for lunch or afternoon tea.

Ashford in the Water

Recommended by: Stacy, What Stacy Did

Nestled on the banks of the River Wye, Ashford-in-the-Water is one of the most picturesque villages in the Peak District. Just 2 miles out of Bakewell, it is a wonder that this idyllic village is still relatively hidden from the tourist radar.

The village is made up of beautiful stone cottages around a green space at its centre. My favourite time of year to visit is in late spring, when the cottages are adorned with roses and flower baskets.

The main attraction for most visitors though is the old sheep wash bridge crossing the River Wye. This was named the best place in England for a game of Poohsticks by Visit England! Whatever your preference, you won’t be able to deny the charm of Ashford-in-the-Water. I’m sure it will leave you wanting to explore more of the Peak District.

Pilsley and Chatsworth

Recommended by: Izzy & Phil, The Gap Decaders

Pilsley is a charming and quaint village on the Chatsworth estate just a mile from Chatsworth Park itself. It’s a great place to visit if you’re holidaying nearby. Chatsworth is one of the best-known historic houses in the Midlands and a must-see in the Peak District! Several well-known movies, including Pride and Prejudice, have been filmed at the estate. 

The honeyed stone cottages of Pilsley, many of which are lived in by estate workers at Chatsworth, are set around a traditional green in the centre of the village and boast the most colourful and well cared for gardens.

Head to the Devonshire Arms, a traditional pub serving great food. The Chatsworth House Farm Shop is a great place to buy local and homegrown treats. There are some superb views from the village, to Chatsworth Park and the Derwent Valley.

RECOMMENDED TOUR: 3-Day Yorkshire Dales and Peak District Tour from Manchester

Stratford Upon Avon

Recommended by: Anuradha from Country Hopping Couple

Located in the heart of England along River Avon, Stratford Upon Avon is a perfect place to visit if you are an ardent fan of Shakespeare and English literature. After all, this was the birthplace of the eternal poet! Naturally, the town has been attracting art and theatre fanatics for more than 250 years.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is a registered charity that manages all the houses relating to Shakespeare in and around Stratford Upon Avon. It includes Shakespeare’s Birthplace , Anne Hathway Cottage & Gardens, Nash’s House & New Place, Mary Arden’s Farm and Hall’s Croft. Spend the rest of the day along River Avon. You could even hire a traditional canal boat to really make the most of this picturesque river. 

Recommended by: Samantha, The Wandering Wanderluster

Birmingham is England’s second-biggest city and one of the best places to visit in the Midlands if you’re looking for a fun and cultured day out for all the family. The city wins no prizes for its looks, but there’s much to see, do and explore.

Dine at one of Birmingham’s 5 Michelin-starred restaurants, break the bank by visiting the biggest shopping centre in Europe, or take a guided city centre walking tour to discover local history. You could also head to the popular family attraction of Cadbury World that sits just outside the city for a fun family trip.

For those interested in Birmingham’s industrial history, a boat ride along the city’s huge canal system or a stroll through the historic Jewellery quarter is an insightful reminder of the city’s Victorian past.

Recommended by: Faith, XYU and Beyond

Kenilworth is one of those lovely English villages that dates back to the Domesday Book. The Town itself makes for a perfect day out, with its fabulous boutique shops and perfect cafes to have an afternoon tea break. There’s also the Michelin-starred restaurant The Cross, as well as Kenilworth Castle to visit.

Kenilworth Castle is an imposing red sandstone ruin just on the edge of Kenilworth Town. It’s famous for being the home of Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester who was in love with Queen Elizabeth. CLICK HERE to check ticket prices and book.

Kenilworth is a stunningly beautiful castle, even though much of it has gone to ruin. There are walking trails, grand manor houses and exquisite gardens to visit all within easy reach of the town.

Ironbridge Gorge

Recommended by: Sally Akins, The Getaway Guide  

With beautiful landscapes and fascinating history, the Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire is a fabulous destination for a day trip or a longer visit. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known as “the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution”.

There’s something for everyone in Ironbridge . The 10 museums in the Ironbridge Gorge explain the area’s history, and some of them are particularly fun to visit with children.

For a more active break, the Shropshire countryside is perfect for exploring on foot or by bike. Or get a different perspective of the area from the River Severn on a raft tour or in a hired kayak.

You’ll also find plenty of quirky shops to browse, and excellent independent bars and restaurants.

Royal Leamington Spa

Recommended by: Vikki, Family Travel with Ellie

I discovered the beautiful town of Royal Leamington Spa way back when I was a student at Warwickshire College. When my parents came to visit, we would enjoy browsing the lovely array of quality shops, and dining in the gorgeous cafes.

Interestingly, Leamington achieved its “Royal “status from Queen Victoria in 1838. A key attraction is the “Royal Pump Room and Baths”.

Fascinatingly, the spa waters were historically known for helping preserve meat and were also believed to cure rabies. A path leading into the River Leam was used by circus people to bathe their animals, including elephants, and much to my daughter’s delight, the Elephant Wash path is still there today.

Cannock Chase

Recommended by: Karen, Marvellous Middle England

Cannock Chase, located between Stafford and Cannock, is the UK’s smallest mainland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This makes it the perfect “off the beaten path” outdoor space to explore, as the crowds flock to its famous neighbours. Don’t let its title fool you, Cannock Chase is home to miles of hiking, biking and running trails, there always seems to be somewhere new to explore.

Thrill-seekers must try the Go Ape high ropes adventure located at Birches Valley Forest Centre, while history fans will love a hike around the many war memorials.

I highly recommend ending your visit with a stay at one of their Forest campsites – the Safari pods offer the perfect opportunity to sleep under the stars.

Recommended by: Kat, Wandering Bird

If you’re looking for places to visit in the Midlands, add Warwick to your list. This beautiful town sits on the banks of the River Avon and is overshadowed by the famous Warwick Castle- founded by William the Conqueror.

The history in the entire area is incredible and Warwick is full of cute cobbled streets and timber-framed buildings which give the entire town a fantastic atmosphere. There are also some brilliant cafes, pubs and restaurants as well as lots of modern and unique shops to explore.

Warwick is also famous for its racecourse. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a motorhome trip , there is a campsite right in the centre with great views of the racing!

RECOMMENDED TOUR: Warwick Castle Day Trip from London

Recommended by: Ania, The Travelling Twins

Shrewsbury is an ancient shire town in the West Midlands. My favourite place in England, with its higgledy-piggledy medieval street plan, narrow passages, and quirky timber frame buildings. They house a variety of pubs, local shops, restaurants and charity shops – those always have a great selection of books.

Shrewsbury is almost completely surrounded by a meander of the River Severn – the longest river in the UK. It wraps around the Old Town and the Quarry – a beautiful 29-acre park. This is the perfect place to unwind after sightseeing and shopping. Talking of the river, you can go for a boat ride or rent a kayak and admire Shrewsbury’s skyline and the magnificent Shropshire scenery from the water.

Recommended by: Dagney from Cultura Obscura

Despite being a major city, Coventry remains off the beaten path for tourists. This is a real shame because Coventry has much to offer! After all, it was voted the UK City of Culture for 2021, a title it most certainly deserves! And you can learn all about why at the city’s numerous museums, including the Coventry Transport Museum and Herbert Art Museum.

For history enthusiasts, one of the top Coventry attractions is the Old Coventry Cathedral, which was completely destroyed by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) during the Blitz in 1940. It was never restored, but today visitors can explore the ruins and learn more about the Blitz’s effect on the city.

Malvern Hills

Although the Peak District is the best-known countryside area in the Midlands, it’s far from the only one! Over in Worcestershire and Herefordshire, the Malvern Hills are an AONB where the numerous hills provide some of the most impressive views in the country. 

As well as beautiful landscapes and the quaint English countryside, the Malverns are also known for their idyllic towns and villages. Among them is Malvern itself, a Victorian spa town known for its supposedly healing well waters. While the countryside of the Hills is the perfect place to enjoy walking – whether it’s a gentle stroll or a hardcore hike! 

The City of Hereford straddles the banks of the River Wye and amidst the stunning countryside of Herefordshire. It might be a city, but there’s certainly a slower pace of life to enjoy here. Take a stroll along the river, immerse yourself in the historic architecture, or pay a visit to the nearby cattle market for a taste of traditional country life. 

Herefordshire is well known for its farm produce, so be sure to try some of the local food – such as Hereford beef, cider, perry, and potatoes. Don’t miss a trip to the Cide Museum to find out how the county’s famous “golden amber” is made!

Recommended by: Mark at Wyld Family Travel

Leicester lies in the east midlands, home to a little over 350,000 people. Leicester is most well known in recent years for its football team The Foxes, who pulled off a miracle when winning the Premier League title in 2016.

Today Leicester draws tourists to multiple attractions in the city centre. You can visit the National Space Museum which is full of rackets and spaceships. You can visit the site Richard 111 was found. Richard was found buried under a car park in Leicester city centre. Leicester Cathedral today houses the remains of Richard.

Leicester has a long history dating back to Roman times. The remains of the baths of Roman Leicester can be seen at the Jewry Wall. Roman Leicester was an important point on the road north to Lincoln for the armies of Rome.

Mablethorpe

Recommended by: Suzy – Yorkshire to do with Kids

Mablethorpe is a seaside resort on the Lincolnshire coastline in the East Midlands. We love that all the main attractions are close together. There’s so much to do in Mablethorpe!

One of our favourites is the sand train – which also goes in the sea for part of the return journey! The beach stretches for miles and it is golden and clean. There are fish and chips to be munched on and donkey rides to be found. Plus there’s a great mini theme park with rides for all, crazy golf galore and a boating lake.

Recommended by: Steph & Lewis from Book it Let’s Go!

Nottingham is a vibrant city full of history, culture, and legends. There are many things to do in Nottingham that make it worth visiting. From the hand-carved caves under the city that have had many uses over the years, and some are still used today… to Nottingham Castle and Sherwood Forest for the legend of Robin Hood.

Nottingham is great for couples or families and there are ample green spaces to enjoy. The most famous is Wollaton Hall, which has free-roaming red and fallow deer. This stunning property was also featured in the 2012 movie Batman Begins.

Nottingham has many cultural events throughout the year including Nottingham Pride, Nottingham Mela and Nottingham Carnival which celebrate traditional Indian and Caribbean cultures, respectively.

Sherwood Forest

No trip to the Midlands is complete without visiting the famous Sherwood Forest . Known for being the home of Robin Hood, this protected forest has been a “legend in the making for over 1000 years”. The forest is filled with giant ancient oaks, such as the celebrated Major Oak. This gnarled old tree has been standing for around 800-1100 so it’s seen a lot of English history! 

There are miles of walks and trails around the forest to suit all ages and abilities. They also host many events and guided walks throughout the year. 

Chesterfield

Recommended by: Allison, Urbanite Diary

Chesterfield is a historic market town in Derbyshire, renowned for one of the largest open-air markets in England. Chesterfield Market has been trading for over 800 years – since the town received its market charter in 1204 from King John.

The most iconic landmark of Chesterfield is The Church of St Mary and All Saints, also known as the Crooked Spire, made famous for its twisted and leaning spire, an architectural phenomenon built over 657 years ago in 1362. Although science has since explained this twisting, some folklores still believe that it was caused by the Devil!

Other interesting things to do include visits to Chesterfield Canal, Hardwick Hall and Bolsover Castle.

Silverstone

Recommended by: Darek, Darek and Gosia

One of the most unique places to visit in the Midlands is the Silverstone Circuit. The track is located 30 miles northeast of Oxford , near the town of Silverstone.

As home to the iconic British Grand Prix, the circuit has to be visited by any Formula 1 fan. Watch an F1 race, visit the Silverstone Experience or try your driving skills in a single-seater.

The Silverstone circuit is one of the oldest racing facilities not only in Europe but also in the world. Many drivers call it the “Temple of Motorsport” so this really must be one of the best places to visit in the Midlands!

Although not as well known as some of the other cities in the Midlands, Lincoln is one of the best places to visit in the area. This historic city is known for its medieval cathedral, which towers over the red brick houses of the surrounding historic quarter. From 1311-1549 this was the tallest building in the world! 

During the Second World War, Lincoln was the heart of “bomber country”. The city was home to numerous air bases and Lincoln Cathedral was a popular navigational beacon. You can explore this history at various museums, as well as the new International Bomber Command Centre which opened in 2018. 

Recommended by: Angharad, This Bristol Brood

Visiting the eye-popping-ly picturesque market town of Stamford in Lincolnshire is a bit like walking into a Pride and Prejudice movie (incidentally the Keira Knightley version was filmed here). Cobbled streets, narrow alleyways, a meandering river, 600 listed buildings and a spire-filled skyline (there are a total of 11 churches) imbue the town with an olde worlde charm that has remained unchanged for centuries.

No first-time visit is complete without a visit to Burghley House, which hosts the annual Burghley Horse Trials. Vast grounds surround the mansion, however, the magical Sculpture Garden is well worth paying to explore.

You should also make sure to pay a visit to The George Hotel – an atmospheric old coaching inn – for afternoon tea, grand ice creams or impossibly festive decorations and roaring log fires at Christmas.

Recommended by: Helen on her Holidays

Cromford is a small village in Derbyshire, only a few miles from the Peak District. These days it’s a tranquil place, but 250 years ago it was a busy hub of innovation. The inventor and entrepreneur Richard Arkwright chose Cromford for his revolutionary spinning mill – the first water-powered mill anywhere in the world.

Today Arkwright’s Cromford Mills form part of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mills are open for visitors and you can also take a guided tour.

When you visit Cromford Mills, don’t miss visiting the village centre. The old mill pond in the middle of the village is really pretty – you might even see a kingfisher.

Lincolnshire Wolds

Last, but by no means least, the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB is definitely one of the best places to visit in the East Midlands. This is a sprawling area of quaint English countryside , boasting some of the most beautiful and unspoilt scenery in the East Midlands.

With rolling hills, hidden valleys, gentle streams and picturesque villages, there’s a lot of beauty to explore.

This is also the highest land in eastern England between Kent and Yorkshire, so there are some fabulous views of the coast in the east and the Pennines in the west! Perfect for hiking, rambling, cycling, horse riding, or simply village-hopping… don’t miss this gorgeous AONB in the East Midlands. 

More in England

33 of the Best Places to Visit in the South of England

40 of the Most Romantic Places in Britain

30 Places to Visit in the North of England

Are there any more places to visit in the Midlands of England that you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments!

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Top 18 Things to Do in the Midlands of England

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There are so many things to do in the Midlands of England that its remarkable the region is so often overlooked by visitors. They rush from the cosmopolitan South over motorways across to the North without stopping to discover the region that gave birth to Shakespeare, the Industrial Revolution and the greatest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork ever found.

Enjoy our grab bag of things to do in the Heart of England, from hiking in the Peak District to visiting some of England's grandest historic homes and gardens to crossing the world's first Iron Bridge or going cross country on a vintage steam railway.

Throw Pottery on a Wheel at Wedgwood

Ferne Arfin

At the World of Wedgwood, a terrific museum, shopping and china factory in Stoke-on-Trent, you can see centuries of amazing pottery — including original pots made in Josiah Wedgwood's 18th century factory and even older local wares. The collection, on permanent loan from London's Victoria and Albert Museum , is truly world class. While there, you can tour the factory to see how the finest pots and tableware are thrown and decorated; shop for breathtakingly expensive china; have a posh tea — on Wedgwood china, naturally — or a light lunch in the former workers' canteen, now a sunny, casual restaurant. Best of all, you can throw your own pot on a wheel — with lots of staff help — and organize to have it fired and sent to you as a finished piece.

Explore Iron Bridge Gorge

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The British public voted the Iron Bridge, a graceful single arch span 60 feet above the river Severn, an English icon in 2006. The world's first cast iron, arched bridge has given its name to the village, to the gorge and to the UNESCO World Heritage site that surrounds it. Hard as it is to imagine in this quiet, bucolic place, Ironbridge Gorge was one of the earliest centers of industry in the world and the place where the seeds of the Industrial Revolution were sown. Today you can visit ten different museums, all within a mile or two of each other. At the Coalport China Museum , step inside a huge beehive kiln to see how the earliest fine bone china was made. At the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron you can explore the remains of one of the world's oldest iron furnaces, where metal was first smelted on an industrial scale. At Blists Hill Victorian Town , stroll in and out of the houses, shops and workplaces of this early village. You can spend a family weekend exploring it and then take a tranquil kayak trip on the river that powered it all.

Dress for the Age of Steam on a Heritage Railway Journey

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The Midlands has several vintage railways adored by rail and steam enthusiasts from all over the world. They are usually restored and maintained by volunteer enthusiasts and experts who are delighted to tell you all about them. You can ride the rails along quiet backwaters and disused tracks or dress up as an Edwardian to enjoy a cream tea in vintage surroundings while being gently hauled cross country behind a steam locomotive. The Severn Valley Railway is one of the most ambitious, and among the oldest with a history dating back to the Victorian era. There 5 scheduled stops along its 16 miles of track between Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Kidderminster in Worcester as well as request stops in the Severn Valley Country Park and at Northwood. The Telford Steam Railway is actually older than the age of steam. Horses once pulled cars along its rails to deliver raw materials and coal to the industries in Iron Bridge Gorge.

Imagine You're a Roman at Wroxter Roman City

The largest freestanding Roman wall in Britain gives a sense of the size of a bathhouse in Viriconium (now Wroxeter Roman City ), the fourth largest Roman city in Britain. Explore the reconstructed Roman villa, beside the Roman road and based on nearby excavations. The living spaces, furniture and murals will give you a good idea of the life of an average Romanized British family toward the end of Roman occupation in Britain. Unlike the many Roman military installations and religious sites scattered around England, Wroxeter, near Shrewsbury and the Welsh border, was an ordinary middle class town, rather than a garrison, with markets, entertainments and ordinary people. The little museum at the site is fascinating.

Step Back in Time at Attingham Park

 Etrusia UK/Flickr/ CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Not far from Wroxeter, Attingham Park is a house with fascinating stories to tell. Alternately lavished with attention and shamefully neglected by its owners, the house was restored to its 18th century, Georgian glory by the National Trust in the 21st century. Every room tells its own entertaining tales. Take the one about the frugal parson, a younger brother of a younger brother who never expected to inherit the house but did. He was so overwhelmed that he spent the rest of his life throwing off his spartan ways and drinking the cellar dry. There's also a scenic breed of rare and heritage cattle, extensive park land and an ancient oak planted by landscape architecture star Humphrey Repton.

Be Dazzled at BMAG in Birmingham

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In 2009, a man with a metal detector made the find of a lifetime, uncovering 3,500 pieces of gold and silver metalwork, enamel and semi-precious stones. The Staffordshire Hoard as it came to be known, is the largest hoard of Anglo Saxon treasure ever discovered. In the battle to keep and display it, that mega-institution, the British Museum , lost out to two Midlands museums, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) , and the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on-Trent . Now you can see the gold near where it was found in the Midlands. And, if you think you might have a go with a metal detector yourself, find out what the rules of Treasure and Treasure Trove are in the UK.

While you're at BMAG, don't miss the world's most important collection of Pre-Raphaelite art with paintings by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, William Holman Hunt and others of the 19th century Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

The museum is in the center of Birmingham and is free to visit.

Shop for Everything in Birmingham

Basti Voe/Flickr/ CC BY-SA 2.0  

Indian brides from all over the UK and Europe head to Birmingham to buy sari fabrics and wedding accessories in The Rag Market , the oldest of Birmingham's Bullring markets with 350 stalls selling wares of all kinds. The Bullring markets are just a small part of the retail heaven that is the UK's second largest city. Virtually the whole of the city center is covered with several huge, multi-level modern malls. A short walk away, The Mailbox , so called because it was once a Post Office headquarters designed to look like a typical British mailbox, is a center for luxury fashion. And a few miles away, in the Jewellery Quarter, you can have gems and precious metals custom designed or catch the work of up and coming jewelry designer-makers at more than 100 jewelry shops and 400 jewelry related businesses. Around 40 percent of the jewelry sold in Britain — including some sold by the most prestigious Bond Street shops — is actually made in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter.

Visit Shakespeare's Birthplace

The market town of Stratford-upon-Avon is a must-visit locale for lovers of the bard. See a play at the acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Theatre (highly recommended). Tour all the Shakespeare family houses. Or simply wander the streets and along the banks of the Avon, admiring the beautiful, medieval half-timbered houses. Take a lunchtime cruise to see it all from a different perspective. And don't forget to travel a few miles out of town (there's a convenient, hop-on, hop-off bus) to Anne Hathaway's cottage — the scene of the real life Shakespeare in love.

Step into History in the Peak District National Park

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When you hike, cycle or motor tour in the Peak District, you are stepping into real social history. The Park is the oldest national park in the UK — though it was only founded in the 1950s. But an event there in the 1930s led to the opening up of most of England's privately owned land to walkers and the foundation of the National Park movement in the UK . In 1932, 500 people walked from the city of Manchester to the highest point in the Peaks, a plateau called Kinder Scout. It became known as the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass and was one of the most successful acts of civil disobedience in UK history. It ultimately led to the National Parks act in 1949, the establishment of Britain's network of long distance paths and the countryside rights of access enshrined in British law. History lesson over. Peak District National Park is a beautiful place to visit for fans of the great outdoors.

Tour Chatsworth, The Duke of Devonshire's Family Home

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Chatsworth on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District is one of the most popular homes for U.S. visitors. It has been in the Cavendish family, the current Dukes of Devonshire, for more than 450 years. Among the family's wealth of colorful characters was the scandalous Georgiana Spencer, ancestress of Princess Diana and subject of the film The Duchess, starring Kiera Knightley.

This is one stately home where the contents outshine the 1,000-acre Capability Brown-landscaped park, the gardens and the waterworks — created to thrill a Russian Tzar (who never saw it). The family's passion for art collecting across five centuries has resulted in one of Europe's finest private art collections. More than 4,000 years worth of art is represented — from classical sculptures to contemporary works — all held in trust for the public to see.

Tickets to tour the house, garden, Farmyard & playground or any combination of the four cost between £6.50-£23.

Take a Spin Around a Formula 1 Track

Silverstone , the home of the British Formula 1 Grand Prix, is just one of the surprising things you'll find in the county of Northhamptonshire, also called the "Heart of England." While there, you can accompany a driver on a hair raising ride around the track at speed. Or you can spend the day learning how to drive a Formula 1 car to take on the track yourself.

Visit Althorp, Princess Diana's Childhood Home

Althorp, Diana's childhood home and final resting place, is open to the public during fixed periods every year. The dates are announced on the Althorp website . The house has been the home of the Spencer family for 500 years and its collections are fascinating. There are 650 portraits, perhaps the finest portrait collection in Europe, including a room full of family portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds, who was a family friend. There's also a long gallery of portraits of the ladies of King Charles II's court, all said to be his mistresses, painted by Lely. The house has the only known portrait from life of the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey, queen of England for about 9 days before being beheaded by Mary Tudor, aka Bloody Mary.

Discover the Wonder of an English Bluebell Wood

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If you visit Northamptonshire in May, make time to stop at Coton Manor , for its lovely English bluebell wood. The garden, created privately by one determined homeowner and his gardener, is a lovely place to stop for a stroll, have a cream tea and admire the very English springtime sight of a carpet of blooming bluebells covering the floor of a five-acre woodland.

Find Richard III in Leicester

King Richard III Visitor Centre

Richard III, the most villainous king in all of Shakespeare's plays, may not have been such a villain after all. And he may not have been responsible for murdering his nephews — the two little princes — in the Tower of London, in order to secure the throne. The jury's still out on all that. But what is proven is that the skeletal remains found dumped unceremoniously in an unmarked grave under a municipal parking lot in Leicester are those of the hunchbacked king.

The new, award-winning Richard III Visitor Center, Richard III: Dynasty, Death and Discovery, tells the story of his life and times, the dynastic Wars of the Roses and the amazing detective story and modern genetic investigation that led to the discovery and identification of the king's body. After visiting the center, explore Leicester Cathedral , where Richard is now buried, and take in the nearby Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Center to see where he met his end, crying out — if you believe Shakespeare — "A horse, a horse. My kingdom for a horse."

Climb up to Lincoln Cathedral

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Lincoln, in the East Midlands, has a very well preserved Medieval Quarter as well as some interesting Roman remains. It's at the very top of the town and the cobbled pedestrian street that leads to it is so steep it is actually, officially called Steep Hill. In fact, most of the street is lined with railings to help pedestrians cling on and get to the top. Don't worry though — if you want to make your way from Lincoln's retail district and waterfront on the River Witham without hiking up Steep Hill, there is a bus.

There are plenty of good reasons to visit the area known as Lincoln Uphill. The Cathedral , one of the earliest examples of the English style known as Perpendicular Gothic, was, until the mid 16th century, the only man made structure in the world taller than the Pyramids. While at the Cathedral, look for the Lincoln Imp — legend has it he was frozen in stone by an angel— and The Green Man, a carving that harks back to pagan symbolism. After you visit the Cathedral, find your way down through the Cathedral Quarter to the ruins of the Medieval Bishop's Palace. It's reputed to be haunted and is definitely spooky to visit after dark.

Confront Power and Punishment at Lincoln Castle

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Lincoln Castle has occupied the highest point in the city for almost 1,000 years — possibly longer. It has been a place of judgement and imprisonment for most of that time and remains the site of Lincoln's Crown Court.

It's also a fascinating visitor attraction with three different things to see and do:

• The Magna Carta Vault : In 1215, the barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymede, Bishop Hugh of Lincoln was there and he brought an original copy back to Lincoln. It is one of only four original copies of the Magna Carta, the foundational document of the American legal system, in the world. Two years later, in 1217, a new document was drawn up, incorporating most of the original and adding improvements. It is known as the Charter of the Forest and the underground Magna Carta Vault at Lincoln Castle is the only place you can see both, side by side. There's also a wrap-around screen with a 3D film putting the documents in context and explaining why the Magna Carta, which establishes the rights of the people and the principle that no one is above the law, is important today.
• The Medieval Wall Walk : Circumnavigate the Castle on its intact curtain walls, stopping to peek into the towers and dungeons along the way. Recent improvements have made it accessible — with a wheelchair lift to take visitors up to the safe and dramatic third of a mile wall walk.
• The Victorian Prison : Victorian reformers had some strange ideas about humane imprisonment and they tried out their theories, called the "separate system" in full at the prison within these castle walls. The experience is brought to life for visitors who can don costumes and experience the sights and sounds and the claustrophobia of the unusual chapel

Float Like a Roman on Britain's Oldest Canal

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Lincoln isn't on the coast but it has a waterfront — and a very old one at that. The Brayford Pool marks the meeting point of the River Witham with the canal known as the Fossdyke Navigation. The Fossdyke connects the Witham to the River Trent — one of England's major waterways. It's the oldest canal in the UK with origins lost in the murky, unrecorded history of the Dark Ages. But the best guess is that the Romans built it around 120 A.D.

You can walk or cycle on 6 mile-long Fossdyke Canal Trail , but why not take to the water instead. The canal itself offers 10 miles of calm, lock free paddling waters, perfect for leisurely canoe or kayak outings.

Find Robin Hood's Lair in Sherwood Forest

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The Major Oak , is between 800 and 1,000 years old. Legend has it that this was Robin Hood's hiding place and the shelter where he and his band of Merry Men slept, hidden from sight and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.

At the Sherwood Forest Visitor Center you can find out the best ways to explore this ancient woodland. There's information about walks, wildlife and legends to explore. An important feature of this forest is the number of truly ancient oak trees here. There are at least 1,000 that are thought to be at least 500 years old.

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Guide to the Midlands: best villages to visit, country houses and places to eat and stay

The gently rolling pastures of the English Midlands are scattered with pretty villages, gnarly castles and quirky country houses. Here is our guide to the Midlands, looking at the best villages, country houses and castles to visit, walks, plus best places to eat and stay

Here is our guide to the Midlands, looking at the best villages, country houses and castles to visit, plus places to eat and stay.

What does Meriden mean?

No one knows how Meriden, near Coventry came to be known as the centre of England for more than 500 years. Maybe it began with drovers moving livestock diagonally through the country, finding Meriden to be three days from London and three days from Chester. Maybe it was dreamed up by tallow light in the Bull’s Head: a novel way to draw coaches to the inn. Geographically it wasn’t a farfetched imagining, though, and nor is viewing the old boundaries of Warwickshire as England’s symbolic heart.

On Meriden village green in the West Midlands (formerly Warwickshire), a 1951 plaque declares that the wayside cross above it marks the traditional centre of England.

Where is the new centre of England?

According to more recent (and accurate) calculations by Ordnance Survey in 2002, the geographic centre of England has been found to be a field at Lindley Hall Farm in Leicestershire – 11 miles from the original site.

What are the Midlands counties?

Landlocked Warwickshire borders with seven Midlands counties: Leicestershire and Staffordshire in the north and Gloucestershire and northern Oxfordshire in the south, its feet in the golden Cotswolds. To the east, Northamptonshire, the Rose of the Shires, and in the west, Worcestershire and the West Midlands, where JRR Tolkien’s imagination would take flight to create the rustic Shire of Middle Earth. Warwickshire is the county Henry James described as “mid-most England, unmitigated England”: wooded, undulating, and largely undramatic until met with half-timbered houses and lias-built (lias is a kind of limestone) churches. There it becomes idyllic. This is the home of modern rugby, George Eliot, and a playwright we’ll meet soon.

The best villages to visit in the Midlands

Welford-on-avon.

Of the many villages waiting to catch our eye, Welford-on-Avon is also one of the prettiest. Set in a bend of the River Avon, four miles south-west of Stratford-upon-Avon, it has a Norman church perched above timber-framed cottages, which are rendered plump and endearing with white- painted plaster and bonny thatched heads. Local lore has made the flagstone floors and cosy replaces of the 17th-century Bell Inn the scene of our unmentioned writer’s final ‘merry meeting’. Easier to prove is Welford’s other most English of boasts: to have one of the country’s tallest maypoles.

Six miles west of Coventry is a village telling tales that span centuries: Berkswell , whose name may derive from Bercul, a Saxon chieftain, and the spring-fed well in which he was reputedly baptised. The village green still displays stocks, inexplicably five-holed; some say it accommodated an unruly one-legged former soldier and his two drinking companions. In Berkswell’s handsome church of St John the Baptist , take the steps leading down from a boxed pew in the north aisle to find a two-part Norman crypt. The church is full of surprises, including signature mouse carvings by Robert Thompson (1876–1955). Its grounds hold a celebrity from the heart of English sport, for this is the burial place of Maud Watson, the 1884 winner of the first Ladies’ Singles title at Wimbledon.

Best places for wildlife spotting in the Midlands

To see England’s central landscape reclaimed by nature, look to Brandon Marsh , in the loving care of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust . More than 220 species of bird have been recorded here; you can view their soaring and hear their song from eight different hides. Take the longest of three footpaths, Kingfisher Trail , to walk alongside willow carr (waterlogged woodland), through trees and grassland, past the Newlands reedbed, which has been cultivated to nurture eels and amphibians. In later spring, the oak and ash shade of New Hare Covert will yield bluebells and foxgloves.

Although appearing wild and old, Brandon Marsh was formed by subsidence and flooding due to nearby coal mining, and sand and gravel workings until the 1980s invited further stretches of open water. The hands of industry have wrought further legacies on central England’s landscape through canals, those extraordinary feats of engineering that also foster tranquillity. A place to appreciate both is Hatton , where the Grand Union Canal takes a flight of 21 locks over 4km, raising the water by a remarkable 45 metres. This ‘stairway to heaven’ is blessed with biodiversity: look for darting dragon flies and damselflies in the summer and, all year round, listen for the telltale yaffle of the green woodpecker.

Best country houses and castles to visit for history

Stratford-upon-avon.

Near where the Stratford-upon-Avon canal meets the River Avon you’re likely to find Shakee’s Ice Cream Boat moored in wait for a new season of bard-watchers. Here is where we realise Warwickshire is not only the heart of England but, when it comes to our unnamed writer, the centre of the universe. “They’re Shakespeare-mad around here, aren’t they?” I heard a bemused visitor say on Bridge Street. Well, yes. But forgivably so.

Stratford and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust properties lie on well-trodden trails, so instead, let’s seek our man four miles east of the town, at Charlecote Park , the 800-year-old home of the Lucy family. Here you can follow footpaths among four shades of fallow deer, imagining a young William Shakespeare poaching a few, and perhaps some rabbits. A lack of compelling evidence has not hindered this story’s popularity. Shakespeare would at least have known Charlecote’s parkland and been aware of the Lucys, though. Be sure to visit the pristine knights’ tombs in the Lucy Chapel of St Leonard’s Church . Some people think Sir Thomas Lucy (d.1600) was sent up by Shakespeare as Justice Robert Shallow in The Merry Wives of Windsor .

Woodland assumes significance in several Shakespeare plays, especially As You Like It , where the court moves out into the Forest of Arden , cueing mischief and confusion. Little remains now of the thick old forest, which once stretched from Stratford to Tamworth, swathing the world Shakespeare knew in oak trees. Today, we find the forest’s legacy in place names: Henley-, Tanworth-, Hampton-in-Arden, and the many villages whose names end with the Saxon su x -ley or -leigh, denoting a woodland clearing. On the corner of Coughton Fields Lane outside Coughton Court near Alcester, a crumbly stone monument marks the supposed spot where travellers prayed for safe passage through the forest.

Warwick Castle

If we avoid Stratford, then nor should we linger in Leamington Spa, Coventry or Warwick. Looking out from a sandstone bluff over a bend in the River Avon, Warwick Castle must be mentioned, however, for its exhilarating combination of history and majesty. This is one of England’s nest medieval castles, replacing a motte- and-bailey fort built by William the Conqueror. The theme park-ish overlay brought by modern-day management from Merlin Entertainments makes a visit fun for anyone, with unwitting absorption of history lessons almost guaranteed through birds-of-prey displays, jousting and the ring of a missile from the world’s biggest working trebuchet. (The projectile is no longer sent flaming, following a 2015 mishap involving a Victorian thatched boathouse.) Even with crowds, 64 acres of Capability Brown landscape provide space to wander, and a home for peacocks both living and topiary.

While Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick, was in residence at Warwick Castle , his brother Robert had been given Kenilworth Castle by Elizabeth I. Robert was the queen’s favourite suitor until his death in 1588; the only man she would have married. His alterations, architecturally and politically ambitious, are visible throughout the castle grounds today and the story of his thwarted desire is told comprehensively by English Heritage. Stairs and viewing platforms installed in Leicester’s Building allow visitors to ascend the red sandstone ruins and look out to the Warwickshire Queen Elizabeth would have seen during the whirl of banqueting, sport and dancing that accompanied her royal progress.

Political history – sites to visit

Two years after Elizabeth’s death, a group of provincial English Catholics schemed to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The history of several Warwickshire families is charged through with links to the Gunpowder Plot, including the Throckmortons of Coughton Court and possibly the Ferrers of Baddesley Clinton .

The latter house, magnificent and moated, has priest-holes, and a tale of earlier intrigue. One day in 1485, the lord of the manor Nicholas Brome came home to find a man “chockinge” (‘chucking’ or stroking) Brome’s wife Elizabeth “under ye chinne”. In a jealous rage, Brome drew his sword and killed the stranger, only to discover he had murdered the Rector of St James. For this killing, and the earlier death of a steward in a fight, Brome was ordered to pay penance, which included renovating the local church. And so the towers of St Michael’s Church in Baddesley Clinton and St Giles in Packwood are known as the Towers of Atonement.

It seems Brome carried his remorse to the grave because, upon a request stated in his will, he was buried standing upright in St Michael’s: “Within the church door as the people may tread upon mee as they cone [sic] into the church”.

Country houses to visit

Baddesley Clinton and Packwood House – two more names hinting at Warwickshire’s sylvan past – are managed by the National Trust and worth visiting in one day, especially if you can make the four-mile walk between estates, partly following the canal towpath. Packwood’s yew trees are startling: over 350 years old, they’re clipped into curious conical and cylindrical shapes. When I learned the topiary may represent evangelists and apostles at the Sermon on the Mount I smiled a bit guiltily. Because that would mean the arbour overseeing them all – the one with the spiral pathway my boys love to hurtle down yelling “Helter- skelter!” – is meant to be Jesus. I’ll urge them to proceed more reverently in future.

But I’m glad they have the trees and rural scenes of Warwickshire in the landscape of their childhood. Blessed are they who enjoy the endlessly captivating heart of England.

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Midlands Travel Guide

England isn’t just divided into the north and the south – there’s a whole stretch of the country that sits right between them, a wonderful and often overlooked area known as the Midlands. It’s here you’ll find Shakespeare’s birthplace, the rich cultural heritage of the Industrial Revolution and beautiful countryside that’s as wonderful to look at as it is to explore. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the great stuff to do in the region, we’ve put together this handy Midlands travel guide – and our range of luxury cottages in the Midlands make a great places to stay while you explore!

Hidden Gems | For families | Things to do | For foodies

The Midlands , a vast swath of land that cuts through the heart of the country, is a collection of counties often overlooked by holidaymakers in favour of the wilderness of the north or the gentility of the south. This, however, is a mistake; the Midlands has plenty to offer all types, from the historic market towns of Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire to the buzzing, cosmopolitan city of Birmingham. Wild nature awaits explorers, while towns like Stratford and Cambridge offer a rich literary legacy for heritage hunters. What’s more, without the fame of England’s more celebrated counties, the Midlands remains relatively uncrowded and you won’t have to vie with other travellers for the best photograph or picnic spot during your scenic escape.

Best places to visit in the Midlands

• Stratford-upon-Avon  – Explore the birthplace of Shakespeare and see one of his plays performed.
• Cambridge – Punt along the river of one of England’s most famous university towns.
• The Peak District – Escape to the rugged hills, lakes and caves of this gorgeous pocket of wilderness.
• Birmingham – Hang out in England’s vibrant and happening second city.
• Lincoln – Visit the impressive castle and cathedral in this historic town.

When to visit

Summer in the Midlands has a better guarantee of dry weather than in many other parts of the country. One of the best places to stay in the Midlands is Stratford-Upon-Avon as it’s blessed with more than its fair share of sunny days, during which the river glistens and the town comes to life. It’s also the best time of year to head to the countryside in places like the Peak District and the Lincolnshire Wolds – you are more likely to be able to enjoy whole days of exploring without rain. Spring and autumn bring out different colours in the landscape, but the weather can be more changeable than the summer months.

Winter in the Midlands is often characterised by grey skies and rain, many National Trust attractions close and the national parks become wet , windy and unwelcoming. However, several towns and cities also host lively Christmas markets, the pubs are particularly cosy and if you catch the hills during a spate of snow, you’ll find an untouched wonderland to explore.

Getting around

• Airports: East Midlands airport is easily reachable from a  number of airports across the United Kingdom and Europe. 
• By train: England’s train network serves most of the towns and cities of the Midlands, with several lines heading into London. Use East Midlands Trains and Network West Midlands for timetables and fares, or use National Rail for a broader overview.
• By car: Cars are the most flexible option for travelling in the Midlands, although navigating the infamous spaghetti junction outside Birmingham can be a daunting experience for first-time visitors. Most major car rental services operate out of cities like Birmingham, Leicester and Lincoln.
• By bus: Bus travel in the Midlands is slightly more flexible than trains, and can take you to smaller villages. Visit Traveline Midlands for timetables and routes.
• On foot: Places like the Peak District, the Fens and the forests of Arden and Sherwood are best explored on foot. Walking Routes has a comprehensive list of trails across England, including tips on where to go in the Midlands.

Hidden gems

• The gentle, rolling hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds have been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and cover enough ground that a day on the walking trails, watching wildlife or taking photos can often be spent without so much as seeing another soul. It’s one of the best places to go in the Midlands, if you ask us.
• Discover the well-preserved town centres and narrow cobbled streets of some of the Midland’s most delightful market towns. The ruins of , in a charming village of the same name, are the largest in Britain, while the medieval High Street of Henley-in-Arden is a quintessentially English sight.
• Herefordshire’s Wye River Valley , running up the border of Wales, is another little-known scenic hideout in the Midlands, often overlooked in favour of the nearby Cotswolds. Its highlights, such as the charming town of Ross on Wye and the walking trails along the river’s many meanders, are not to be missed.
• Nottingham’s occasionally unsavoury reputation in the media should not overshadow the city’s numerous appeals. The Theatre Royal and Nottingham Playhouse are artistic hubs in the county, while museums dedicated to industry, brewing and art make for interesting days out. Wollaton Park, next to the university, is the home of a grandiose mansion and herds of deer.
• The 47-kilometre walking route of Wolverhampton Ring encircles the industrial Black Country city, and was devised by a retired teacher to show off some of its undiscovered places. The route takes you up hills, through villages and along canals, with some spectacular views along the way. It’s the best way to discover a lively city that few people visit.
• The National Trust own several properties throughout the Midlands, all of which have their own unique reasons to visit. Some, such as the elegant mansion of Chatsworth House, are well-known and loved; others, like the lakeside Croome Court (home to intricate tapestries) and Stoneywell (which has an interesting artistic heritage) are less popular but just as captivating.

The Midlands for families

If a child were to list all the things they might want for a dream holiday, the chances are they could find most of them in the Midlands. Chocolate factories, high-flying adventure courses, ghost tours, museums filled with airplanes and a gigantic room full of videogames arrive straight from your kid’s wish list into the heart of England.

The fun of a family holiday also lies in introducing children to new and exciting experiences, such as cable cars that climb through the Peak District, trains that run through Shakespeare country and underground caves that are decorated with limestone stalactites.

The sheer range of activities, wide open spaces and quirky accommodation available in the Midlands makes the region an ideal destination to take the children. What’s more, you won’t be saddled with the hefty price tags of the tourist-heavy south. Embrace the excitement of everything on offer and adults, too, will discover childlike wonder once again. Here are just a few of the Midlands’ top child-oriented offerings, and our blog on the best family friendly activities in the Midlands has even more info to enjoy.

The best family-friendly things to do in the Midlands 

• The Midlands is home to Bournville, which will forever be associated with something children and adults alike can appreciate – chocolate! A visit to  Cadbury World  makes a fantastic day out for everyone, with exciting interactive experiences, history lessons and practical demonstrations to enjoy. And yup, you do get to do a tasting!
• One great way to see the amazing sights of the park is via cable car –  the Heights of Abraham  soars over the Derwent valley for over a kilometre, and there’s even a cafe, a museum, a play area and underground caverns to explore once you reach the top.
• For something a bit different that kids (and young-at-heart adults) are bound to enjoy, try  the National Videogame Arcade  in Nottingham. It’s as educational as it is enjoyable, with interactive exhibits as well as the chance to play games – and even influence their future by giving developers feedback on upcoming titles.
• If battling digital aliens isn’t enough, you can enjoy another other-worldly adventure at  Poole ’ s Cavern . Head underground to learn the history of this cave complex and take in its wondrous sights, with the stunning central show cave being the main attraction.

The best family-friendly walking and cycling routes in the Midlands

• Sheldon Country Park offers a lot whether your family prefers walking or cycling, with a five mile loop around this park near Birmingham airport that features woodland and wetland. There’s also a small farm, so younger kids can take a look at the animals.
• You can also enjoy a great cycle around Chasewater in Burntwood. Just take a nice, casual pedal around the perimeter of the large lake – it’s a sea of tranquility in this otherwise bustling part of the midlands.
• Some of the prettiest places to go in the Midlands are the many canals. Take to the canals near Coventry for another waterside walk, and if you head for the section between Basin and Hawkesbury Junction you’ll be treated to the ‘Art Trail,’ where local artists showcase some of their works.
• For a ramble that takes in all forms of nature, try Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty, and for such a relatively small area packs a whole load of landscapes and nature in. It’s perfect if you’ve got the dog with you too!

Other things to do in the Midlands

Groups on holiday in the Midlands won’t find it difficult to fill their itineraries: action addicts can go paintballing or quad-biking, sightseers can tour macabre museums and TV filming locations, while animal enthusiasts can try their hand at falconry.If all this seems a little high energy for your taste, never fear. Those hoping for a more relaxing romantic break or laid-back group retreat can turn down the dial with some less strenuous activities. Gentle strolls in the countryside, leisurely drifts in barges and hidden-away woodland spas are also on the menu here.

Need some help filling your itinerary? We’ve got you covered – just choose from our suggestions below, or head to our blog on the best group activities in the Midlands .

Adrenaline fuelled activities in the Midlands

• The best thing about Avalanche Adventure Ltd   is that whatever you fancy, it’s pretty likely they can sort it out for you! From paintballing to quad biking to hovercraft rides to glider rides, there’s pretty much everything on offer. Check out their website for a full (and exhausting sounding!) list.
• The Falconry Centre   in Hagley offer great introductory courses for falconry, and you can even have a look round and meet other majestic birds of prey.

Laid back activities in the Midlands

• Bit of a fan of TV, or more specifically the Midlands set gangster drama  Peaky Blinders ? Good news! You can delve into the real-life stories behind the show thanks to  Peaky Tours , which will give you some insight into the past and history of these notorious Black Country bandits.
• For a more in depth look at the Black Country’s canal network, take a jaunt with the  Dudley Canal Trust Trip . You can enjoy a narrowboat cruise down the waterways, taking in some beautiful scenery and underground routes not normally accessible to the public.
• Or for something a bit different (and slightly creepy) check out the  Coffin Works   in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter is a museum all about the famed coffin makers Newman Brothers. Costumed guides will take you on a tour of the factory, demonstrating techniques and illuminated our ancestor’s attitude to death.

The Midlands’ food and drink scene

For a complete culinary experience of the Midlands, we recommend getting involved with making food yourself. Whether proving dough for your own bread, learning a few professional cooking skills or touring the food factories, the warm and friendly Midlanders are more than happy to let you inside their world.

Of course, some of you may feel that you get enough hands-on cooking experience at home and that holidays are a time for steering well clear of the kitchen. In which case, fear not – you can spend your holiday hopping between the region’s finest restaurants instead. And you won’t be stuck for choice: Choose between Indian, pub grub or trendy eateries. Birmingham has more Michelin stars than any other English city outside of London, so fine-dining won’t be an issue either.

To help you plan your culinary adventure in the Midlands, we’ve chosen a few of our favourite dining, drinking and cooking experiences. There’s more infor over at our blog too, thanks to our article on the best foodie experiences in the Midlands .

The best restaurants in the Midlands

• It might not look like it thanks to its unassuming exterior, but The Cross   in Kenilworth is a Michelin starred restaurant. Concentrating on rustic recipes with a contemporary twist, the menu changes seasonally so you know that whatever you order, its ingredients will be at their very tastiest.
• Simpsons Restaurant in Edgbaston also can lay claim to a Michelin star, and features several tempting tasting menus to chew through. While the food’s divine, the surroundings are a treat too – the restaurant is found in a Grade II listed building.
• The Midlands is also famous for its curry, and you’ll doubtless come across some fine Indian food during your trip. Want to take your balti to the next level? Birmingham’s  Lasan   offers truly amazing Indian food – even Gordon Ramsey is a fan.

Must-try dishes in the Midlands

• It’s already been mentioned, but is probably worth mentioning again – the Birmingham and Black Country areas are famous for their curry houses. There are quite a few, but a friendly local will always be happy to point you towards a nearby favourite.
• The Midlands is also famed for its brewing , and there’s a number of fine beers and ales that have come out of the region. If you’re dropping into a pub (and why wouldn’t you?) look out for beer from Banks’s, Enville Ales or the Wye Valley Brewery, though any local brewery is bound to offer something tasty.
• Looking for something to go with your pint ? Pork scratchings originated in the West Midlands, and make the perfect accompaniment to a local brew.
• For a hearty and traditional Midlands breakfast, keep your eye out for Staffordshire Oatcakes . A bit like a pancake made with oatmeal, this savoury snack is fantastic served with bacon and lashings of melted cheese.

The best foodie activities in the Midlands

• The  School of Artisan Food , which you’ll find in Worksop, is actually a fully-blown cookery school where you can even earn a diploma. Luckily, they also offer shorter masterclasses in eclectic culinary skills such as curing ham, pickles and preserves and how to make the most out of your herb garden.
• Don’t think you need to head to Bordeaux or Tuscany to indulge in some top class wine tasting. Though the midlands might be light on vineyards, the  Loki Wine Merchant and Tasting House  in Birmingham is the place to be to try some fine vintages in a fun and informative environment.
• The pork pie is a picnic staple that originated in the Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray (along, foodie fact fans, with Stilton cheese) so take a trip to  Dickson & Morris of Melton Mowbray   which doesn’t just sell pies and cheese but offers a workshop on how to make the perfect pork pie.
• And for dessert, those with a sweet tooth should head straight for  Chocolate Alchemy   in Loughborough. If the huge (and tempting!) variety in the shop isn’t enough, go hands-on and make your own sweet treats under the tutelage of one of their expert chocolatiers.

Now you’ve seen what the magical Midlands have to offer, why not check out our collection of holiday homes in the Midlands?  If you have any queries, our friendly concierge team will be happy to help! 

3 Responses

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Thank you for sharing this interesting blog. I am going to the Midlands next week and this blog made me more excited.

Really interesting blog, I loved reading it, please keep on writing blogs like this in future as well. I would love to see more blogs like this in future as well.

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16 best family days out in the Midlands: Cheap things to do with your kids around the Midlands

Here are 16 of the best family things to do when visiting the Midlands...

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Family days out in the Midlands are something we can all enjoy again now that lockdown rules and restrictions are easing.

Finding fun things to do with kids is an ongoing task for parents. At the start of the year we made do with virtual kid’s tours and Zoom games for kids during lockdown, but now we’re excited to get back out and discover old stomping grounds and new family adventures.

From historical attractions to strawberry picking , there’s a whole host of Midlands day trips to explore during the school summer holdiays . We’ve kept our ideas purse-friendly but fun, and found out the all important re-opening dates for when we can get back out there.

So prepare some packed lunches , bundle the kids into the car and choose from one of our best days out in the Midlands suggestions...

Best family days out in the Midlands

1. alton towers, staffordshire.

Families and thrill-seekers are set for a summer of fun at Alton Towers Resort this year thanks to the arrival of brand-new rides and attractions at the world-class theme park set in over 500 acres of beautiful Staffordshire countryside.

Alton Towers has now fully re-opened to guests (and under 3's still go free!) and is welcoming visitors back to the family-friendly theme park in style with their first ever Mardi Gras inspired takeover at the Resort. Taking place everyday until June 20th, the Resort will be transformed with music, street performers, colour, and food from around the world.

In addition, a whole new area of Alton Towers has been transformed for kids into ‘The World of David Walliams’. The colourful and mischievous new land in the park brings David's children's books to life and features rides and attractions including the Royal Carousel, Raj’s Bouncy Bottom Burp, Flavio’s Fabulous Fandango, as well as the chance to pick up a wacky bargain in Raj’s Shop.

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The main attraction is a brand new child-friendly ride for 2021 - Gangsta Granny: The Ride. Based on David Walliams’ most popular children’s novel, Gangsta Granny: The Ride is a fun family experience for all ages which sees guests join the main characters, Ben and Granny, as they attempt the greatest heist in the history of the world: to steal the Crown Jewels.

Alton Towers have reduced their capacity to allow for social distancing, so anyone wishing to visit, including Passholders will need to pre-book a ticket in advance. Find out more and book tickets here .

2. Cadbury's World, Birmingham

Just a short drive away from Birmingham's bustling city centre comes a factory that needs no introduction. Cadbury's World is every child and chocolate-lover's dream, with chocolate confectionery everywhere you look. Discover the origins of the cocoa bean, jump on board the Crunchie Rollercoaster or simply dive into a bowl of liquid Dairy Milk (they will let us do that, won't they?). And with a restaurant, playground park and picnic area, there's something for everyone to enjoy on this family day out in the Midlands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrjAw7Gzalg

Cadbury's World re-opened on Monday 17th May, following government guidelines. Masks will need to be worn by all visitors over the age of 12 whilst inside the attraction.

Find out more about Cadbury World and get the latest ticket information here

3. National Space Centre, Leicester

For all you space lovers out there, this is one of the days out in the Midlands not to be missed when you're in the region. The exhibition holds galleries, interactive displays and an incredible Planetarium all surrounding the history (and future) of space travel. And that's not all; as they hold special themed events for kids during the holidays.

You'll be pleased to know you can put aside the fun at-home kid's science experiments and see some real space action soon. The space centre reopened on Monday 17th May, following government guidelines. Be aware booking tickets before your trip is mandatory, so do check the website to see when there is space for you to visit.

Find out more about the National Space Centre and get the latest ticket information here

4. Holme Pierrepont Country Park, Nottinghamshire

This is one of the best family days out in the Midlands for all you action-adventurey types. If your kids are into trying out new activities, from White Water Rafting to Sailing, Wakeboarding to Segways, this activity-packed park is a fantastic day out. Kids can get lessons on the water, try out the army-inspired assault course or try their hand at some mini golf or high ropes. The Rambo-inspired, ECombat Experience gives your kids the chance to engage in thrilling military missions (live on the battlefield) too. Plus you can purchase zone packages if your kids are interested in trying multiple activities, which works out a little cheaper.

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We're happy to report that Holme Pierrepont Country Park is currently open for walks and the Sky Trail and Mini Golf are also open now too.

Find out more about Holme Pierrepont Country Park and get your Sky Trail and Mini Golf tickets here

5. Drayton Manor, Staffordshire

You might be expecting a grand, country house, but Drayton Manor is actually the setting of one of the best kid's theme parks . There are hundreds of things to do, from thrilling rides and attractions, 'Thomas Land' for the tots, and an activity park, museum and crazy golf for everyone else. There's even a 15 acre zoo with dozens of wildlife, reptiles and primates. One of the best family days out in the Midlands according to mums who visited the park for us, they reported that kids of all ages enjoyed the day - and having stopped talking about it since!

Drayton Manor has now fully re-opened and is welcoming visitors with all Covid safety precautions being followed by the park. Tickets are available to buy online now, but can also be bought on the day.

Find out more about Drayton Manor and book your tickets for summer 2021 here

6. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham

For a more peaceful day out in the West Midlands, escape the bustle of the city and enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of Birmingham's Botanical Gardens. Explore the various tropical glasshouses, stunning gardens and breathtaking lake. Send the kids on their own trails to explore everything nature has to offer, from beautiful butterflies to magical plants. They can even pick up an explorer backpack for the day, bursting with creative activities. The gardens are great all year round and seasonal events, such as Halloween's Spooky Story Night Trail or their Santa's Grotto are legendary.

Find out more about Birmingham's Botanic Garden and book tickets for your trip here

7. Manor Farm Fruits, Tamworth

Fruit-picking is a lovely, wholesome activity the whole family can enjoy - with the added perk of lots of delicious strawberries to tuck into after. Manor Farm Fruits is one of our top picks for family days out in the Midlands, as the site also includes picnic tables and a tractor sized bouncy castle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmaVnjI7grc

The Farm will be opening for the season at 10am on Wednesday, 26th May 2021. Like last year’s pick-your-own (PYO) season, there’ll be a booking system in place to keep your fruit-picking Covid-safe.

Find out more about Manor Farm Fruits and the start of their strawberry picking season here

8. Si5 Spymissions, Nottingham

For kids who want to crack codes, solve puzzles and dodge lasers this is the perfect day out. Teams must complete their mission within the time limit, in order to prevent the ship from being blown up. This is a great chance to get your kids off their phones or computer games and instead throw them into the scenarios they so love to play out. This action packed day will leave your children satisfied and exhausted! The 'mission' lasts around an hour and there are three levels of difficulty to suit different age groups.

https://www.facebook.com/spymissions/photos/a.426908703990959.122541.120103251338174/1230834773598344/?type=1&theater

Si5 SpyMissions opened their doors again on Saturday 22nd May. You can book your up-to-six person party online.

Find out more about Si5 SpyMissions and book your escape room experience here

9. Monkey Forest, Trentham

Want to see animals roaming free? Visit this amazing 60-acre forest on this fabulous family day out, where you can interact and walk amongst up to 140 free roaming monkeys. Unlike anything else, this experience will allow your kids to see how these animals act in their natural habitat and capture heart-melting memories they'll never forget.

Visitors can secure their time-slot tickets online to visit. Pre-booking tickets is a must.

Find out more about Monkey Forest Trentham and book your tickets to visit here

10. Tudor World, Stratford Upon Avon

Bring your kids' history education to life with this interactive Tudor museum. Instead of old artefacts and displays, your kids can dress up, take their place at the dining table, rest in the bed and sit on the throne! Let them discover how life was all those years ago by experiencing it first hand. We promise your kids will never enjoy learning quite so much. The independent, award-winning museum is a fun day out for the whole family and it's educational too.

https://youtu.be/ssJBa_aVEOU

Tudor World is now welcoming back visitors and tickets are available to book now on their website.

Find out more about Tudor World and be sure to pre-book your tickets for summer 2021 here

11. The Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath

If it's time to get a breath of fresh air, take a trip up the hill on the cable car and absorb the stunning views the Peak District has to offer. Once at the top, take a guided tour of the two great caverns, perfect for any little adventurers you might have. Check out the amazing fossil collection and climb the Prospect Tower. If your kids are still energetic, there are two great adventure playgrounds which we also recommend.

A limited number of tickets are on sale for each week, so we suggest you book in advance and familiarise yourself with the coronavirus safety measures in place.

Find out more about The Heights of Abraham and purchase your tickets here

12. Chatsworth House, Derbyshire

There is a full day's worth of activities at Chatsworth house - a fun-filled Midlands day out for the whole family. This beautiful historical house is a sight to behold, surrounded by stunning natural scenery with plenty of land for little ones to run around on.

You can explore the gardens, farmyard and playground which are open at present, with visitors asked to book a time-slot online before arriving.

Find out more about Chatsworth House and book your time-slot tickets here

13. Butterfly Farm, Stratford-Upon-Avon

If your little ones love bugs and nature they'll have a whirl at the Butterfly Farm. They'll learn about the plants grown at the farm and see some of the worlds largest and most camouflaged caterpillars. The caterpillars will be on show alongside the cocoons, giant silk moths and shining pupae so kids can get to grips with the full lifecycle of these fascinating creatures. There's also a Mini-Beast Metropolis which is home to stick insects, beetles, leaf cutter ants and some of the worlds biggest tarantula spiders!

https://www.facebook.com/stratfordbutterflyfarm/photos/rpp.168415813184018/2546838875341688/?type=3&theater

Stratford-Upon-Avon's Butterfly Farm has now re-opened after lockdown. Tickets are scheduled to be released soon, so watch this space.

Find out more about the Butterfly Farm and get the latest ticket information here

14. Water World, Staffordshire

This is the UK's No.1 Tropical Aqua Park and for good reason! It has thrilling rides, plunge pools, a bubble pool, jacuzzi and a wave machine. If the weather permits there is also an outdoor pool you might like to take a dip in. What family won't enjoy a day out to this West Midlands attraction?

Those who pre-book their tickets online will have priority over those that turn up on the day. So be sure to log online and book your chosen 3-hour time-slot to avoid disappointment.

Find out more about Waterworld Staffordshire and book your tickets for summer 2021 here

15. West Midland Safari Park, Kidderminster

Kids will have a roar-some day out at this must-visit West Midlands attraction. Explore Elephant Valley, check out animals often found in the African plains or venture across to the land of the living dinosaurs. In addition to the incredible safari, kids and adults alike can enjoy an adrenaline hit at the amazing adventure theme park in the same afternoon.

https://youtu.be/kHCgwn3vmzI

One of kids' favourite days out in the Midlands, the park has now officially re-opened after lockdown, just make sure you book tickets online first. Some dates have a 20% off discount when you book ahead.

Find out more about the West Midlands Safari Park and book your safari tickets here

16. Warwick Castle: The Dragon Slayer

Warwick Castle is open all year round so is definitely worth a look, but if you're there in August, then the Dragon Slayer is highly recommended. 

At £19pp it's not the cheapest, especially if you're a family of 4+. Mum-of-three Dionne tells us "The Dragon Slayer follows Guy of Warwick on his quests to save his love, Felice. It's set in the castle courtyard, where you take your seat in this sunset-drenched show of medieval fantasy jam-packed with live action, a fire-breathing dragon, fated romance, majestic horses, and action-packed story-lines. Not forgetting the illumination as the skies explode with fireworks as the finale of the legend of the Dragon Slayer. It  really was a brilliant attack on the senses. 

She adds; "The show itself was fantastic! I couldn’t keep the kids in their seats, it was so interactive with characters arriving from all sides and projection up onto the castle walls. They were constantly jumping up squealing about something else they'd spotted.” 

Find out more about the Warwick Castle and read our full review of The Dragon Slayer . 

An internationally published digital journalist and editor, Rachael has worked for both news and lifestyle websites in the UK and abroad. Rachael's published work covers a broad spectrum of topics and she has written about everything from the future of sustainable travel, to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the world we live in, to the psychology of colour.

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Top 10 Places To Visit In The Midlands

We all love a good day out. Whether it’s with the kids, as a couple or just a solo adventure. We’re going to show you the top 10 places to visit in the Midlands.

Whether your in the West Midlands or East Midlands, we’re covering the whole area (classed as the Midlands). As it’s such a big area, this post could be super long but we’re handpicking the best areas just for you.

Why Visit The Midlands?

Whether you’re visiting the UK from afar or you live here and are in search of something to do, the Midlands wouldn’t normally be a first choice to visit. But it’s oh so worth it with it’s vast amounts of hidden gems.

West Midlands

The West Midlands is made up of various counties:

• Herefordshire
• Staffordshire
• Warwickshire
• Worcestershire

You’ll also find some major cities such as Birmingham, Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

East Midlands

The same as the West, East Midlands is also made up of several counties:

• Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire (excluding North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire)
• Northamptonshire
• Nottinghamshire

Some of the most populous cities here include Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Mansfield, Northampton and Nottingham.

Now we know what we’re working with, let’s get straight in to the list!

1. Straford-upon-Avon

A medieval market town, Stratford-upon-Avon is located in Warwickshire (West Midlands). If you have a bucket list of places to visit, this needs to feature on it!

It’s biggest attraction is the fact that it is the birthplace of William Shakespeare – the most famous writer in the world. He was born here in 1564 and also laid to rest here in 1616.

If you want to learn all about the man himself, you can take the hop-on hop-off bus. This will take you to all the most important spots in Shakespeare’s life Mary Arden’s Farm and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.

2. Castleton

You’ll find Castleton nestled in Hope Valley, Derbyshire (East Midlands).

If you’re particularly into walking and hiking, you’ll love this gem in the Peak District. It just so happens to be home to two of the most popular walks in the area – Mam Tor and Winnats Pass. Don’t forget the Dragon’s Back Walk too.

Love your history? You’ll find the ruins of Peveril Castle here too. From the 11th century, it’s one of England’s first Norman fortresses.

You can also check out the show caves here. Three are close to the village and are highly rates as some of the best to be found in the country.

Finally, make sure you visit the village centre and enjoy and afternoon tea in one of it’s tea rooms.

3. Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle is in… you guessed it, Warwick (West Midlands).

It can be hard to choose a castle to visit with there being so many scattered throughout the UK. But Warwick Castle always features on the top lists.

It sits on the River Avon in Warwickshire and construction started very soon after the great Battle of Hastings (1068). It wasn’t until the 12th century that the stone castle started to take shape.

Nowadays, visitors to the castle have lots of activities to choose from in the Summer.

You can take part in a jousting tournament! As well as this, you can watch various shows including archery displays, birds of prey shows and the dragon slayer show – very fitting!

It’s quite easy to make a full day of your visit to Warwick Castle.

4. Bakewell

Another vote for the Peak District! Bakewell is a market town that can be found in the Peak District, Derbyshire (East Midlands).

Walkers and hikers alike will love this one with plenty of walks and hikes across the local area.

Just a few miles out from Bakewell you’ll find Chatsworth House which is well worth a visit.

If you happen to be there on a Monday, you’ll get to enjoy market day.

If a farmer’s market is up your street, get here on the third Saturday of the month. You’ll find a huge variety of local goods and produce on sale.

Whilst you’re here, you have to try a Bakewell Pudding. It’s in the name!

5. Ironbridge

If you can’t guess the attraction here, then there’s no helping you!

Ironbridge is aptly named due to the iron bridge that resides here and stretches over the River Severn. You’ll find it in Shropshire (West Midlands).

1779 is when the bridge was built and it was the first of it’s kind (built using iron) anywhere in the entire world.

Coalbrookdale is where the process of smelting iron using coke was born and it was a ground breaking process at the time.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage site as of 1986 and was also the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

6. Mablethorpe

The first seaside has made it’s appearance! Mablethorpe sits on the coast of Lincolnshire (East Midlands).

One of the best things about Mablethorpe is that all of it’s main attractions (of which there are many) are so close together!

Be sure to check out the sand train. It heads in to the sea for the return leg of the journey!

If you love going to the beach, Mablethorpe’s miles of golden sands won’t disappoint. Donkey rides await you and don’t forget the wonderful fish and chips that are available too.

Heading there with the kids? They’ll enjoy the mini theme park that includes a boating lake, crazy golf and rides for all ages.

7. Bourneville

Calling all chocolate lovers!

Bournville in Birmingham (West Midlands) is home to the world famous Cadbury World which started as the original Cadbury chocolate factory in 1879.

John Cadbury created Bournville as a Victorian model village to house his many workers. He also made sure they had access to schools, hospitals and many other essential amenities.

Learn all about the village by taking part in the Bournville Heritage Walk, crossing past all the points of interest.

Whilst you’re here, take a look around Cadbury World and learn how chocolate is actually manufactured (as well as trying samples of the goodies along the way).

8. Sherwood Forest

Back to the East Midlands, specifically Nottinghamshire. The famous Sherwood Forest is a must visit.

It’s well known as being the home of the mighty Robin Wood and has a protected status. It is dubbed as a ‘legend in the making for over 1000 years’.

Giant ancient Oak trees can be found here, one in particular being the celebrated Major Oak.

This tree has been here between 800 and 1100 years! If only it could talk – imagine the history this tree has witnessed!

Walks, walks and more walks. All ages will be able to enjoy a trek around the forest on one of its many trails.

Events are held year round as well as guided walks so be sure to visit more than once.

9. Black Country Living Museum

Fancy a touch of History? Be prepared to take in tons of it!

Get a sense of exactly what life was like back in the 19th and early 20th centuries by visiting the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley (West Midlands).

Many of the staff here are dressed in costume to match the times and play out as characters so you really feel as though you’ve taken a step back in time.

Many of the shops and houses here have been preserved so they are just as they were at the time they we’re actually in use during the area’s time as one of the world’s most heavily industrialised areas.

Prepare to spend the day here as there is so much to see and do.

You’ll learn all about how life was for the average working class person back in recent history.

Fans of the hit show Peaky Blinders will be interested to know that parts of it were filmed right here! And they even hose]t a Peaky Blinders themed event so dress to impress!

10. Silverstone

The Silverstone Circuit near Silverstone (East Midlands) is a must visit for sports fanatics.

It’s located around 30 miles north east of Oxford.

It is home of the British Grand Prix so Formula 1 fans will be right at home here.

You can sit back and watch an F1 race or even take part on the track and test your driving skills with a track day experience.

This circuit is one of the oldest in the world and many drivers hail it as the ‘Temple of Motorsport’.

Go And See The Top 10 Places To Visit In The Midlands

There you have it – 10 places to visit all around the Midlands.

If you’ve already been to these places, then check out more of our posts to really explore the UK like this one about places to visit outdoors .

But even so, these places are definitely worth a second visit as they are truly remarkable and exactly why you shouldn’t discount the Midlands as an ideal place to visit when in England.

30 top days out in the Midlands with kids

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The heartland of Britain’s industrial revolution has a smorgasbord of family attractions. From animal experiences to historic castles and beautiful parklands to hands-on days out that will leave your little explorers exhausted and overflowing with new knowledge. But what are the best days out in the Midlands?

Let’s take a look. Maybe this list of things to do in the East and West Midlands will inspire your future days out and family adventures?

*This post contains affiliate links*

Find more days out in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in my big round up of 101 UK attractions for families .

Contents - jump to what you'd like to know

Days out in the Midlands for families

If you are looking for things to do in the Midlands – a huge area – I can guarantee this post is just tip of the ice berg!

Here’s where to find the Midlands family attractions listed in this post:

If you have a favourite place to visit in Birmingham, Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincoln, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, the Peak District, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands or Worcestershire, that’s not mentioned let me know!

In the meantime, here are few to get you going split into days out in the West Midlands and, further down, what to do in the East Midlands.

Family days out in the West Midlands

Here’s some the best places to go in the West Midlands:

1. Birmingham Botanical Gardens

If you want an outdoor day out near Birmingham then check out the Botanical Gardens. They were founded in Edgbaston in 1829.

The gardens include four impressive glasshouses showcasing tropical, sub tropical, Mediterranean and arid plants, as well as lots of outdoor space to enjoy with your kids.

Head to the Kingdom of the Green Man area to find the children’s discovery garden and playground.

Find out more about visiting Birmingham Botanical Gardens .

2. West Midlands Safari Park

This wildlife park is much more than a zoo: there’s a drive-through safari, a land of animatronic dinosaurs and theme park rides. It’s a day out in the West Midlands for the whole family!

The four-mile drive-through safari allows you to see free roaming giraffe, zebra, elephants and tigers from the comfort of your own car. You can then walk the indoor Discover Trail to see penguins, reptiles and bats. 

Once you’ve had your fill of modern day beasts step back in time in UK’s largest animatronic dinosaur attraction, the Land of the Living Dinosaurs. There are 40 life-size moving and ‘breathing’ dinos in this fearsome exhibition.

And, if you haven’t run out of time during your visit, there’s the Safari Park’s theme park, which has rides suitable for tiny tots through to teens.

Find out more about visiting West Midlands Safari Park .

3. National Forest Adventure Farm

This fun-packed family attraction in Burton-upon-Trent brings together farm activities, adventure play and small rides. It’s a great place to visit with young children who love meeting animals as well as tackling assault courses and indoor soft play.

To help you refuel in-between fun activities there’s a restaurant, chippy, ice cream parlour and grill. Of course, you can also bring your own picnic.

Special events happen in the school holidays throughout the year.

Find out more about visiting the National Forest Adventure Farm .

4. Black Country Living Museum

This open air museum at Dudley is one of the top days out in the West Midlands. It tells the story the area over the past 300 years.

Have a chat with costumed characters from the past, wander down a Victorian street and see forge demonstrations bringing alive the heritage of the world’s first industrial hub.

You can also venture down the 19th Century mine, ride a tram or take a ride on the vintage fairground.

Parents can finish their day with a pint in the traditional spit and sawdust pub.

Find out more about visiting the Black Country Living Museum .

5. Ironbridge Gorge

Another place where history speaks loud is Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire.

This is somewhere I remember visiting as a kid and being fascinated by incredible figurines in the Coalport China museum and the iconic iron bridge itself.

Of course there’s so much more to do at Ironbridge Gorge, like experiencing living history at Blists Hill Victorian Village and experimenting at the Engenuity science centre .

Find out more about visiting the attractions of Ironbridge Gorge .

6. Eastnor Castle

Get your fill of Medieval splendour at this fairytale castle on the edge of the Cotswolds in Herefordshire.

The house, which is still a family home, is packed full of suits of armour for both people and animals, ornately decorated ceilings, tapestries and incredible chandeliers.

In the 5,000 acres of parkland you’ll find an adventure playground, a tree top walkway, maze, and a junior assault course.

Find out ore about visiting Eastnor Castle .

7. Dudley Zoo and Castle

There’s plenty to occupy both animal and history loving families at Dudley Zoo and Castle.

Buy one ticket and you can visit both including meeting 1,300 animals and finding out about Tudor life at Dudley.

Many of the zoo’s animals are linked to international conservation and breeding programmes. The endangered species include Asiatic lions, Sumatran tigers and Bornean orang utans. 

Dudley Castle tells the story of the Dudleys who were at the sharp end of Tudor life and, on occasion, at the wrong end of the executioners’ axe.

The ruin is now used by historical reenactment groups and as the setting for ghost walks, music events and the zoo’s birds of prey displays.

Check Dudley’s what’s on guide to see if your visit coincides with a event.

8. Coventry Transport Museum

Auto fans will be well impressed with the collection of vehicles at Coventry Transport Museum.

Its exhibitions consist of cars, commercial vehicles, cycles and motorcycles, as well as auto memorabilia, books and photographs collected since the 1930s.

Don’t miss the two fastest cars in the world: Thrust SSC and Thrust 2.

Find out more about visiting Coventry Transport Museum .

9. Sandwell Valley Country Park

Sandwell Valley Country Park is a Green Flag Park is bursting at the seams with activities to suit all tastes and abilities. Go for a walk, visit the farm or tackle the high ropes – the choice is yours!

Young children will enjoy a visit to one or both of the park’s farms where they can meet the rare breeds animals, clamber around the adventure playground and complete the farm trail.

Meanwhile, older kids can harness up for the aerial assault course or whizz around the mountain bike trail.

Find out more about visiting Sandwell Valley Country Park .

10. Warwick Castle

Be a prince, princess, knight for the day or even Zog the dragon at Warwick Castle.

This highly versatile family attraction in Warwickshire is set in 64 acres of grounds designed by Capability Brown and sits on the banks of the River Avon.

As well as exploring the castle you can see the UK’s biggest bird of prey display, go on an immersive dungeon tour and try the 3D Zog trail. Some activities are more suitable for teens, so check before you book.

Find out more about visiting Warwick Castle .

11. Drayton Manor Theme Park

Drayton Manor is another day out in the Midlands with plenty to offer.

Young and young at heart will love Thomas Land, which has 20 different attractions from rollercoasters to engine tours featuring the characters from this much loved children’s series.

As if that isn’t enough to keep you entertained all day the park has a zoo with 100 animals, a 4D cinema, and rides suitable for all ages. Don’t forget a mac for the water rides!

Find out more about visiting Drayton Manor Theme Park .

12. Severn Valley Railway

All aboard for a steam train ride that takes you 16 miles along the beautiful Severn Valley between Kidderminster, Bewdley and Bridgnorth.

Visit at different times of year and you’ll find special events including steam galas to model railway events and Santa Specials.

Find out more about riding the Severn Valley Railway .

13. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

If you need to escape the rain then there’s no better place to take your LEGO-loving children than the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Birmingham. It’s one of the most popular West Midlands attractions.

It combines brick building, inspirational models and rides. There’s even a LEGO-themed play ground and soft play.

Find out more about LEGOLAND Discovery Centre * .

Find more indoor activities in Birmingham .

14. Kenilworth Castle

Kenilworth Castle was once luxurious home to Robert Dudley, Queen Elizabeth I’s most ambitious courtier. Roll forward a few centuries and it stands as a ruin. But oh, if those crumbling walks could talk!

It’s still possible to climb the castle tower to the same level as rooms Dudley had built for the Queen and take a walk in the recreated Tudor gardens.

Children will enjoy the interactive displays about the castle’s history in the stables exhibition and dressing up in Tudor garb.

Motor and aviation enthusiasts will not want to miss an exhibition about one of the castle’s more recent residents, Sir John Siddeley – the founder of Armstrong Siddeley Motors.

English Heritage members can visit for free.

Find out more about visiting Kenilworth Castle .

15. Cotswold Farm Park

Countryfile fans will not want to miss a visit to Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park.

Fill a day finding out about the park’s rare breeds, go on a wheel-chair accessible tractor safari and get hands on with the farm’s new arrivals in the animal barn.

There’s also indoor and outdoor play for energetic youngsters, plus a maze with animal-themed challenges and a wildlife walk of either one or two miles depending on how much energy you have left.

Find out more about days out at Cotswold Farm Park .

16. SnowDome

Do your kids love winter sports? Well, they can snow board, ski and ice skate all year round at SnowDome in Tamworth.

There’s also a climbing centre and swimming pool, making this the perfect day out in the Midlands for active families. Don’t miss Santa’s Winter Wonderland at Christmas too.

Find out more about activities at SnowDome .

17. RAF Museum Cosford

This free museum near Wolverhampton gives families the chance to get up close with more than 70 aircraft and find out about the first 100 years of RAF history. You can even view an enormous Belfast Transporter from above in the high level viewing gallery.

Other exhibits to intrigue youngsters include a display of pilots’ lucky charms and a 1:1 scale Airfix Spitfire, as featured on the BBC 2 James May Toy Stories series.

For those desperate to get off the ground you can experience flight in the 4D Cinema. Buckle up to take part in a Red Arrows aerobatic display or join a WWI combat mission with the Red Baron.

Find out more about visiting RAF Cosford .

18. Bear Grylls Adventure

For a serious adventure you have to visit the Bear Grylls Adventure Centre beside the NEC in Birmingham.

It’s home to Europe’s highest high ropes course and a shark diving tank as well as iFly sky diving and axe throwing. This is not a day out in the Midlands for the faint hearted!

Find out more about the Bear Grylls Adventure *.

19. Trentham Monkey Forest

Monkey Forest in Staffordshire is on of the more unusual things to do in the West Midlands. Its home to 140 free-ranging Barbary macaques who you can walk among for a wonderfully wild day out.

Enter the woodland walk, which is just less than a mile long, and see the monkeys gather for feeding times without the barrier of cages or bars. There’s also playgrounds, a cafe and picnic area away from the enclosure.

Find out more about days out at Trentham Monkey Forest .

20. Transport Museum Wythall

This seasonal attraction is a real treat for transport fans. The Museum has a collection of more than 90 buses, 30 electric delivery vehicles and a miniature steam railway.

Wander though three exhibition halls showcasing public and service transport from the 20th Century, get hands on with displays in the Power Hall or go for a ride on one of the vintage buses.

Check the museum’s events programme before visiting for other family-friendly activities and the availability of steam train rides.

Find out more about visiting Wythall’s Transport Museum .

21. Lickey Hills Country Park

If you’re looking for free places to go in the West Midlands pack a picnic and head for Lickey Hills Country Park for a day of fun in the great outdoors.

The park has several walking trails of different distances for which you can pick up a map at the visitor centre.

For children, there’s an adventure playground and a mini golf course. You can also take advantage of the open space and borrow a rounders set from the visitor centre.

Find out more about visiting Lickey Hills Country Park .

22. Cadbury World

It’s impossible to miss the smell of chocolate as you approach Cadbury World. I still remember that sweet scent from my visit when I was a teen.

Cadbury World has become much more of a high tech family day out in the Midlands since I went, but you can still find out how all your favourite sweets are made.

Go on a guided tour from the early days of the chocolate maker, John Cadbury, and his first shop, through to a 4D Cinema experience featuring some of the brand’s best known marketing characters and a demonstration by the chocolatiers.

At the end of your tour you can let the kids burn off any indulgent treats from the shop and cafe in the African Adventure Play Area.

Find out more about visiting Cadbury World *.

23. Alton Towers

Where do I start with Staffordshire’s biggest family attraction? With more than 40 thrill rides and plenty for younger children to enjoy in Cbeebies Land, as well as the wider Alton Towers resort, it’s definitely somewhere you could spend a few days.

This is a day out in the Midlands that will keep the whole family entertained, from tiny tots to tenacious teens.

There’s always something going on for pre-schoolers in CBeebies Land with character shows scheduled every half an hour throughout the day.

And when it comes to rides for bigger kids there’s everything from vertical drops to virtual reality to get your adrenaline pumping.

Find out more about visiting Alton Towers .

24. Hardwick Hall

One of our all time favourite National Trust days out is Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. There’s just so much to do between the remarkable ruins of the old hall and the exquisite interiors of the new hall.

Of course, not all kids will appreciate the Tudor history of Hardwick. But maybe they’ll be intrigued to know it was a location for the Harry Potter films? Or, if they prefer dashing about forests, building dens and spotting fairy doors then there’s plenty of this to be done at Hardwick too.

Read more about what we discovered during our visit to Hardwick Hall with kids .

Find out more about visiting Hardwick Hall.

Things to do in the East Midlands

Here’s some of the best things to do in the East Midlands with kids:

25. National Space Centre Leicester

Kids inspired by the adventures of UK astronaut Tim Peake will be over the moon (sorry, not sorry) with a trip to the National Space Centre in Leicester. To be fair, so would I – I’ve always been fascinated by space.

Among the Centre’s many exhibits and interactive displays are a real Soyuz capsule, spacesuits and the chance to experience a trip to the edge of the universe in the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium.

Best of all, inquisitive kids will find out the answer to that all important question: how do you go to the toilet in space?!

Find out more about visiting the National Space Centre at Leicester .

26. Twinlakes

This theme park in Nottinghamshire has rides and experiences for the whole family. There’s seven zones including a waterpark, rollercoasters and toddler-friendly rides.

This is also a top day out for rainy days in the Midlands, with plenty of things to do indoors like soft play, a roller skating rink and indoor rides.

Find out more about days out in the East Midlands at Twinlakes .

27. Heights of Abraham

Appreciate the beautiful Peak District above and below ground by visiting the Heights of Abraham at Matlock.

Ride the cablecar up to the 60 acre hilltop park where you will find adventure playgrounds and caverns to explore.

The Masson and Rutland caverns were formed over 350 million years ago and can be explored with a guide. Tours run at intervals throughout the day.

Find out more about accessibility and opening hours at Heights of Abraham .

28. Wollaton Hall

You might recognise this 16th Century stately home as Wayne Manor from The Dark Knight Rises starring Christian Bale.

Hollywood appearances aside, it’s the home of Nottingham’s Natural History Museum with a collection of 750,000 objects. There’s also formal gardens, walking trails and playgrounds.

In the winter Wollaton Hall is a venue for a Christmas light trail . Visit in December to see the park lit up with a trail of discovery, specially designed to fit into the natural landscape of the Hall and Gardens.

Find out more about visiting Wollaton Hall in Nottingham.

29. Chatsworth House

There’s plenty to keep you occupied all day at Chatsworth in the Peak District. Walk the grounds, visit the farm and burn off energy on the playground.

That’s not to mention the incredible house with its murals, state apartments and art collections. Buy your tickets in advance.

Find out more about visiting Chatsworth .

30. Go Ape at Sherwood Pines

Go Ape is a great outdoor activity for all ages. Not only does the centre in Nottinghamshire have high ropes courses it also has a Net Adventure.

Find out more and book Go Ape at Sherwood Pines in Notinghamshire.

Where to stay in the Midlands

One of our favourite places to stay in the Midlands are the luxury lodges at Darwin Forest Country Park in the Peak District.

If you prefer a hotel in the Midlands we can recommend searching Booking.com.

More days out in England

Here’s some more of our recommended things to do in England with kids:

• Places to visit in Bath with kids
• A guide to holidays in Cornwall with kids
• Things to do in Dorset with kids
• What to do on a day out in the Isle of Wight
• Things to do in Manchester with kids
• Places to visit in Newquay with kids
• Things to do in Northumberland with kids
• Days out in Portsmouth for families
• Things to do in Southampton with kids
• Days out in Sussex with kids
• Things to do in Winchester

Do you have any favourite days out in the Midlands that are not mentioned here? Drop me a line!

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may earn some commission. This does not affect the price you pay.

Planning things to do in Central England with your kids? Why not use Pinterest to save this post about days out in the Midlands ?

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Friday 5th of August 2022

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20 Best Things to Do in the Midlands, UK

Are you planning to visit the Midlands in the UK? I love to share with you the different best things to do in the Midlands. I have lived in the Midlands for more than a decade and consider this region my home.

The Midlands is a diverse and dynamic region. It is a blend of urban energy, industrial heritage, and beautiful countryside, making it a location perfect for exploration. From touring major cities like Birmingham and Coventry, to immersing yourself in historical sites like Warwick Castle, and enjoying family fun at Cadbury World among others. It surely has anything for you. Ready to explore? Read on and learn about the best things to do in the West Midlands. 

1. Birmingham

2. coventry, 3. wolverhampton, 5. shrewsbury, 6. worcester, 7. warwick castle, 8. coventry cathedral, 9. ironbridge, 10. black country living museum, 11. worcester cathedral, 12. cadbury world, 13. west midlands safari park, 14. dudley zoo and castle, 15. the falconry centre, hagley, 16. the malverns, 17. the wrekin, 18. jewellery quarter, 19. birmingham back to backs, 20. sutton coldfield metalwork, best things to do in the midlands, uk.

Historic and Beautiful Cities to Visit

Visiting the Midlands offers a wealth of experiences, each city and town with its unique charm and attractions. Here’s a brief guide to what you can expect in Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Shrewsbury, and Worcester.

📍 Address: Victoria Square, Birmingham B3 3DQ, United Kingdom 🎟️ Find Tickets – Book in Advance : City Center Highlights Private Guided Tour 🌟 Ratings : 5 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre, an IHG Hotel

Referred to as Britain’s second city, Birmingham offers a harmonious blend of cosmopolitan vibrancy and rich historical heritage. It’s a city that can cater to any visitor’s vibes and preferences. Shopaholics can lose themselves in the sprawling Bullring & Grand Central shopping centre, while culture enthusiasts will be mesmerized by the vast collection of international significance at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

Birmingham is also home to a thriving food scene. From Michelin-starred restaurants to charming street food stalls, the city caters to every palate. Fancy a bit of music? The city’s Symphony Hall is internationally renowned for its acoustics and regularly hosts world-class acts. For some greenery amidst the city hustle, take a leisurely stroll along the picturesque canals or visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

I wrote another article about the best things to do in Birmingham . I suggest that you read through it to learn more about my home city.

📍 Address: Conventry, UK 🎟️ Find Tickets – Book in Advance : Godiva’s Cathedral Quarter Guided Walking Tour 🌟 Ratings : 5 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Telegraph Hotel

A captivating tapestry of the past and the present, Coventry was crowned the UK’s City of Culture in 2021. Its modernist cathedral, a phoenix rising beside the ruins of its WWII-ravaged predecessor, is a testament to the city’s resilience and creativity. The Coventry Transport Museum, with its remarkable array of vehicles, stands as a proud reflection of the city’s industrial legacy.

For history lovers, St. Mary’s Guildhall gives a rich account of Coventry’s medieval past, and the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum houses an extensive visual arts collection alongside Coventry’s history exhibits. Now, if you’re looking for a breath of fresh air, don’t miss the War Memorial Park, a delightful green space and a tribute to local lives lost in the two World Wars.

📍 Address: Wolverhampton, UK 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: A Park View Hotel

Next is the city with a pulse as lively as its people. Wolverhampton’s attractions are as diverse as they are engaging. From the masterpieces housed in the Wolverhampton Art Gallery to the diverse performances at the Grand Theatre, art and culture enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice. For sports fans, be sure to catch a match of the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, a beloved institution. For a quieter day, the Wightwick Manor and Gardens offer an enchanting escape.

For the shopaholics, the Mander Centre is the city’s primary shopping complex offering a variety of high-street brands. For nature lovers, Bantock Park with its historic house and expansive green space provides a lovely getaway. The city also possesses a strong musical heritage, having given rise to notable bands like Slade and Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant.

📍 Address: Walsall, UK 🎟️ Find Tickets – Book in Advance : 🌟 Ratings : 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Premier Inn Walsall Town Centre hotel

You can also visit Walsall which strikes a beautiful balance between urban charm and cultural richness. Here, you can see the New Art Gallery which is home to contemporary and classic artworks. You can also find Walsall’s centuries-old leather trade showcased at the Walsall Leather Museum. And if a peaceful retreat beckons, the Arboretum’s scenic paths await.

Of course, a visit to Walsall wouldn’t be complete without experiencing its vibrant events. The town regularly hosts farmer’s markets, art exhibitions, and live music performances, bringing the community together. For equine enthusiasts, a visit to the Walsall Leather Museum is a must – it’s the birthplace of the English saddle manufacturing industry!

This quaint market town features over 600 listed buildings. Shrewsbury is the birthplace of Charles Darwin, and the town pays tribute to the Darwin Trail. Here, you will discover the medieval Shrewsbury Castle and its Regimental Museum, or if you’re not that interested, you may instead indulge in retail therapy at the local independent boutiques and quirky shops.

There is also the town’s Quarry Park, home to the annual Shrewsbury Flower Show, which offers a riverside walk and a tranquil Dingle Garden. For literary lovers, you can follow in the footsteps of Brother Cadfael, Ellis Peters’ medieval detective monk, or immerse yourself in the world of Samuel Butler, another notable Shrewsbury son. The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is just a short drive away, offering breathtaking landscapes for hiking and cycling.

📍 Address: Worcester, UK 🎟️ Find Tickets – Book in Advance : 🌟 Ratings : 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Premier Inn Worcester City Centre hotel

History feels so “present” in Worcester. Its breathtaking cathedral, housing King John’s tomb, is an architectural masterpiece. The Commandery offers a fascinating journey through Worcester’s significant role in the English Civil War. A visit to the Worcester Porcelain Museum unveils the city’s ceramic craft that has put Worcester on the global map.

Worcester is also known for its famous Worcestershire Sauce and its world-class cricket club. Be sure to take a stroll along the riverside to the Cathedral Plaza where you can enjoy shopping, dining, and cinema. For some natural beauty, check out the Worcester Woods Country Park, a haven for local wildlife and a great place for a family picnic.

I wrote another article about the best things to do in Worcester , I encourage you to read it to learn more about this historic “Faithful city”.

Historical Sites and Museums

Taking a trip to the West Midlands? Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of England’s history by visiting some of the region’s most prominent historical sites and museums. Here, we delve into Warwick Castle, Coventry Cathedral, Ironbridge, the Black Country Living Museum, and Worcester Cathedral.

📍 Address: Warwick CV34 6AU, United Kingdom 🎟️ Find Tickets – Book in Advance : Entry Ticket for Warwick Castle 🌟 Ratings : 4.6 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Warwick Castle Tower Suites

Warwick Castle transports you into a world of kings, knights, and tales of treachery. Built by William the Conqueror, the castle’s stone towers and ramparts command an awe-inspiring presence.

The inner chambers of the castle house a diverse assortment of treasures, boasting an impressive collection of armor and weaponry, supplemented by meticulously crafted waxworks that personify the castle’s historic inhabitants. When you are here, make sure not to miss the castle’s well-preserved dungeons, a chilling testament to its past.

I wrote transport guides from Birmingham to Warwick Castle and from London to Warwick Castle .

📍 Address: Priory St, Coventry CV1 5AB, United Kingdom 🌟 Ratings : 4.7 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Telegraph Hotel

Now, let’s go to the harmonious blend of devastation and renewal which is the Coventry Cathedral. It stands as an architectural symbol of hope.

The ruins of the old cathedral, bombed during WWII, lie in solemn contrast to the modernist splendour of its successor. As the third tallest cathedral in England, it boasts striking features like the 81-foot high tapestry of Christ and the poignant Chapel of Unity. It’s not just a religious site, but also a beacon of reconciliation and peace.

📍 Address: Telford, UK 🎟️ Find Tickets – Book in Advance : Heart of England, North Wales and Yorkshire 5-Day Tour 🌟 Ratings : 5 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Best Western Valley Hotel

You can also find here the Ironbridge. This iconic structure gives you a chance to stand at the very heart and essence of the Industrial Revolution. As the first iron bridge in the world, it basically revolutionized engineering and paved the way for modern industrial development. Located in Severn Valley, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers not just an engineering marvel but also scenic beauty that changes with every season.

A step into Black Country Living Museum, which is an open-air museum, is basically a step back into a bygone era. Spanning the 1850s to the 1950s, the museum presents an authentic recreation of life in the Black Country. With its reconstructed historical buildings, costumed characters, and live demonstrations of period crafts, it offers a dynamic, engaging insight into the region’s industrial heritage. It’s an interactive history lesson that enthralls visitors of all ages.

📍 Address: 8 College Yard, Worcester WR1 2LA, United Kingdom 🌟 Ratings : 4.8 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Boutique by Browns

Next, dominating the skyline along the River Severn, the majestic Worcester Cathedral embodies centuries of English history. It is the resting place of King John, and it showcases a medley of architectural styles, from Norman to Gothic. Some highlights include the intricately carved chapter house, the medieval cloisters, and the impressive crypt. Some visitors suggest going up the tower for panoramic views over Worcester and the surrounding countryside.

Recreational Activities and Family Fun

Now, don’t get bored with all the historical things mentioned because the West Midlands isn’t just about historical sites and museums; there’s plenty of room for fun and adventure too! From chocoholic’s paradise Cadbury World to the bird-lovers retreat at The Falconry Centre, there are a lot of recreational activities for families and friends to enjoy.

📍 Address: 69 Linden Rd, Birmingham B30 1JR, United Kingdom 🎟️ Find Tickets – Book in Advance : Cadbury World Entry Ticket 🌟 Ratings : 4.4 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: The Old Farm Hotel

First is the Cadbury World. Located in Bournville, Cadbury World is a haven for chocolate lovers. This interactive journey takes you behind the scenes of Cadbury’s chocolate-making process. Through a series of engaging zones, you’ll uncover the brand’s rich history, from the creation of the cocoa bean to the Cadbury family’s vision. 

But the experience doesn’t end there. Once you’ve discovered the secrets behind their mouthwatering chocolate, you’ll have the chance to put your knowledge to the test in the interactive Purple Planet zone. And for the grand finale? Delicious samples of Cadbury’s world-renowned chocolate, of course!

📍 Address: Spring Grove, Bewdley DY12 1LF, United Kingdom 🌟 Ratings : 4.5 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Safari Lodges At West Midland Safari Park

An unforgettable adventure awaits at the West Midlands Safari Park. It is suggested to start with a self-drive safari, where you can encounter majestic animals in a setting that closely resembles their natural habitat. From the king of the jungle to towering giraffes, it’s a wildlife experience that brings you as close to the wild as you can get without leaving the country. 

After the safari, there is the Adventure Theme Park waiting for you. With thrilling rides and attractions suited for all ages, the fun continues long after your safari ends. Do not forget to visit the Land of the Living Dinosaurs for a prehistoric thrill!

📍 Address: Castle Hill, Dudley DY1 4QF, United Kingdom 🌟 Ratings : 4.4 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Travelodge Dudley Town Centre

Now, at Dudley Zoo and Castle, you can say that history meets wildlife for an exciting family day out. The zoo’s 40 acres are home to more than 1,300 animals from around the globe. Here, you will experience close encounters with majestic big cats, endangered primates, and a colourful array of bird species. 

Once you’ve explored the animal kingdom, the historic Dudley Castle invites you. Built in 1071, the castle is steeped in history, from Norman invaders to Civil War sieges. With interactive exhibitions and panoramic views from the keep, Dudley Castle is a history lover’s paradise for real! 

📍 Address: Kidderminster Rd S, Hagley, Stourbridge DY9 0JB, United Kingdom 🌟 Ratings : 4.8 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Tall Trees Cottage

A visit to The Falconry Centre provides an immersive encounter with magnificent birds of prey. These aren’t just static exhibits; these birds are in flight, swooping and soaring in daily flying displays. From hawks to owls, the centre houses an impressive range of species. Not only can you watch these skilled hunters in action, but you can also learn about their life cycles, hunting techniques, and conservation efforts. 

For a more unforgettable experience, take part in a handling session where you can get up close and personal with these feathered predators. It’s not just about watching; it’s about experiencing and learning.

Nature and Outdoor Experiences

When it comes to the great outdoors, the West Midlands also boasts some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes. For those of you with a love of nature and a thirst for fresh air! Read on to learn more about what The Malverns and The Wrekins have to offer.

📍 Address: Malvern WR14 4DG, United Kingdom 🌟 Ratings : 4.8 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Foley Arms Hotel – JD Wetherspoon Hotel

Known for its natural springs, the area around the Malvern Hills has attracted people for centuries. Yet, it’s the eight-mile ridge of the Malvern Hills that is the region’s star attraction. Vast open commons and ancient woodlands surround these hills, offering a lot of habitats teeming with wildlife. These areas are crisscrossed with a network of paths and trails, making it a haven for outdoor activities. 

Whether you choose a hike or a stroll, the breath-taking views from the hills will never disappoint you. Aside from the outdoor pursuits, the area also offers a cultural dimension with the Malvern Theatres and Elgar Birthplace Museum – a tribute to the composer Sir Edward Elgar who was inspired by these very landscapes.

📍 Address: Telford TF6 5AW, United Kingdom 🌟 Ratings : 4.8 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Morrells Wood Farm

Known locally as “Little Mountain”, The Wrekin dominates the landscape of rural Shropshire. This singular hill, rising to 407 meters (1,335 ft), is a beloved local landmark visible from miles around. It’s not just the climb that draws visitors, though. The Wrekin houses a wealth of geological and historical interest, including an Iron Age hill fort and unique volcanic features. 

The route to the summit, even though it is steep, is well-defined and manageable for most fitness levels. Once at the top, you’re treated to an expansive vista that on clear days can stretch as far as the Welsh mountains. After your climb, take some time to discover The Ercall, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest nearby, renowned for its exceptional geology.

Cultural Experiences and Local Attractions

If you want to venture off the beaten path and delve into the West Midlands’ rich cultural heritage, then you must visit these three beautiful destinations: The Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham Back to Backs, and Sutton Coldfield Metalwork. They are brimming with unique local charm, offering insight into the region’s vibrant history and artisanal traditions.

📍 Address: Birmingham, UK 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Staycity Aparthotels, Birmingham, Jewellery Quarter

The Jewellery Quarter is not only an area of industry but also of living history and heritage. With over 200 listed buildings, it has been described as a ‘national treasure’. Now, apart from being a paradise for jewellery lovers, this area offers a fascinating look into Birmingham’s industrial past. 

The Jewellery Quarter Museum stands on the site of the Smith & Pepper factory, which ceased operations in 1981. The factory is preserved just as it was left, providing an unforgettable time capsule of the city’s jewellery and metalworking heritage.

📍 Address: 50-54, 55-63 Inge St, Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TE, United Kingdom 🌟 Ratings : 4.8 / 5 🛌🏻 Accommodation Nearby: Travelodge Birmingham Central Bull Ring

The city’s last surviving court of back-to-back houses offers a revealing glimpse into working-class life during the Industrial Revolution. Your journey through the Birmingham Back to Backs takes you from the 1840s through to the 1970s. Each house is literally decorated with a certain design to represent a different era. The meticulously recreated interiors, combined with personal stories of those who lived here, make it a living testament to Birmingham’s resilient and diverse communities.

📍 Address: Enterprise Park, 13, Lichfield Road Industrial Estate, Tamworth B79 7UL, United Kingdom 🌟 Ratings : 5 / 5

Sutton Coldfield’s rich tradition of metalworking is still alive today. Here, you will witness local artisans as they mould and shape metal into various forms, preserving techniques that have been handed down through generations. The town also offers a unique opportunity to explore a variety of metalwork, from decorative ironwork to contemporary design pieces. 

Discover Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Gates, which were crafted here in the 16th century, or visit the modern workshops where artists produce everything from jewellery to sculpture. The commitment to quality and craftsmanship is palpable, a testament to the enduring appeal of this age-old industry.

In conclusion, the West Midlands, UK, is a captivating region that seamlessly blends history, culture, and recreational activities for every traveler’s taste. So, whether you’re a history buff, a nature enthusiast, a family looking for fun, or simply seeking cultural experiences, the West Midlands has it all. It’s time to embark on your journey and discover the treasures this region has to offer. Start planning your UK adventure today!

🚑 Should I buy travel insurance for my UK trip? YES – If you’re traveling to the UK, securing travel insurance with comprehensive medical coverage is essential for your peace of mind; I recommend Safety Wing Travel Insurance , which is renowned for its reliability. ( READ MORE )

💧 Can I drink tap water in the UK? YES – You can confidently drink tap water in the UK—just run it for a bit first—and use a Hydro Flask travel bottle , it is a great eco-friendly companion to keep you hydrated while touring the UK attractions.

🚗 Is it safe to rent a car in the UK? YES – Renting a car in the UK is one of the best ways to see the country. I recommend Discover Cars , to check for the best car rental deals that suit your budget. See my UK driving tips here .

📲 Will my phone work in the UK? POSSIBLY . Always check with your home mobile provider. If it won’t work or is too expensive, I recommend using Airlo E-Sim for data packages to stay connected online.

🔌 What adapter should I use in the UK? TYPE G – In the UK, you’ll need a type G plug travel adapter with three rectangular pins arranged in a triangle to power your devices, and the electrical system runs on a 230V supply voltage at 50Hz. ( READ MORE )

✈️ What is the best site to buy UK flights? For finding affordable UK flights, I recommend using Skyscanner . You can always compare the prices that suit your budget.

🛏️ What is the best way to book accommodations in the UK? My go-to for UK accommodations is Booking.com . I recommend to always check hotel reviews on TripAdvisor .

💷 What currency do I need for my UK trip? Sterling Pounds – I suggest getting a Wise Travel Card for your hassle-free forex and contactless spending while in the UK. ( READ MORE )

🧳 What do I pack for the UK trip? Depending on the season – You can check my article about the best time to visit the UK .

🛂 Do I need a visa for the UK? Likely Not – US, Canada, AU, NZ, and EU passport holders do not need a visit visa to the UK. If ever you need one, read more on how to apply for a UK visit visa . Visit iVisa.com to help you with your visa travel documentation needs .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Everything Zany

Everything Zany Travel Blog exploring the UK and beyond. Sharing travel guides, tips, history, and culture. Our travel media brand is founded by travel and hotel industry expert – Ryazan Tristram, a Dual Citizen (British–Filipina) based in Birmingham, UK. Everything Zany is a reputable and award-winning travel blog. Our work and contributions have been featured in the Huffington Post, CNBC, Discovery Channel, GMA, Readers Digest, and Lonely Planet. Our mission is to build a great travel community and resource of travel tips, visas, and travel guides for travelers. Join us as we travel around the UK and beyond with a mission to share the best of the world.

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The Process

When visiting a Prison, you will be required to pass the security screening process which will include some or all of the following:

• X Ray machine
• Walk through metal detector
• Narcotic / explosive swab detection
• Canine screening
• Pat down search

Should you fail any part of the screening process, a pat down search will then be conducted. Prior to commencing a pat down search, the officer will activate their body worn camera, to record visual and audio footage at that time.

Please note the onus is on the visitor to pass all aspects of the screening process.

Should staff feel it necessary at any point during the screening process, they will also activate the body worn camera for incidents such as threatening and abusive behavior

In order to assist with the screening process:

• Please do not bring any personal belongings or items with you (place all such items in the lockers provided in the waiting room)
• You should only have your photo I.D and locker key on your person when proceeding to the screening area
• Be mindful of the clothing you wear. Clothing with high volume of metal is likely to activate the walk through metal detector & this may lead to restrictions on the type of visit offered or even cancellation of a visit
• Please familiarise yourself with the information and instructional video available on the screen in the waiting room prior to entering the prison.

Prisoner Property

All private/personal property delivered to the prison on behalf of individual prisoners is done so entirely at the prisoner’s own risk. Neither the Governor nor the Irish Prison Service will accept liability for any such property lost, damaged or stolen whilst in transit, in delivery in storage, or in the possession of the prisoner. The Irish Prison Service can accept prisoner property at prison entrances, during family visits to the prison or by post.

The following table outlines a list of authorised items that can be delivered to a prison on behalf of individual prisoners:

The following items are prohibited and will not be accepted by the Irish Prison Service:

• Any clothing that resemble staff uniform items
• No hooded tops
• No steel toe-cap footwear
• Limited belt buckle size
• No ties, braces, sunglasses, hats, caps.
• No clothing with offensive logos (sexist, racial. drug, gang related) etc.
• Large rings
• Long or heavy neck chains
• Only one musical instrument is permitted per prisoner
• Toiletries – can be purchased via prison tuck shop
• No radios – in cell radios are in place
• Reading materials – these are provided by the library service in the prison

It is important to note that all items of private/personal property are subject to Governors permission. Different prisons have differing policies in relation to items a prisoner can have in their cell. This is a matter decided by the Governor of each prison taking into account the security environment in each prison. All items received into the prison will be subject to the necessary security screening.

If you have been approached or put under pressure to smuggle contraband into a prison, please inform an officer or make contact using the confidential phone line (1800 855 717)

All such instances will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Top 10 places to visit in the East Midlands

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: December 29, 2022

The East Midlands in England includes the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, parts of Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.

Major cities include Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and Northampton. However, the area also features some of the most beautiful countryside in England with the Peak District National Park and Derbyshire Dales located in these counties.

For those who enjoy the countryside, the area provides opportunities for visitors to go hiking on its many walking trails, visit cosy pubs for a pint or two, admire pretty villages, peruse market towns or even tour the odd stately home. It is no surprise that this is a popular destination for visitors from all over the UK.

I haven’t forgotten the cities and you will find some recommended places to visit in some of the major cities in the East Midlands on my list too!

Visit the Peak District National Park

Matlock bath and the heights of abraham, chatsworth house.

• Cromford Mills (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Tissington Trail

Calke abbey, the national space centre in leicester, king richard iii visitor centre in leicester, lincoln cathedral and castle, fast facts – east midlands, visiting the east midlands.

With so many beautiful towns and villages to visit this part of the world deserves a holiday all of its own. Stay in a cottage and spend days hiking or cycling through the Peak District National Park which stretches across Northern Derbyshire and into the counties of Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Yorkshire. 

As well as some of the towns on this list that are located in the Peak District (Bakewell, Matlock and Cromford) the following are also worth including in your itinerary. 

Eyam is famous as the plague village whose self-imposed quarantine prevented the spread of the Black Death but to the deaths of 260 villagers. Visit the museum in Eyam to learn more.

Edale is located at the start of the famous Pennine Way walking trail. Stretching for over 268 miles the trail ends in Kirk Yetholm near the Scottish border.

If you fancy a slightly shorter walk there are some great day walks from Edale and a couple of pubs serving real ale in the area too. 

Read more | Peak District Travel Guide

Just on the edge of the Peak District is the Derbyshire town of Matlock Bath . Visitors to this pretty Derbyshire town will find plenty of shops and cafes (fish and chips feature heavily) as well as the popular Heights of Abraham attraction.

Opened in the 1780s the Heights of Abraham can now be reached by cable car. Once at the summit enjoy a guided cavern tour or take a stroll through the woodlands and enjoy views of the surrounding countryside.

If you have young children a visit to Gulliver’s Kingdom is sure to be a hit. The theme park is a perfect destination for families with all the rides designed for children.

Matlock Bath itself was a popular tourist destination in the 19th century when wealthy Victorians would visit the town for the spa waters. 

If you visit at a weekend you will find parking is at a premium as the town is a popular destination with bikers.

Read more | Matlock Bath and the Heights of Abraham

Home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire the beautiful Chatsworth House and estate is an absolutely fantastic day out for all the family. 

There are lots of events organised throughout the year with the annual Christmas at Chatsworth particularly popular. Each year the house is decorated with a different theme and it is the perfect way to get into the festive spirit.

Don’t miss the beautiful gardens or a visit to the estates’ farm shop before you leave.

If you wish to spend longer exploring the estate and surrounding countryside why not stay in one of the properties owned by the family?  

Read more | Take a virtual tour of Chatsworth House

Cromford Mills ( UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Richard Arkwright’s cotton mills at Cromford are part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

These water-powered cotton mills were essentially the early beginnings of the modern factory system when production of goods moved from homes to factories.

Although Arkwright did provide housing for his workforce he was not quite as benevolent to his workers as Titus Salt in Saltaire a century later.

The visitor centre is excellent and there are guided tours available to learn more about the history of the mills.

The Tissington Trail in Derbyshire follows the route of the former rail line 13 miles from Buxton to Ashbourne.

Perfect for both walking and cycling this flat trail affords visitors wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. 

There are bicycle hire facilities at either end of the trail and lots of beautiful villages to enjoy en route including Hartington, Parsley Hay and Alsop.

Read more | The Tissington Trail

Situated near the village of Ticknall in the county of Derbyshire Calke Abbey is a Grade I listed country house and estate looked after by the National Trust .

The house perfectly illustrates the decline of the country estate during the 20th century when more and more families were unable to afford their upkeep (we have all seen Downton Abbey!)

There is always lots to do all year round at Calke Abbey including walks in the parkland (look for the deers), tours and other events.

Read more | Calke Abbey

For a day away from all the culture and history the UK has to offer why not visit the National Space Centre in Leicester?

The space centre is a great day out for all the family with lots to see and do. Don’t miss the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium where you can travel out of the UK and onto the furthest edges of the universe!!

Read more | National Space Centre

Recently located under a car park in Leicester the remains of King Richard III are now on display in this excellent visitor centre in Leicester. 

Find out about the story of Richard II, his rise to power and violent death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 during the war of the Roses. 

Read more | King Richard III Visitor Centre Leicester

Once the tallest building in the world the gothic Lincoln Cathedral is still one of the most impressive buildings in England.

As you walk around keep an eye out for the famous Lincoln Imp!

One of the remaining copies of the Magna Carta is located at Lincoln Castle . Built in 1068 by William the Conqueror the medieval wall walk provides spectacular views over Lincoln and the surrounding countryside.

If you are feeling fit take a walk (climb) up Steep Hill (officially the 4th steepest street in England) and pop into some of the galleries and tea rooms on your way up.

Parts of the road are very steep (I would be wary of doing it in winter!) but it is worth it to see the old buildings that line the road some of which date back to the 12th/15th and 18th centuries.

Read more | Lincoln Travel Guide

• WHAT TO READ – Best books to read before you visit the West Midlands

• WHERE TO STAY : Click here to find the best accommodation in the Peak District National Park .
• WHAT TOURS TO BOOK : Click here for recommended tours of the East Midlands
• WHAT TO EAT/DRINK – Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, Stilton Cheese, Bakewell Tart

• PRINCIPLE TRAIN STATIONS – Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln
• WHAT TO PACK – My packing lists for the UK will help ensure you take what you need whatever the season. Read this article to find out what weather you can expect when you visit.
• Don’t be offended if so you are called “me duck” it is a term of endearment in the East Midlands!

Our top 10 places to visit in the East Midlands will have given you some ideas of things to do and see if you are exploring this area of England .

These are my choice of the top 10 and a great starting point but there are lots of things to see and do in the region for visitors of all ages.

Want to explore some of England’s other regions ? Head over to my other area guides to England which include the North East , East Midlands , West Midlands , Yorkshire , South West , South East and East of England .

Visiting Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? Check out my top 19 places to visit in Scotland and the top 10 choices to add to your travel itineraries for Wales and Northern Ireland.

Find more inspiration for your travels in my England Travel Guide which includes information about what to see, where to stay, how to get around, travel tips, recommended reading and more to make the most of your trip.

Top 7 places to visit in the Midlands in 2022

We've compiled a list of family-friendly destinations for you to explore

• 05:00, 29 JAN 2022

With Covid restrictions easing, families will now have an opportunity to explore different parts of the country for a fun weekend out.

If you want to spend some time away from your town but don't know where to go, we have compiled a list of the top destinations across the Midlands.

Even though many families opt for holiday destinations abroad, sometimes it can be nice to look at what's around you.

Read more Coventry news

We've created a list of the top 7 attractions you can take your family too - and they don't require a long-haul flight.

Cadbury World

The world famous chocolate brand was founded in Birmingham - and you can steep into the wonderful history behind the best-selling confectionery.

Cadbury World boasts 14 zones to discover including a 4D cinema, adventure playground, Aztec jungle and so much more.

There is also a Cadbury Café and the world's largest Cadbury shop.

Linden Rd, Birmingham B30 1JR

Warwick Castle

This historical landmark is not to be missed.

Located just a 13 minute walk from the train station, Warwick Castle is one of the most iconic attractions in Warwickshire and is suitable for families of all ages.

Children can take part in the Horrible Histories Maze while adults and older children can explore the dungeons and beautiful gardens outside the castle.

Warwick Castle was originally built by William the Conqueror during 1068 from a wooden fort, and was later rebuilt in stone during the 12th century.

You can even go glamping in the Knight's Village too.

Warwick, CV34 4QU

Black Country Living Museum

Black Country Living Museum tells the story of the world's first industrial landscape.

Over fifty authentic shops, houses and workshops have been reconstructed to preserve the character of the canal-side village, where you can meet and chat to costumed characters.

Families can explore the underground mine and take part in an interactive tour of the site.

There will be live demonstrations, old fashioned street games, a vintage cinema and a chance to feast on some traditional fish and chips.

Tipton Rd, Dudley DY1 4SQ

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Explore 15 acres of lush flora and fauna with exotic plants and ferns from across the world.

The gardens contains four stunning glasshouses containing tropical rainforests, arid deserts, Mediterranean and sub tropical climates.

There is also a tearoom and interactive gift shop surrounded by gardens.

Tickets cost £7.50 for adults and £5.25 for children over five and senior citizens.

Children under five can enter for free.

Westbourne Road, Birmingham B15 3TR

West Midland Safari Park

West Midland Safari Park is one of the most major attractions in the region.

Here's your chance to see some of the world's most endangered animals in an interactive drive-through safari from the comfort of your own car.

There are up to 140 different animals roaming the trail, including cheetahs, lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos and big cats.

Apart from the site, you can also visit the £2.5 million Land of the Dinosaurs animatronic exhibit and the Adventure Theme Park.

There are new areas of the park set to open in 2022, and conservationists are awaiting the arrival of a male red panda as a companion to Mei Lin, the female red panda which arrived in August 2021.

You can also stay overnight at the Safari Lodge, with up close and personal views of animals roaming in their enclosures.

The park opens at 10am and it closes at 5.30pm.

The standard admission prices is £23 for adults and £18 for children aged 3 to 15.

Concessions are £21 and under threes go free.

Spring Grove, Bewdley DY12 1LF

Alton Towers

Alton Towers is one of the UK's most iconic them parks located in Staffordshire, near the village of Alton.

With over 40 exciting rides and attractions, the park is set over 500 acres of beautiful countryside.

It is also home to CBeebies Land and the new CBeebies Land Hotel, with 20 attractions aimed at young children and families.

You can stay also stay over at the resort, and enjoy a theme park, water park, spa, mini golf and dozens of other exciting activities in store for people of all ages.

Farley Lane, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DB

National Forest Adventure Farm

For those who prefer the outdoors, this one is for you.

Families can get up close and personal with baby farm animals in the barn, and also feed chickens, sheep, ponies, donkeys, cows, goats and alpaca.

There are also several activities to take part in, including pedal go karts, a giant jumping pillow, a Jurassic Canyon fossil dig and sand play, an assault course, a JCB dig zone, a music maze, a maize maze and farmyard crazy golf.

The farm hosts many events throughout the year including Easter activities for the upcoming Easter break.

They are currently closed buy will open on weekends and school holidays from 19 February.

Postern Road, Tatenhill, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 9SJ

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Top 10 Things to Do in the English Midlands

Are you looking for information and inspiration for your next trip to the English Midlands? Keep reading.

From the hills of Herefordshire, through the heart of England and out to the nature reserves of the Lincolnshire coast, the Midlands is in fact a region with a surprising amount to offer.

Holidaymakers can take their pick from a wide range of activities and sightseeing musts.

1. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow

Covering 200 square miles of the Midlands, the National Forest crosses parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire. The Countryside Commission first dreamt up the idea of a new “multi-purpose forest” in 1987, but it took until 1990 to fix on a location.

Eight million trees have now been planted, creating a vast tract of woodland that links the ancient forests of Needwood to the west and Charnwood to the east.

Don’t worry about not being able to see the wood for the trees, as there are walking, cycling and horse-riding trails on offer, as well as a variety of visitor attractions and festivals throughout the year. And, if you really want to get stuck in, there’s even a plant-a-tree scheme.

2. Exploring turrets and towers, and top-notch nosh

Ludlow is a picturesque market town, halfway between Shrewsbury and Hereford, with an impressive castle towering over proceedings. Having started life as a Norman fortress, this later became a royal palace and was where the two princes – whose grisly fate was sealed in the Tower of London – spent most of their childhood.

Nowadays the town is quite the foodie haven, so don’t miss the fortnightly farmers’ market or the tasty array of local restaurants and gastropubs. And while you’re in the area, why not explore a few more of Shropshire’s 25 hill forts and 32 historic castles ? Get those walking boots on!

3. Celebrate the Bard in Stratford-upon-Avon

Whether you are a regular theatregoer or a lover of the big screen (who else has seen Shakespeare in Love six times?), there are activities aplenty to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Shakespeare’s New Place, opening in the summer of 2016, is a brand new exhibition centre on the site of the house where the Bard spent his final 19 years. Parts of the Great Garden – the largest part of Shakespeare’s estate to survive – have also been restored. You won’t want to miss the intriguing-sounding sunken Knot Garden.

4. Tour cider-making country – drinking optional

Herefordshire boasts breathtaking hills, rich farmland dotted with orchards and the beautiful Wye valley – where bookworms have turned Hay-on-Wye into a literary mecca. You can get a taste of the terrain by setting off on one of 15 circular walks .

These range from 10 miles for pros to two miles for the less ambitious hiker (or those keener on sampling the local cider and perry). Or drop the pretence and simply make a beeline for Hereford’s famous Cider Museum !

5. Pottering around in Staffordshire

Do you know your Minton from your Royal Doulton? Then you’ll be heading straight for The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, where you can feast your eyes on the largest collection of Staffordshire ceramics in the world.

As any good collector will tell you, ceramics have been produced in The Potteries since as early as the 1600s, due to the abundance of clay, salt, lead and coal locally. But if fine china isn’t quite your cup of tea, the museum’s permanent exhibition also explores the wildlife, landscape and geology of the area.

6. Desperately seeking Mr Darcy

While outdoorsy types will head for the vast moors and dales, rivers, springs and caverns of the Peak District National Park , those of a more romantic persuasion may be drawn to Chatsworth House .

This stately home was the inspiration for Pemberley, family seat of the dashing Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice – which Jane Austen is said to have written while staying in nearby Bakewell. Chatsworth featured again in the 2005 film adaptation, when Matthew Macfadyen bravely stepped into Darcy’s much-admired breeches. New for 2016, there’s a rare glimpse into the dazzling lifestyle of socialite Deborah Devonshire, the late dowager duchess, through an exhibition of photos taken at Chatsworth by her close friend Cecil Beaton.

7. Small is beautiful in Lincolnshire

You’ll be spoilt for choice in the county of Lincolnshire . There’s the city of Lincoln itself, the Vales, the Fens, the Wolds and mile upon mile of coastline vying for holidaymakers’ attention. If historic cathedrals, nature reserves or the traditional British seaside aren’t quite for you, then what about something more quirky? And you won’t find quirkier than the Bubble Car Museum in Boston – the only museum in the UK dedicated to these small but perfectly formed runabouts. (Open weekends only.)

8 Find the fauna of the Black Mountains  

Resembling an unlikely cross between a sheep and a giraffe, the llama’s closest relation is actually the camel. These South American natives are prized for their dense wool and seem to thrive on this side of the Atlantic too.

There are half-day llama treks through the Herefordshire side of the Black Mountains, starting off at Old King Street Farm in the Golden Valley. It’s your chance to find out whether these normally social animals really do spit when irritated.

9. Revisiting the industrial revolution

The Ironbridge Gorge near Telford is known as the birthplace of industry and has been designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. The gorge, and the town of the same name, mark the site of the world’s first iron bridge, which has spanned the River Severn since 1779. Visitors can follow in the footsteps of the millions of tourists who have walked across it, and explore Ironbridge’s 10 award-winning museums .

At Blists Hill, for example, you can step into a convincingly recreated Victorian town where you are encouraged to get into the spirit of time travel by changing your money into pounds, shilling and pence at the bank.

This is definitely one of the Top 10 Things to Do in the English Midlands!

10. Delve below the surface of Nottingham

Did you know that beneath the busy streets of Nottingham there’s a series of 500 sandstone caves? With the earliest dating back to the Dark Ages, these have served as homes, cellars and cesspits over the centuries – and some were still in use right up to the 1940s. Nottingham has more man-made caves than anywhere else in Britain and was once known as Tigguo Cobauc (or “place of caves”).

This subterranean world now has ancient monument status, and modern-day visitors to the City of Caves attraction can descend through dank tunnels to discover original Medieval wells, a tannery and the wartime air-raid shelters.

Time to book your campsite in the English Midlands

The West and East Midlands have plenty to offer to campers. From simply enjoying the great outdoors to indulging your passion for history, culture or fine food and drink – there really is something to suit all tastes. Book your sites at Campsited today and start planning your visit to the Top 10 Things to Do in the English Midlands.

If you’re looking for more tips, check out our guide on the  10 Best Things To Do And See In South West England and our guide on the 10 Best Things to Do and See in South East England.

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Top Attractions Along The Midlands Meander

So, you are thinking about travelling down to the Midlands Meander? Great idea. Let us help you plan the perfect weekend getaway, so you can get away from the big city life and enjoy a slice of country living.

Considering you really deserve a break, we have even done most of the planning for you!

The Midlands Meander is a collection of sight-seeing routes winding through the Natal Midlands in South Africa. You will get the opportunity to drive through the most beautiful farmlands, majestic misty mountains, and the most delightful pine forests we have ever seen.

There is so much to do and see, we couldn’t possibly fit everything into our trip, but we definitely tried.

This is what we suggest doing…

Stay At Hartford House

Where Exactly ➱ Mooi River

Hartford House is a slice of heaven amidst the wide, rolling farmlands. It is a world-class stud farm and luxury hotel that boasts the most divine restaurant, which serves both four and six-course meals. It’s high class while remaining homely and incredibly friendly. While there, you should definitely go on a bicycle ride through the farm, it’s stunning!

➳ Read more about our stay at Hartford House

Visit the Nelson Mandela Capture Site

Where Exactly ➱ Howick

Visit the capture site of South Africa’s beloved Madiba. On this very site, on the 5th of August 1962, Nelson Mandela was captured by police and sentenced to 27 years in prison. This moment was the first step on his long walk to freedom and, eventually, becoming our president.

The site has this amazing artwork that up close just appears to look like a few steel poles, but when you stand at the right angle, they form a picture of Madiba himself.

They have also just opened up a visitors centre, where you can see a replica of the Austin Westminster that Mandela was driving when captured, as well as some more information and history about apartheid and the province’s contribution to the freedom of all South Africans.

Eat at the Piggly Wiggly Coffee Shop

Where Exactly ➱ Lion’s River

We visited Piggly Wiggly Country Village one morning for breakfast. It was so scrumptious. We also absolutely love that they try and minimise their environmental footprint to assist in the climate crisis!

Let’s talk about the food… The food we had was really good and they had some very cool menu options! Doesn’t a salted caramel pancake sound divine? Or what about some Vietnamese coffee? No, a buddha bowl…?

Something else we found ridiculously cute, was that your furry friends are more than welcome to join you, they even get their own menu section and complimentary water! Does your pup want a Poochaccino?

These next few options all happen to be at the same Piggly Wiggly country village.

Go To Chocolate Heaven

Have a chocolate fondue. Byron is a huge fan of chocolate, so whenever we travel, chocolate is always an important part of the journey. Chocolate Heaven has so many different ready-made chocolates to try, as well as their famous chocolate fondue (that we had to have).

You get to choose your own dipping ingredients according to weight, like marshmallows, strawberries, assorted nuts, sweets, fudge, Oreos, you name it and then you choose between milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white chocolate for the actual fondue. You even get to freeze your leftover chocolate in moulds to take home with you!

Make Your Own Candle

At the Piggly Wiggly Country Village , you can also do candle dipping . We think this is a really fun activity for the whole family or a just cute date idea.

You are able to choose from a whole range of different shapes and sizes. From boring normal candles (like I chose) to candles shaped like a skull, a Christmas tree, car, unicorn and whatever else the season brings.

You then get the opportunity to dip your candle in your choice of three different colours. Once dipped, it’s time to paint!

This is a great opportunity to get creative and maybe competitive. Whoever makes the best candle wins and is treated to an ice-cream. Just an idea.

The Art Bar At Zulu Lulu

A similar vibe and creative outlet as the candle dipping is the art bar at Zulu Lulu . Not only is it a fun name and a beautiful gallery where you can source fine art for your home, but it is also a ceramic boutique.

You can choose blank ceramic or canvas designs and paint them as you desire. Bringing your own creativity into your home.

The Barn Owl Coffee Shop

The Barn Owl has got to be one of my favourite coffee shops, if not my favourite coffee shop to date!

Even better, we happened to arrive there accidentally.

We had Googled a different coffee shop and when we finally made our way there it was closed! Luckily, while on our way there, I had spotted a South African flag flying beside the road and a sign that said The Barn Owl .

The whole atmosphere was just so inviting and homely. The decor had me engrossed, while Byron was captured by the beautiful view of the farm outside (as well as the trampoline).

We sat down, had an awesome meal and some delicious coffee all while staring outdoors. What was extra special for us was seeing a little hummingbird come and dance about the flowers in front of us! Magical!

Picnic At Karkfloof Falls

This is a must if you love waterfalls! Entrance is free and when we visited, we had the place entirely to ourselves. We didn’t actually see this beauty mentioned on any of the other Midlands Meander guides we have read; it should be!

There are picnic and braai areas, viewing decks, hiking trails and even the drive there through the forest is so beautiful. We highly recommend visiting.

The Mandatory Howick Falls Stop Off

Howick Falls is a stunning 95m high waterfall that has a great legend attached to it…

Local legend says that a giant serpent creature lives at the bottom of the falls and only a sangoma may approach it, but only to pray and offer worship to the beast.

Something else we find fascinating is that they have a record of all the people who have fallen over the edge – the earliest being recorded in 1851.

(⚠ We have also heard that it is not as safe anymore. So we advise that you be careful and vigilant, but do encourage people to visit, it is still a stunning waterfall.)

The Farmer’s Daughter

For some reason, every establishment in Howick seems to close very early in the evening, we were only able to sneak into The Farmer’s Daughter for some lovely coffee and cake. We suggest you come here after your trip to Karkloof Falls.

They sport some interesting and quirky decor inside; with stunning views from the upper level and outside seating.

It seems like a lovely place to spend some time eating, chatting away or reading a good book.

Peruse Ardmore Ceramic Art Gallery

Where Exactly ➱ Lidgetton

Ardmore is a very high-class, luxury boutique/gallery, that has reached international acclaim. You will find some of the most interesting pieces here! Ardmore definitely has a unique and distinctive look to it. We paid a visit purely because we kept seeing items scattered around different hotels in the Midlands Meander that we heard originated from here.

The gallery is also a little museum, where you can learn the history of Ardmore and some of their more famous pieces. What we loved the most was that each artist receives his/her due credit (and you can even see them creating new art right there!)

Craft Shopping At The Ugly Duckling

Where Exactly ➱ Rosetta

The Ugly Duckling has a massive collection of odd bits and bobs to decorate your house with. From furniture to antiques, to funny decorative items you’ll battle to find anywhere else.

We bought ourselves a handful of incense, an incense holder, bamboo straws and were very interested in all the travel related antiques they had. They had world globes, old compasses, binoculars – the perfect collectors items for a travel inspired room.

Visit An Old Wine Cellar And Purchase A Book For Charity

Across from The Ugly Duckling is a cute little wine cellar called… Wait for it… The Wine Cellar !

They have the best selection of wine in the Midlands Meadner, some bottles from their expansive selection dating back a good few years. It’s like walking through an old, family-owned wine cellar with a small deli. In fact, that’s actually what it is!

Just off to the side is a charity book shop aimed at supporting the SPCA. So we recommend purchasing a bottle of wine, a platter from the deli, and a book; and then sitting back on a comfy chair in the book shop reading by the fire on a cold and misty day.

We hope that you enjoyed our guide! Please let us know if you choose to do any of these activities above and let us know your experience! We’d love to chat.

Please bring us along on your adventures by liking our Facebook page , following us on Instagram and tagging us in all your travels! #DearTravallure

Did You Know?

The Midlands Meander is a collection of amazing adventures, unique restaurants, exquisite accommodation and creative crafters that have come together to creative and extensive sightseeing route in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The intention behind the Midlands Meander is to bring awareness to the beauty of our country and the people in it!

It also makes the perfect partner to a road trip through the Drakensberg. So if you are looking for the ultimate South African road trip or short escape, the Midlands Meander and Drakensberg might just be what you’re looking for. Before you get too far in your planning, be sure to read:

➳ 13 Reasons Why You Need To Take Road Trip Through The Drakensberg

If you’re already rearing to go, then perhaps we can interest you in the complete itinerary. All routes, directions and attractions, in a fun package. That’s right, a video! Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and then enjoy the Drakensberg and Midlands Meander Travel Guide !

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Slieve Bloom Mountains Nature Reserve

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Lough Key Forest Park

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Why we should expect today to be a weather record in the West Midlands as the sun shines

The hottest day of the year was today being enjoyed by the West Midlands, with temperatures up into the high 20s.

Watch more of our videos on Shots! and live on Freeview channel 276

The warm spell will continue until the end of the week, with the weekend remaining bright but a little cooler.

Temperatures were expected to reach 27C (81F) in the region both today and Wednesday, with long spells of unbroken sunshine.

It is a welcome change for many following a cold start to the summer, but others are struggling as hay fever levels remain very high.

Elsewhere, the Met Office said central London could see a peak of 31C (88F) this week.

Early forecasts are also looking positive for those attending Glastonbury Festival, with largely sunny spells from Wednesday to Sunday and temperatures averaging the low 20s by the end of the week.

It is also good news for big events in the West Midlands this weekend, including the Shrewsbury Food Festival, which attracts tens of thousands to the town from across the region.

It marks a break from the rainy spring, which saw 32 per cent more rainfall than the average in the West Midlands, according to the Met Office, and hampered businesses reliant on tourism or high street foot traffic.

Oli Claydon, a Met Office spokesman, said "it won't be sunshine for everyone" but will still be warm even where there is cloud cover during the week.

"The West Midlands will enjoy long spells of sunshine. We might see the occasional shower in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland, where there will be a little bit of cloud through Tuesday, but otherwise clearer skies in the South East and that's where we're going to see the highest temperatures," he added.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) issued a safety warning on Monday reminding people from the West Midlands heading to coastal areas to take precautions. Thousands are expected to enjoy traditional =ly popular resors such as Barmouth and Weston-super-Mare.

Sam Hughes, water safety education manager at the RNLI, said: "We are expecting the coast to be extremely busy with this burst of warm weather.

"We want everyone to enjoy being around the water but we also want to make sure people stay safe and know what to do in an emergency.

"Always visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags. If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live: tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing.

"Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then, once you are through the initial shock, call for help to or swim to safety if you can. In an emergency call 999 and ask for the coastguard."

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts for the West Midlands, warning the warm conditions could pose a risk to vulnerable individuals.

The heatwave threshold is met when a location records at least three consecutive days with maximum temperatures exceeding a designated value, according to the Met Office.

This is 25C for most of the UK, but rises to 28C in London and its surrounding area, where temperatures are typically higher.

However, the heat is only expected to last until Wednesday, with temperatures returning to around 20C (68F) over the weekend.

Mr Claydon said: "It'll actually be quite pleasant, although temperatures will still be a little cooler and closer to average, the weather will still be fine and there will be a lot of dry weather around."

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