To really get to know a place there’s probably nothing to beat time spent in the very heart of the country. Can you really call this your home, therefore, until you have hitched up your caravan and spent at least a few days – or even a week or two – exploring the heart of the region that is Central England and the Midlands?
To help you along the way, here are seven places of interest to visit in an area that is full to the brim of natural and historical attractions.
1. Stratford-upon-Avon
It’s where William Shakespeare was born and this charming town still hosts a large collection of buildings built during Tudor times.
You can visit the bard’s very birthplace and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Venture into the green and pleasant countryside roundabout and you can also take in the quintessential villages that make the heart of England, including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.
2. Stratford-upon-Avon Canal
This waterway – built at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries – is a fairly short spur of the Grand Union Canal but wends its way through some of the most beautiful countryside and villages of Warwickshire.
Take a different and truly memorable perspective of the Midlands from the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal.
3. Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is very much a historic jewel in the Midlands’ crown – it is majestic, imposing, and incredibly well-preserved.
Throughout the year, its grounds are host to all manner of activities – from 100 days of action-packed jousting to events mounted to show off some of Britain’s largest birds of prey. Special events are held at specific times in the calendar such as Halloween and Christmas.
4. Birmingham
Central England and the Midlands have much more to offer than lush countryside, quaint villages, and historic castles. The City of Birmingham is second only to London in terms of its size and importance – a Victorian powerhouse that continues to play a vital role in the country’s economy today.
Birmingham offers such a rich and varied urban experience that you’ll be glad you paid a visit during the several days you’re likely to need to take in at least some of its sights.
5. Peak District
North of Birmingham and the large conurbations of the Midlands is the Peak District National Park.
This wild and rugged terrain covers a mighty 555 square miles (1,438 square kilometres) and occupies large parts of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire. Simply turn up at one of the four visitor centres – at Bakewell, Castleton, Derwent, and Edale – to get your bearings before heading off into the wild blue yonder of Central England’s most stunning landscape.
6. Kenilworth Castle
Another castle just goes to prove how central was the role of this part of England throughout much of history.
Kenilworth Castle may not be as well preserved as its neighbour in Warwick, but these ruins continue to echo the great romance that is said to have grown between its builder, Robert Dudley, and Queen Elizabeth I.
7. Ironbridge
If there is one site that encapsulates the early economic powerhouse of England it is the Ironbridge Gorge, in Shropshire, that is widely regarded as the birthplace of the world’s first Industrial Revolution.
Now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site the Ironbridge valley and its iconic Iron Bridge was the site of the famous Coalbrookdale iron foundry, established in 1709, where Abraham Darby perfected new ways of smelting iron for faster and better quality results – from his innovations, England’s Industrial Revolution was born.