The Midlands of England are not a tourist hotspot like London and the Cotswolds, but it is a region which can be easily driven and which boasts castles, national parks, industrial heritage and literary history. The following is a list of the top 10 places to make a trip around.
## 1. Stratford-upon-Avon
### Shakespeare’s Hometown
Stroll through the street where William Shakespeare paced and lived, visit his birthplace and see a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on the River Avon. The walks along the river and the Tudor architecture is enjoyed by all, not just theatre buffs.
## 2. The National Park of the Peak District
The UK’s first National Park.The first National Park in the UK.
This is a hilly, limestone gorged and village-hung hike to Bakewell, home of the Bakewell tart! The park surrounds one of the grandest stately homes in England, Chatsworth House.
## 3. Birmingham
The capital of culture in the Midlands.Capital of culture in the Midlands.
The second city of England has been transformed — with bars lining the canal in Gas Street Basin, a Michelin-starred food capital (with more stars than any city outside London in the United Kingdom), and the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.
## 4. Warwick Castle
This is a fully preserved medieval fortification.It is a complete medieval fortress.
British medieval castle with towers to climb, a working trebuchet and evening shows. It is touristy, but it’s worth it.
## 5. Nottingham
### Robin Hood Country
In addition to the legend, Nottingham has Sherwood Forest (which houses the famous Major Oak) and a historic castle, plus a real good nightlife scene, with the Lace Market district.
## 6. The Cotswolds (Southern Edge)
### Chocolate-Box English Villages
The honey-stone cottages and stillness of traditional English tourism are provided by the villages of the Midlands, including Broadway and Chipping Campden, which are on the very southern edge of the Midlands.
## 7. Ironbridge Gorge
The city where the Industrial Revolution began.The city in which the Industrial Revolution originated.
The first iron bridge (1779) is the centre of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ten museums are located throughout the gorge and range topics from Victorian life to porcelain-making.
## 8. Lincoln
The city of Cathedral City has a medieval nucleus.There is a medieval heart in Cathedral City.
For more than 200 years Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in Europe. The cobbled Street up to it is lined with independent shops, including Steep Hill, a potter.Steep Hill is the cobbled street up to it, with independent shops.
## 9. Rutland Water
Your smallest county is the biggest reservoir in England!The smallest county is the Biggest Reservoir in England!
Cycling, sailing and bird-watching around Rutland Water’s 25 mile shoreline trail is a peaceful pursuit.
## 10. Coventry
### Reinvented and Underrated
The Coventry cathedral was bombed to destruction in WWII and rebuilt as a war memorial next to a new contemporary cathedral (one of the most striking contrasts in English architecture). There’s the Herbert Art Gallery, and a steadily expanding food scene.
## Planning Your Trip
### Best Base Locations
Birmingham has the best transport links and is good if you’re not driving.
Stratford-upon-Avon is best for a slower pace, village-hopping.
– Nottingham — good middle-ground for sites in the east Midlands.
### Getting Around
There is no better way to explore the Midlands than by car as most sites are 30-90 minutes from each other and there are not many public transport routes between smaller towns. If you are traveling by train stay in Birmingham and make day trips to the rest of the UK.
## Final Word
The Midlands, however, offers travelers rewards for avoiding the postcard checklist. You can enjoy castles, and cathedral cities, and real English industrial history without the crowds and price tags! Three or four of these are covered by a long weekend and the full week allows you to do the region justice.