THE MIDLANDS/CENTRAL ENGLAND
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Culture And Heritage
The Midlands is rich in culture and heritage. There are thousands of historic houses and ancient monuments - the magnificent Boughton House in Northamptonshire is one notable example. Lincoln, one of England's oldest cities, boasts a fine mediaeval cathedral.
The West Midlands was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. In recognition of this, Ironbridge Gorge, where Abraham Darby pioneered the use of coke in smelting iron in 1709, has become a World Heritage Site. The canal and river networks of the region are another unique legacy of this industrial heritage.
Recently, there's been a noticeable revival of the traditions of the region's many market towns. Maypole dancing and market days are making a comeback, and arts and craft markets are hugely popular. Lincolnshire Christmas market, for example, is one of the largest in Europe. And, every October for over 700 years the Goose Fair, Europe's biggest travelling fair, has visited Nottingham.
Those looking for some cultural day outs can head down to Stratford-upon-Avon. The birthplace of Shakespeare boasts three theatres and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Birmingham has the highest concentration of live theatre outside London's West End, and is home to the celebrated City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Yorkshire boasts acclaimed institutions such as Opera North, Northern Ballet Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse, offering residents a diverse cultural life all year round.
Economy
The Midlands is the leading manufacturing region in the UK and produces a third of the country's cars and vehicles.
Financial services are another big industry - Leeds is England's second largest financial business centre.
Northamptonshire has the biggest percentage of motorsport engineering and services businesses in the country. Work has started on a £4.2 million development programme for Silverstone.
There are also natural resources. The region is a major producer of aggregates and limestone. Large parts are rural, with some of the country's best and most versatile agricultural land. This underpins the rural economy.
Transport
The motorways M1, M5, M6, M42, M54 and M62 all run through the region.
| Distance to London in miles | |
| York | 203 |
| Bradford | 203 |
| Leeds | 196 |
| Hull | 188 |
| Sheffield | 161 |
Birmingham International Airport, the second largest outside London, has direct scheduled services to over 50 destinations worldwide.
There are 15 airlines, include no-frills carriers, using the East Midlands Regional Airport. It's at Castle Donnington near Derby, Nottingham and Leicester and is near to the M1, A42 and A50.
Silverlink trains connect Birmingham and Coventry to London; and Virgin Trains connect Birmingham and Coventry to Oxford, Reading, London, Southampton, Gatwick, Brighton, Sheffield, Durham and Scotland. The East Coast main lines serves Yorkshire and Humber, while the West Coast Main Line railway serves the western fringe of the region.