Midlands
The central region of England lies to the south of Northern England and to the north of Southern England. It sits between Wales on the west and the North Sea on the east. This area comprises eleven ceremonial counties including Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, and Worcestershire. For statistical purposes, officials divide this land into two distinct regions: the East Midlands and the West Midlands. These two areas held a combined population of 10.9 million people during the 2021 census. The northern part of Lincolnshire belongs instead to the Yorkshire and the Humber statistical region. No single definition exists for what constitutes the Midlands today. Some definitions include Gloucestershire as West Midland while others label Bedfordshire as South Midland. Cheshire occasionally appears in lists of Midland counties despite its usual classification elsewhere. Informal regions known as the South Midlands and North Midlands vary by organization. The former includes southern parts of the East Midlands and northern parts of Southern England. The latter covers northern parts of the West and East Midlands along with some southern parts of Northern England.
The modern region corresponds broadly to the early-medieval kingdom of Mercia. A saltire diagonal cross may have been used as a symbol of Mercia as early as the reign of Offa. By the 13th century, the saltire had become the attributed arms of the Kingdom of Mercia. College of Arms Ms. L.14 dating from the reign of Henry III describes these arms as Azure, a saltire Or meaning a gold saltire on a blue field. This flag flies from Tamworth Castle which served as the ancient seat of the Mercian kings. Street signs welcoming people to Tamworth display this same cross. It appeared outside Birmingham Council House during 2009 while the Staffordshire Hoard was on display before moving to London. The cross has been incorporated into coats of arms for towns including Tamworth, Leek, and Blaby. The Flag Institute recognized it as the Mercian flag in 2014. The area became important during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries. One part earned the name Black Country due to its industrial significance. Nottingham played a notable role in the English Civil War with place names like Parliament Terrace and Standard Hill commemorating that history.
The Midlands transformed dramatically during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Black Country broadly covers the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, and Walsall. These areas played an important part in the Industrial Revolution. Derbyshire's Amber Valley and Erewash combine attractive countryside with industrial heritage. Historic canals and sites associated with the mining industry exist throughout these regions. Birmingham emerged as the largest city in the region and the second-largest city in the United Kingdom. The West Midlands conurbation includes cities like Birmingham and Wolverhampton. This metropolitan county also contains Coventry. Related City Regions extend into neighboring areas of Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. Local government structures evolved over time with unitary authorities replacing older systems after 1899. The historic counties ceased administrative use but remain important for activities like county cricket. Midland Bank founded in Birmingham now operates as part of HSBC. The Midland Main Line railway runs from London through the East Midlands to Sheffield. A regeneration programme called Midlands Engine targets economic development across the area.
Due to being neither Northern England nor Southern England, the Midlands have cultural elements from both sides. In a binary choice, the Watford Gap in Northamptonshire often serves as the dividing point between north and south. Most of the Midlands population sits above this geographical marker. Some suggest the region suffers an image problem due to lacking clear identity. Different areas possess their own distinctive character giving rise to many local history groups. West Midlands English and East Midlands English represent generalised dialect groups spoken throughout the region. The former notably includes Brummie and Black Country dialects. A study shows some Midlands areas traditionally had dialect closer to northern speech patterns. These areas now show more influence from southern speech styles. William Shakespeare originated from Warwickshire within the Midlands. Various foods have roots here including bakewell tart, Staffordshire oatcake, Melton Mowbray pork pie, and Coventry godcake. Stilton cheese and haslet also originate from this central region. Worcestershire sauce remains one of the most famous names to emerge from the Midlands. Walkers crisps and Cadbury chocolate are other well-known brands with Midland origins. Birmingham developed a local version of Asian balti curry that gained national recognition.
The area is predominantly low-lying and flat apart from isolated hills such as Turners Hill at 271 meters. Upland areas lie in the west and north of the region with Shropshire Hills close to the England-Wales border. The Peak District area of the southern Pennines occupies the north of the region. Shropshire Hills reach heights of 540 meters at Brown Clee Hill. Wenlock Edge runs through the middle of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It extends for over 16 kilometers as a long low ridge. Kinder Scout stands as the highest point of the Peak District at 636 meters. Twyn Llech reaches 703 meters making it the highest point in Herefordshire. The Precambrian Malverns form some of the oldest rock in England dating from around 680 million years ago. They extend through two West Midlands counties including Worcestershire and Herefordshire. The Cotswolds designated an AONB in 1966 extend through multiple counties reaching 330 meters at Cleeve Hill. Lincolnshire serves as the only coastal county in the Midlands. Some places fall below sea level near Thorpe Tilney in North Kesteven. The climate features cold cloudy wet winters and comfortable mostly dry summers. Temperatures range from winter nights to summer days based on WorldClim.org data. Pershore recorded a minimum temperature of -11 degrees Celsius on the 20th of December 2010. Coningsby in Lincolnshire reached a maximum temperature of 38.7 degrees Celsius on the 19th of July 2022.
The table shows urban areas in the region with populations exceeding 250,000 people. The West Midlands area held 2,440,986 residents across 598.9 square kilometers. Its density reached 4,076 people per square kilometer. Primary settlements include Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Dudley, West Bromwich, Walsall, Stourbridge, Halesowen, Willenhall, Kingswinford, Smethwick, Bloxwich, Tipton, and others. Nottingham contained 729,977 people within 176.4 square kilometers. Leicester housed 508,916 individuals across 109.4 square kilometers. Stoke-on-Trent had 372,775 residents covering 103.9 square kilometers. Coventry held 359,262 people over 81.3 square kilometers. Derby contained 270,468 individuals across 64.1 square kilometers. Local government divides into boroughs and counties with varying administrative structures. Unitary authorities of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire come under Yorkshire and the Humber region instead. The two regions hold a combined population of 10,350,697 according to 2014 mid-year estimates. The largest conurbation includes cities like Birmingham and Wolverhampton covered by the metropolitan county of the West Midlands.
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Common questions
What counties are included in the Midlands region of England?
The Midlands comprises eleven ceremonial counties including Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, and Worcestershire. For statistical purposes officials divide this land into two distinct regions known as the East Midlands and the West Midlands.
When did the Midlands become important during the Industrial Revolution?
The area became important during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries. One part earned the name Black Country due to its industrial significance while Birmingham emerged as the largest city in the region and the second-largest city in the United Kingdom.
Where is the dividing point between Northern England and Southern England within the Midlands?
In a binary choice the Watford Gap in Northamptonshire often serves as the dividing point between north and south. Most of the Midlands population sits above this geographical marker despite cultural elements from both sides.
Who originated from Warwickshire within the Midlands region?
William Shakespeare originated from Warwickshire within the Midlands. Various foods have roots here including bakewell tart, Staffordshire oatcake, Melton Mowbray pork pie, and Coventry godcake alongside Stilton cheese and haslet.
What are the highest points in the Peak District and Shropshire Hills areas of the Midlands?
Kinder Scout stands as the highest point of the Peak District at 636 meters while Twyn Llech reaches 703 meters making it the highest point in Herefordshire. Shropshire Hills reach heights of 540 meters at Brown Clee Hill.