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Midlands

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

The Midlands is a large region in the center of England.

Map of the English Midlands with settlements and traditional counties
Map of the English Midlands with settlements and traditional counties

It sits between Northern England and Southern England. To the east, the land reaches toward the North Sea. To the west, it is near Wales. The area is made up of many different counties. These include places like Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire. Some people call it the "Heart of England" because it is in the middle.

Midlands counties
Midlands counties

Many people live here, with about 10.9 million people in 2021.

The land in the Midlands has many different shapes. Much of it is low and flat. However, there are many beautiful hills to explore. The Shropshire Hills are in the west near the Welsh border. In the north, you can find the Peak District.

Midlands counties
Midlands counties

The highest point in the Peak District is Kinder Scout. Some rocks in the Malverns are very old. They are about 680 million years old! This makes them some of the oldest rocks in England. Some parts of Lincolnshire are even below sea level.

The history of this place is very long. The Midlands used to be a kingdom called Mercia. You can still see symbols from that time. The St Alban's Cross is a gold cross on a blue background.

Flag of Mercia (2014)
Flag of Mercia (2014)

This flag was used by the kings of Mercia. Long ago, the Midlands became very important during the Industrial Revolution. This was a time of big changes in how things were made. One area even became known as the Black Country because of this history.

Many big cities are located in the Midlands. Birmingham is the largest city in the region. It is actually the second-largest city in the whole United Kingdom.

Midlands councils
Midlands councils

Other large cities include Coventry, Leicester, and Nottingham. People in different cities might speak in different ways. For example, some people in the West Midlands use the Brummie dialect. The weather can also change a lot. It can be very hot or very cold. The highest temperature ever recorded in England was found in Lincolnshire.

There are many famous things that come from the Midlands. The poet William Shakespeare lived in Warwickshire. You can also find delicious foods here. People love Stilton cheese and Melton Mowbray pork pies.

Midlands counties
Midlands counties

Even famous music comes from these cities. The band Black Sabbath started in Birmingham. Many people enjoy visiting the historic canals and the pretty countryside. The Midlands is a place with many different stories to tell.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Flag of Mercia (2014).svg
Flag of Mercia (2014).svg
File:Foot-strut split.svg
Foot-strut split.svg
File:Map of the English Midlands with settlements and traditional counties.png
Map of the English Midlands with...
File:Midlands councils.png
Midlands councils.png
File:Midlands counties.png
Midlands counties.png
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