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West Midlands of England
Holiday and Tourism Information
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Don't be confused by the fact that at the centre of our
West Midlands region is a county also
known as "West Midlands".
For decades, much of the region was known as the West
Midlands and then, during a reorganisation of local
government, some wise person decided that the area
around Birmingham
should be given the same name.
Why have clarity when you can have confusion to make
life a little more interesting?
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The area has many
attractions but the architecturally impressive Selfridges
store at The Bullring shopping centre is one of the
latest.
There are those who would say that Derbyshire doesn't
belong here and certainly the airport which serves Derby
is the East Midlands Airport... but here is where you will
find the information on Derbyshire. |
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For ease of use, we have divided it into north and south
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Derbyshire-north for The
Peak District National Park and Buxton, and
Derbyshire-South for
Derby city, Ashbourne, Ilkeston, etc.
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Dowel Dale. Photo
Paul Ashwin |
The landscapes of the Peak District
are varied with small market towns and villages
scattered throughout but if you are looking for a
get-away-from-it-all holiday with only birdsong and
natural noises to break the peace, then there are many
places within this beautiful area where you will find
just what you need.
The porous limestone gives rise to caves and dry valleys
like the one on the left in Dowel Dale, which is a
typical scene of a single-track road found in rural
areas.
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Staffordshire, too, is divided (as it is in real life).
North Staffordshire, one time
industrial area producing coal, steel and pottery which
gave rise to it being known as "The Potteries", has
several industrial heritage museums including the one
pictured here - Gladstone Pottery Museum.
This is a working museum where visitors can see pottery
being produced as it was traditionally, except that the
bottle kilns can no longer be fired with coal so the
pottery is fired in electric kilns.
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Gladstone Pottery Museum, Longton,
Stoke-on-Trent. Photo:
Val Vannet |
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Manifold Valley. Photo:
Cathy Cox
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Also in the north of the county are
the high
Staffordshire Moorlands,
adjoining the Peak District, and containing such
delights as Dove Dale and the Manifold Valley, seen here
from the mouth of Thor's Cave.
The old track-bed of the Leek & Manifold Valley Railway,
which closed in 1934, is now a tarmac path/cycleway.
Bring your own bikes or hire them locally! |
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South Staffordshire,
including the county town of
Stafford, is
considered as foreign parts for some of those from the
north of the county. Its landscapes and attractions are
totally different and becoming increasingly popular as a
tourist area.
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The nearby
Lichfield Cathedral dates back over 1300 years and is
home to the annual
Lichfield Arts Festival.
For families,
Amerton Farm & Craft Centre provides interest and
entertainment in all weathers. Open Easter - Christmas.
Stafford, itself, is a bustling town which still retains
its individuality with many local traders as well as the
usual nationals.
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Stafford Town Centre
Photo:
Val Vannet |
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It has some interesting architectural features including
the
Ancient High House, tallest timber-framed town house
in England and built about 1595.
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Shropshire is a very
rural county with plenty to attract the visitor and its
historic county town,
Shrewsbury has some particularly impressive
buildings and nearby Ironbridge is world famous as the
site of the first iron bridge and for the role that
Abraham Darby's Coalbrookdale ironworks played in the
industrial revolution. |
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The rural counties of
Herefordshire and
Worcestershire fell victim to the same
re-organisational skills as did the West Midlands.
These two counties were joined together to become the
county of Hereford & Worcester!
A later reorganisation saw them separate and revert to
their original names!
Both are pleasant agricultural counties with small
attractive villages and a few notable towns and cities.
We are currently working to research these counties and
present we have little information other than
accommodation.
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Hereford Cathedral
Photo:
Ruth Harris |
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The magnificent
Hereford Cathedral houses the famous
Mappa Mundi, a unique medieval map depicting how the
world was interpreted by thirteenth-century scholars
with Jerusalem at the centre of the world. |
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Warwickshire
includes the cities of Rugby, Coventry and Warwick with
its magnificent castle, and is also the county of
Shakespeare's Stratford upon Avon.
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Warwick Castle. Photo:
David Stowell |
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Originally founded by the Normans in
1068, Warwick Castle has been updated a number of times
through the centuries.
Today's castle has been developed as a tourist attraction.
Visit and experience the dungeons, the Great Hall, State
Rooms.
Climb some of the towers and visit the well laid out
exhibitions (many with wax figures - the castle is now
part of the Tussauds group). |
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Many forms of medieval entertainment are staged at the
castle throughout the year and the castle is a concert
venue for major artists.
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Anne Hathaway's Cottage, is probably one of the
most famous houses in the world.
Located just a short distance from the centre of
Statford-upon-Avon, this 15th century thatched cottage
with its picturesque garden was home to Ann Hathaway whom
William Shakespeare married when he was just 18.
His twin daughters, Hamnet and Judith, were born just six
months later and continued to live here with their mother
even though William lived and worked for most of his time
in London, paying frequent visits his family in Stratford. |
Ann Hathaway's Cottage.
Photo:
David Stowell |
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Two years before he died, William and his family moved to
another house in Stratford, New Place, which was later
demolished.
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Traditional Cotswold Stone cottages near Slaughter. Photo:
David Stowell |
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One of England's finest areas of
natural beauty is
The Cotswolds.
Lying in the east of Gloucestershire and the west of
Oxfordshire, this area is treated separately to the
counties themselves.
So our
Oxford area covers the city and those parts of the
county which are not within The Cotswolds.
We will eventually have a similar arrangement in
Gloucestershire but, at present, we are still compiling
information on this. |
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From this page you can follow the links
to the various holiday areas where you will find details of
accommodation, activities, attractions, historic sites, travel
information, and general tourism info for the area. |
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