West Midlands

The West Midlands is made up of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. Its main cities are Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton. It’s the most diverse part of the country behind London, with a proud multicultural history, from the birth of Two-Tone music in Coventry – a combination of Caribbean ska and English punk – to the Balti curry, courtesy of Birmingham’s Pakistani community. Once the heart of heavy industry and manufacturing, and the inspiration for Peaky Blinders, Birmingham is one of the youngest cities in Europe, with over 40% under 25 years old.

Providers in the
West Midlands

City guides

Counties of the West Midlands

Herefordshire apple tree

Herefordshire

Known for its cider and cattle, Hereford is largely rural, boasting vast areas of uninterrupted countryside.

Several national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty verge into it from bordering counties.

Iron Bridge

Shropshire

The major towns include Shrewsbury, Newport, and Telford – which is viewed as one of the fastest growing towns in the country.

With its ancient forts, castles, and black and white Tudor buildings, Shropshire truly feels like you’ve stepped back in time.

Trentham Gardens

Staffordshire

The county made its name for expertly crafted pottery, particularly in the six towns that make up its largest city today, Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire’s most popular tourist attraction these days is Alton Towers, with the more peaceful Cannock Chase and Peak District nearby.

Stratford-Upon-Avon river

Warwickshire

Warwickshire is made up of lots of charming towns and villages – from Warwick’s half-timbered Tudor fronts, to the porcelain white regency streets of Leamington Spa.

The Royal Shakespeare Company is based in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of ‘The Bard’ himself.

Malvern Hills

Worcestershire

Worcestershire has an array of charming historical locations to explore – including Worcester, Malvern and Bromsgrove – plus Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, like the striking Malvern Hills.

Of course Worcestershire is also known for its namesake sauce.