The Heart of England contains many beautiful areas - the Peak District, the Cotswolds, the Chilterns are good examples.

The Peak District National Park is an area of contrasts - hidden caves to explore deep underground contrasted with the beautiful vistas from the top of the many peaks you can climb. It was the first National Park to be set up (in 1951), and covers over six counties!

The Cotswolds contain many picturesque villages, such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway, Moreton-in-Marsh, and Upper and Lower Slaughter. Unchanged for centuries, they give a taste of what a traditional English village is like.

There are many interesting towns in this region :- Stratford-upon-Avon is William Shakespeare’s birthplace, Oxford, the university town known for its "dreaming spires", and Gloucester has a magnificent cathedral and a Roman history.

The Heart of England also covers many of the traditional industrial areas of England. Telford is famous for the Iron Bridge which was such a feature of the Industrial Revolution, Stoke on Trent is known for its china and pottery industry, Birmingham is famous for engineering and car manufacture, and Nottingham is famous for its lace.

There are a number of major stately homes and tourist attractions, including Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth House, Warwick Castle and Woburn Abbey to be found in this region.

Thrill seekers are well catered for in the Heart of England - the famous Alton Towers in Staffordshire has a large selection of exciting high speed rides. Not forgetting Drayton Manor and Wicksteed Park as well.

There are plenty of animal attractions to choose from in this area - Woburn Safari Park, Twycross Zoo, Dudley Zoo and the Cotswold Falconry Centre to name just a few.

Attractions in The Heart of England

Towns in The Heart of England