The Heart of England is at the centre of Englands road network making it easily accessible from wherever you are.

Heart of England

Well known as a walking destination, Herefordshire has four long-distance trails passing through the county as well as its very own Herefordshire Trail, totalling 154 miles altogether.

Herefordshire is ideal for garden lovers, with over 26 National Collections there are old and new gardens to suit all tastes plus numerous specialist nurseries.

Away from the rolling hills, black and white timbered houses are present all around, as are historic castles and the famous Norman Cathedral in the city of Hereford where you can see the oldest map of the World, the Mappa Mundi and the Chained Library.

Artists, musicians and creative minds have been encouraged to settle in Herefordshire over the years by the natural beauty and calm pace of life. As a result, there are a wealth of galleries and exhibitions for both locals and visitors to enjoy.

Before you leave Herefordshire, be sure to sample some of the well-known local produce of cider and Herefordshire beef – this county is also proud of having the first Michelin star pub in the UK.

Despite being one of England’s quiet counties, Shropshire has over 90 places to visit, including the World Heritage Site of Ironbridge and the birthplace of Charles Darwin. Shropshire is situated on the English Welsh border, gets more hours of daylight than anywhere else in the country and has over 32 castles with Ludlow, Stokesay and Clun claiming to be the finest.

The historic town of Shrewsbury has over 660 listed buildings and black and white ‘magpie’ half-timbered houses that are so typical of the Welsh Marches. The old medieval street plan can be explored through Shrewsbury’s Shut and Passages – a unique maze of narrow alleys that criss-cross the town centre. Or, make the most of the River Severn which almost completely surrounds Shrewsbury by hiring a canoe or rowing boat or by doing a bit of fishing.

Charles I once said that Bridgnorth has the finest view in England and indeed, the view remains as stunning today as it was 350 years ago, with the High Town perching a hundred feet above the Low Town and the River Severn.

Also, Shropshire’s gastronomic capital of Ludlow boasts two Michelin starred restaurants, more than anywhere else outside London and is also home to a terrific food festival.

The historic inland waterways of Staffordshire provide a playground for narrow boats. There are plenty of attractions to visit and places to see along the way from major theme parks like Alton Towers and Drayton Manor to delightful towns such as Tutbury, a centre for crystal and glass blowing or Lichfield where the three spires of the Cathedral tower over the Samuel Johnson Birthplace museum and the Erasmus Darwin Centre.

Stoke-on-Trent is known throughout the world for its fine china and ceramics and otherwise known as ‘The Potteries’. Since the 18th century, visitors to Staffordshire have admired the skills of the craftspeople who produce quality goods for renowned names such as Wedgewood, Spode and Royal Doulton. There are museums, factory tours, visitor centres and over 30 factory shops for you to enjoy.

The uplands and dales of the Peak District are perfect for leisure and activity holidays, with opportunities for walking, hang-gliding, rock climbing and caving.

Staffordshire is perfect for short breaks – how about a Landrover safari through Cannock Chase or a movie map tour, taking in some stunning sceneries and historic houses used for film locations – the most recent being Jane Eyre.

Situated at the heart of the Heart of England you will find the West Midlands, providing easy access to the history and heritage of the region.

Birmingham is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city brimming with culture and nestled in the middle of lush rolling countryside and beautiful quaint villages. Known as the 'workplace of the world', Birmingham began as a small rural manor and was first mentioned in the Doomsday Book as being worth 20 shillings; the town was established in 1166. Apart from the village where the market, church and castle of the Lord of the Manor were located, there was just a large expanse of park and heath land to the west and north. Now, it’s one of Europe’s biggest cities, with an area of 80 square miles and a million people benefiting from the diversity and vibrancy of the communities that make Birmingham what it is today. Famous for being the home of the NEC arena, Birmingham is also superb for shopping, with pedestrian friendly squares and streets. You can book a specialised shopping break in conjunction with Harvey Nichols and Selfridges including a personal shopper experience, lunch and a hair or beauty treatment or wander around some fantastic shops and museums at the Jewellery Quarter or the Balti Triangle – Birmingham has a big Asian culture and all aspects of this can be experienced here.

Combining the best of town and country, Warwickshire’s array of attractions range from two renowned motor museums, a living Roman fort and Britain’s national organic garden situated between country churches, canals and battlefields.

The medieval Warwick Castle is one of the finest in England and was home to generations of the powerful Earls of Warwick, including the 13th Earl, executioner of Joan of Arc. The fortress towers over the banks of the River Avon, on a site first fortified by William the Conqueror in 1068.

The fashionable town of Royal Leamington Spa is worthy of a visit, even if only to visit the Royal Pump Rooms to taste the spa water which made the town famous and of course there is beautiful Stratford, otherwise known as Shakespeare Country, named after its most famous resident. William Shakespeare was born and grew up in Stratford and as you can probably imagine, there are a wealth of attractions associated with him including his final resting place at Holy Trinity Church.

Six hundred years ago, the city of Coventry was ranked fourth among England’s cities and it still possesses the monuments of that glorious past – one of the finest medieval guildhalls in the country, almshouses and monastic foundations – it’s also the birthplace of the motor industry in Britain and famous locals include St George the dragon slayer, Lady Godiva and jet pioneer Frank Whittle.

The county of Worcestershire offers a mixture of stunning countryside with acres of fruit orchards, riverside towns and picturesque villages with the cathedral city of Worcester in the centre of the county.

Worcestershire is home to Malvern Water and Malvern is famous for its hills, some of the oldest in the World at around 650 million years old. Walking in Malvern can be as gentle or strenuous as you wish and the views are spectacular – it has been claimed that you can see 15 counties from the summit of Worcestershire Beacon – this beautiful place is also where Sir Edward Elgar got his inspiration to compose ‘Pomp and Circumstance’.

The Wyre Forest is England’s second largest forest after the New Forest and from here, The Severn Valley Steam Railway will take you on a journey through the some of the best riverside scenery in the country.

Worcestershire also boasts numerous waterways where you can hire a narrow boat on one of the canals or set sail down the River Stour, River Avon, River Teme or Britain's longest river, the River Severn.

Whichever county you chose to visit, they are all equally stunning and have their own individual treasures waiting to be explored – you just have to decide where to go first!

 Home of Shakespeare, the potteries, the Black Country and Alton Towers, the Heart of England is a charming region to visit with a feast of things to see and do.