I love to plan a holiday or a winter break. There is nothing better than spending an evening or two surfing the internet in search of that perfect trip. Picking the perfect destination for a break is always an exciting task, don’t you think? We often try to squeeze in a few weekend breaks, particularly after the chaos and craziness of Christmas and New Year. As I sit here typing, looking out of my window to see a flurry of white snow, I am dreaming of golden sands, turquoise waters and winter sun. After Christmas and New Year, many of us find our budgets are tighter, thanks to increased fuel and heating bills, and the extravagance of the festive period. With this in mind, It has got me thinking…. why not plan a UK staycation this winter? I can certainly think of a number of reasons to visit the Midlands this winter. It is the perfect opportunity to escape the daily routine or housework, chores and life in general to explore the wintery countryside with an added bonus of it not costing the earth.
I am sure as you are reading this…the Midlands may well be far from the first UK holiday destination to cross your mind. The Midlands is a region in Central England and is commonly subdivided into The East and West Midlands. The East Midlands comprises the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Rutland, and the cities of Derby, Nottingham and Leicester. The West Midlands comprises of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire, and the metropolitan boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton and the City of Stoke on Trent.
So keep on reading…..I have found 5 reasons to visit the Midlands this Winter……
Convenience
When the weather isn’t the best and seasonal festivities are looming on the horizon, it makes sense that you won’t want to stray too far from home. The Midlands is located slap-bang in the middle of the country, with top-notch transport links to major cities like Nottingham and Birmingham providing even greater ease of access. Similarly, if you are travelling for business, this region offers the perfect central meeting point for people travelling in from all over the country.
City Break
The Midlands is home to a number of Cities including the second largest city – the city of Birmingham. There are an abundance of shops, shopping centres, restaurants and cafes to sit and take in the atmosphere, and as already stated, the transport links are great.
Family Friendly Attractions
There are so many family friendly attractions to visit in the Midlands. You can enjoy a stroll around the lake, and the kids can enjoy the adventure playground and the barefoot walk at Trentham Gardens, Staffordshire.
The Monkey Forest in Staffordshire, is home to 140 barbary macaques living freely in the 60 acre woodland. Drayton Manor Theme Park in Tamworth, West Midlands Safari Park in Worcestershire, and Cadbury World in Birmingham are all great days out and cater for all ages. We recently enjoyed a day out at the World of Wedgwood in Stoke-on-Trent where the kids were able to paint pottery and throw a pot – great for those cold and wet winter days.
Stunning countryside
There is nothing better than wrapping up warm and heading out for a winter walk. Explore forests, woodlands, country parks, canals and rivers, and enjoy panaramic views across dales and moors in the Peak District National Park. There is so much to see and do and there really is something for everyone. We love to venture out to Dovedale in the Peak District, a wonderful place to blow those cobwebs away and to get outside with the family.
Escape the City
If visiting the City is not on your list of things to do, there are some beautiful medieval market towns in the Midlands. Lichfield Cathedral alone makes Lichfield well worth a visit. Warwick is a beautiful town, famous for its magnificant castle, and historic charm. The beautiful Market town of Shrewsbury is filled with half timbered tudor houses, and picturesque shops. We recently enjoyed a wonderful day in Stratford-upon-Avon, a medieval market town in the West Midlands, and the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare.
Enjoying a staycation can be a great way to see exciting parts of the country from a whole new perspective, as well as providing the perfect antidote to those dreaded winter blues.
Are you feeling inspired yet?
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