Midlands England is at the heart of the UK. It’s home to millions of people and attracts millions more each year. Here you’ll find Birmingham, England’s biggest city outside of London. It’s also where you can visit the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the Peak District, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
There’s so much history, culture, nature, and entertainment to discover in the Midlands and universities that will help you excel academically. So, if you choose to be a student here, you will surely have an unforgettable time.
What are the Midlands like?
Location and demographics
The Midlands is home to around eight million people. It’s usually split into two areas – East Midlands and West Midlands. As it’s in the centre of the UK, it’s a well-connected and accessible region. Birmingham Airport is one of the biggest airports in the country (after London and Manchester); around 50 airlines fly from there to more than 150 places globally.
Culture and history
The region has a rich and intriguing heritage. Outside the big cities, there are many medieval castles, cathedrals, old country houses, canals, and beautiful gardens, making the area quaint and charming. The Midlands played an essential role in the industrial revolution, and is known to have revolutionised the motor industry,
The region also has a diverse culture. It’s where some of the world’s most notable writers, musicians and performers have come from, from Shakespeare to Black Sabbath. Coventry was even the UK City of Culture in 2021. If you want to taste traditional food from the area, try Bakewell tarts, stilton cheese, pork pies, Lincolnshire sausages and mushy peas.
Famous people from the region include naturalist Charles Darwin, comedian Lenny Henry, actresses Felicity Jones and Julie Walters, and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.
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What cities are in Midlands England?
The Midlands consists of many large and industrially important cities in the UK. These include:
● Birmingham – the second largest city in England, with a blend of old architecture like Victorian houses and canals to vast, modern buildings such as skyscrapers and mega arenas. It’s a lively and vibrant city with excellent facilities and social opportunities.
● Coventry – the UK’s 2021 City of Culture has a famous cathedral and fantastic arts scene.
● Lincoln – in the vibrant Cathedral Quarter, you’ll see half-timbered houses, art markets, farmers’ markets, and lively bars.
● Nottingham – the ideal destination if you love Robin Hood. Nottingham has much to explore, such as medieval castles, concert halls and underground caves.
● Worcester – a city with a fascinating history, surrounding hills, spring water wells, rare architecture, and wooded nature reserves.
● Leicester – the friendly and multicultural city has modern shopping locations, exciting live music events and more. It hosts one of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside of India.
● Derby – the most central city in the UK, Derby is welcoming, easy to get around and a great spot for exploring the Peak District.
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How much does it cost to live in the Midlands?
If you’re looking for an affordable region to live in, then Midlands England is a good choice. Even in the big city of Birmingham, accommodation can be much cheaper for students than those in other UK cities. Living in Birmingham can cost 35 per cent less than living in London. If you choose to study in this region, you should budget approximately GBP 550 to GBP 700 per month, excluding rent. Much will depend on where you choose to study and live, as costs vary.
Find out more about the living costs in the UK.
What services are there?
The local transport network is extensive and well-integrated. Birmingham has three main-line train stations, where you can access fast and frequent rail services to elsewhere in the Midlands or beyond.
Even if you don’t travel by train, as the region is at the heart of England, it’s easy to get to other locations in the UK by bus or road – nearby are large motorways that take you all over the country.
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What are the post-study options?
If you want to stay in the Midlands after completing your studies, there are lots of good reasons to do so. That includes the many diverse job opportunities available due to the wide span of industries and significant investment in the area.
The West Midlands has one of the fastest-growing economies in England, with a GVA (gross value added) growth rate of 20.2 per cent over the past five years.
From 2014 to 2020, approximately 4,300 new jobs were formed by spinouts connected to the West Midlands’ Russell Group universities. These brought a wealth of opportunity and investment to the region.
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What universities are in Midlands England?
Head to Midlands England to study for a degree, and you’ll have a great choice of universities. These include:
● Aston University – known for its teaching in business and technology. Aston places 22nd out of UK universities in the Guardian University Guide 2023.
●University of Birmingham – a traditional university focusing on science, engineering, and commerce. It ranks 91st in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
● University of Warwick – based just outside of Coventry, it has 29 academic departments and more than 50 research centres and institutes. It ranks 64th in the global QS rankings.
● University of Lincoln – dating back to 1861, the university teaches inspirational courses in the heart of historic Lincoln.
● University of Leicester – founded as a memorial to those who served or lost their lives in the First World War. It’s 4th in the UK in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking for sustainability.
● Loughborough University – a top 20 research-led university in England, it’s also been named by QS as the best university worldwide for sports-related subjects for six years running.
● University Nottingham – named “one of the UK's oldest, largest, and most prestigious universities” by the Fulbright Commission.
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What are the main attractions in the Midlands?
Whether you like sports, shopping, nature, festivals or even luxury dining, there’s something for everyone in the Midlands. The region has several Michelin star restaurants, events that celebrate art, culture, heritage, and sport, and many shopping districts and departments. Birmingham even hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
If you love culture and history, you’ll never be bored. From Warwick Castle (home to the world’s most powerful catapult) to Lichfield Cathedral (the only medieval three-spired building of its kind in the UK), there’s a lot to visit.
Beyond this, you can escape from urban locations to the beautiful countryside quickly and easily from most city centres.
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What must you see?
Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born, is one of the country’s most iconic towns. Here you can learn all about the prolific writer, take a walk in his footsteps, and be wholly immersed in performances in one of the town's beautiful theatres.
And did you know - Birmingham has the biggest Christmas market in the world outside of Germany and Austria? When winter comes around, wrap up warm and enjoy the festivities, buy locally crafted gifts, drink beer and eat sausages and mince pies.
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