7 February 2007

Whether you’re in the mood to explore, to experience, to relax or to discover - the West Midlands Region has the answer you’re looking for to provide you with great days out.

From the rolling beauty of the Malvern Hills, to the world class shopping facilities of Birmingham, from the magic of Shakespeare’s Stratford to the industrial heritage of the Black Country, from the culinary offers of the Balti belt to Ludlow’s Michelin stars – the West Midlands Region offers a diversity of landscapes, people, food, drink and attractions.

Visitors can be amazed by the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ironbridge Gorge, rediscover the grand age of steam on the Severn Valley Railway, throw pots at Wedgwood in Staffordshire, be incarcerated in Warwick Castle’s mediaeval dungeon, experience the ultimate chocolate sensations at Cadbury World in Birmingham, meander on the extensive waterway network or experience exhilarating rides at Alton Towers.

And with the opening of ‘Divided World: Connected World, A National Cold War Experience’ at the Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford, you can experience the first major and permanent exhibition to focus solely on the Cold War story. Located in an innovative new building, covering over 8,000 square metres, the exhibition is set to become a new icon for the Region.

15 Fascinating Facts you never knew about the West Midlands Region

• Herefordshire produced almost 95,000 tonnes of cider apples in 2006, enough to produce 113 million gallons of cider
• In 2004, approximately 102 million trips were made to the West Midlands Region - 90.5 million (89%) were day trips, 11.5 million (11%) were staying trips
• One of the region's top tourist attractions, the Ironbridge Gorge is known throughout the world as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution
• Visitors spend £4.5 billion in the Region (overall UK value £74 billion)
• Wroxeter Roman City, near Shrewsbury was the fourth largest city in Roman Britain
• In 2004, approximately 102 million trips were made to the West Midlands Region - 90.5 million (89%) were day trips, 11.5 million (11%) were staying trips
• Kington Golf Club – Herefordshire is the highest 18 hole course in England
• Visitor spend supports approx 130,000 jobs in the Region (5.5% of overall employment in the Region)
• Croome Park in Worcestershire was 'Capability' Brown's first complete landscape design
• Warwick Castle ranks amongst the most popular of all Britain's many historic attractions due to its size, picturesque location and turbulent history
• Birmingham is a shopper’s dream, with more than 1,000 shops, including five department stores, an abundance of designer boutiques, all the major high street names and the unique Jewellery Quarter
• The UK’s largest collections of black and white half timbered buildings can be found in Herefordshire
• Staffordshire has more miles of canal than any other Shire county
• Behind only London, the West Midlands Region witnessed one of the highest hotel room occupancy rates in England in 2005, with 62%
• In 2005, over 200,000 conferences, nearly 400 exhibitions and 120 major events were held in the West Midlands
• The Region’s business tourism sector is larger than in any other UK region outside of London. Major assets include the NEC, ICC, Ricoh Arena and Telford International Centre

For more information contact Claire Brown, Seal Communications on 01743 234224 or email clairebrown@sealcommunications.co.uk

Notes to editor:

Visit www.visitheartofengland.com to discover more.