We can’t lie, we kinda love the Midlands.
It’s the heart of the country. Sure, Northerners and Southerners alike might think all it has to offer are some interesting dialects, the Bull Ring, and Cillian Murphy wearing a flat cap in Peaky Blinders, but really, they couldn’t be more wrong.
In fact, it’s actually home to some of the coolest stuff and the most iconic people, so next time you’re having the grand ol’ North vs South debate with someone completely discounting the Midlands…
Just show ‘em this list.
1. Gravity
There’s a reason Midlanders tend to be extremely down-to-Earth people… As proud Midlander Sir Isaac Newton was the scientist to INVENT gravity!*
Yep, so next time you’re out picking up some milk and you DON’T float into the stratosphere? You’ve got the Midlands to thank for that.
*Alright, fine. He discovered gravity. Tom-a-to, toma-to if you ask us.
2. Balti
Lancashire has its hotpot. Yorkshire has its pudding. Even Cornwall has its pasties.
But Birmingham is home to something a lil’ more cutting-edge. The balti, a type of curry served in a pressed-steel, wok-like ‘balti dish’, rose to fame in the Midlands and is now enjoyed the world over.
For best results, follow your balti with a quintessentially Midlands dessert with cheese and onion Walkers crisps.
3. Rugby
At Rugby School in the small town of Rugby, a new sport was born… After some knucklehead playing football got confused, picked up the ball and started running with it.
Luckily, his pals played along – and somewhere along the way, rugby was born. Now, if that’s not the classic Midland spirit of innovation, we don’t know what is.
4. Philip Larkin
Sure, Wikipedia will tell you that Hull is known for being the home of poet Philip Larkin, but that specific post must have been uploaded by Jerry who clearly hates the Midlands.
In fact, Larkin was a Midlander, and he’s more appropriately known as the ‘Bard of Coventry’.
5. Stilton Cheese
It may be named after a village in Cambridgeshire for some reason, but the distinctive blue-veined cheese is a strictly Midland phenomenon.
In fact, stilton cheese can only be called stilton if it is produced in Leicestershire, Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire using local cow’s milk… Which basically puts it in the same exclusive league as prosecco and champagne, right?
6. Lord of the Rings
Yep, you’ve got the Midlands to thank for your favourite fantasy adventure.
JRR Tolkien, writer of Lord of the Rings, grew up in Birmingham and used the idyllic countryside of the Midlands as inspiration for the Shire, hobbit holes, and the rolling green hills of Middle Earth.
Sure, Peter Jackson might have shot the films in New Zealand, but the Midlands is where it all started!
7. The Sistine Chapel
Michael Angelo’s Sistine Chapel might be in the Vatican City, but what archaeologists have dubbed the Sistine Chapel of the ice age? That’s right here in the Midlands.
Specifically, at Creswell Crags, a limestone gorge on the Nottinghamshire-Derbyshire border where ice age Midlanders elaborately carved pictures into a cave ceiling more than 13,000 years ago.
So basically, art was invented in the Midlands. Take that, London.
8. Gary Lineker
All Midlanders tend to be pretty nice, but some just happen to uber-successful too.
Not only is the sporting world’s nicest man Leicester born and bred, but Gary Lineker is even Walkers crisps leading man (who also happen to hail from Leicester, btw).
And if you can’t be proud of world-famous delicious crisps, what exactly are you proud of?
9. Conkers
Okay, now this is a biggie. HUGE even.
But you know the game you used to play in school every single autumn? The one you didn’t quite understand but it involved lots of smashing so you were definitely into it?
Well, conkers was actually invented in the Midlands, with the first World Conker Championships in 1965 (no, really) held in Birmingham.
10. HP sauce
The debate between brown and red sauce on a bacon sandwich might never exist if it weren’t for Midland shopkeeper Frederick Gibson Garton.
He invented the recipe for the famous sauce we all love to argue over in the back office of his grocery shop!
And just so you’re clear where we stand… Brown sauce all the way baby.
11. Sir Paul Smith
It’s safe to say, Midlanders are just better dressed than other Britons.
The region has been pretty rich in fashion icons over the years, so it should come as no surprise that Britain’s leading designer, Sir Paul Smith, should hail from this fine, fashionable region.
12. The scenery
Sometimes unfairly known for being just industrial, our favourite thing about the Midlands is all its breathtaking beauty.
From Curbar Edge to Sherwood Forest to Cannon Hill Park, the Midlands has some of the most picturesque places in the world, let alone the UK.
13. Christmas!
Now, we’re not saying you’ve got the Midlands to thank for Christmas. But think about it – how do you know when it’s Christmas again?
Easy. When you first hear Walsall boy Noddy Holder screaming ‘It’s Chriiiiiiiistmaaaaaaaaas!’ at the end of Slade’s evergreen hit Merry Xmas Everyone, of course.
14. Ibuprofen
Ah, ibuprofen.
It’s your best friend, nay, only friend the morning after. It doesn’t judge how you look or smell. It’s just there for you.
And ‘cause we all know Midlands loves to party, it’s no surprise ibuprofen was created in the heart of Nottingham back in the 60s.
15. A Revolution is coming…
Before you know it, a brand new Revolution will be landing in Solihull… Yet ANOTHER reason to LOVE this part of the country!
From there, we’re gonna help the people of the Midlands say goodbye FOR GOOD to those ordinary nights out, normal cocktails and bland, boring food.
Sound good?
Sign up now to stay in the know AND be in with the chance of winning a party worth up to £1,000! Go on, get ready for something extraordinary!
