East Midlands

Nevermind the naysayers. It may not be the most picturesque, historic or knock-your-socks-off ambient destination in England, but don’t write off the East Midlands just yet. The down-home charm of this broad region may take a little time to seep in, but once it does, look out. Want dynamic cities bursting with diversity and energy? Head to the festivals of Leicester. Craving some seaside splashing? Lincolnshire’s resort towns Skegness and Maplethorpe more than suffice. You can relive the tale of Robin Hood in Edwinstowe’s Sherwood Forest, and pilgrimage to Princess Diana’s final resting place in Northamptonshire. Delve into the outdoor delights of Derbyshire, where hiking, cycling and “potholing” are all in order. The Peak District National Park shatters the region’s reputation as all suburban sprawl and drab development. Towns and villages dot the rolling, rural landscape, and regional accents draw you in with their distinctive lure. There’s not a lot of fuss, or other tourists, here—which makes for great value. So let the city folk continue to overlook East Midlands; it just means more room for you.

Althorp

Appleby Magna

Ashbourne

Ashby-de-la-Zouch

Bakewell

Barford

Baslow

Belper

Birmingham

Blyth (Nottinghamshire)

Brackley

Buxton

Cambridge

Castle Donington

Chapel Brampton

Chesterfield

Coalville

Corby

Craven Arms

Daventry

Derby

Derbyshire

Desborough

Gainsborough

Grantham

Great Malvern

Hathersage

Hellidon

Hereford

Hinckley

Horncastle

Ironbridge

Kegworth

Kenilworth

Kettering

Leicester

Lincoln

Ludlow

Malverns

Market Bosworth

Market Harborough

Matlock

Northampton

Nottingham

Oakham

Oundle

Packington

Quorn

Retford

Sandiacre

Shardlow

Shipley

Shrewsbury

Skegness

Sleaford

South Normanton

Stoke-on-Trent

Towcester

Ullesthorpe

Upper Broughton

Uppingham

Wellingborough

West Bridgford

Woodhall Spa

Worcester

Worksop