Days Out in the Midlands

For how many people is ‘The Midlands’ merely a motorway sign as they whizz (or queue) up and down the M6? Well, mere motorway sign no more! Turn off the tarmac to discover areas of outstanding natural beauty, the home of William Shakespeare, and England’s second city, cosmopolitan Birmingham. From epic bridges and railway architecture to the windy streets and hidden gems of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, home to cathedrals ancient and strikingly modern, Central England is a place steeped in art, history, and culture.

Find your muse in the Bard’s hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon. You can also see the inspirations for one of his most beloved plays, the battlefields and tomb of Richard III in Leicestershire. It’s not all urban, with plenty of wild woods, rolling hills and nature reserves for adventuring, wildlife watching or just seeing where your feet take you. Easily accessible for a significant proportion of England’s population, isn’t it about time you got yourself some Midland Mindfulness?

Midland Karting, Lichfield

Get ready to start your Middle England trip off with a roar, as the thrills at Midland Karting will leave you gasping! With over two decades of experience in delivering outstanding outdoor karting, three floodlit circuits, their 40mph market leading Sodi and BIZKart to petrol race karts are suitable for drivers aged 7-years and over with any level of ability. The International Circuit offers high-speed straights and fast free-flowing corners, as close to Formula 1 competitive racing as you can get in a go kart.

Wider racing areas, shorter straights and slower corners make the Family Circuit perfect for newcomers and mini-racers- bang on for birthday parties. Or combine both tracks in the ultimate Super Circuit, for new hairpin bends, fast corners and higher-speed straights. This larger circuit can host up to 14 karts at any one time- perfect for full-on epic racing for larger groups or longer endurance sessions. Just off the A38, Midland Karting is handily accessible from Birmingham, Derby, Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent. And, open till 8pm seven days a week, there’s no need even to wait for the weekend to lay down your challenge and drive for the chequered flag!

Let's Get Lost

Leicestershire may be nearly two hours’ drive from the nearest beach, but exciting watersports are still very much on the doorstep! Just 5 miles from the centre of Leicester, Let’s Get Lost based at Syston offers water-sport adventure experiences from serene to extreme, with no frustrating commute! Offering single, double and triple kayaks, new for 2022 they’ve added funky paddleboards, the ultimate in hip transport. Great for families with younger children, try a 1-hour Taster Paddle along the picturesque river Soar, immersed in beautiful countryside and secretive wildlife, or a guided or self-guided 2-hour tour.

Relax and reconnect with nature, with benefits for the body and mind, on longer countryside paddling adventures. Enjoy relaxed refreshment with Picnic & Paddle, or the ultimate pals chillout, Paddle to the Pub, with drinks and delicious food at a local riverside pub after exploring along the river (luckily, friendly guides are on hand to steer you back). Take it to the wild with 2 and 3-day Kayak & Camp experiences: total immersion in nature, river adventures, ice-cold drinks at riverside pubs and BBQs around the campfire, before retiring to your comfy bell tents- all set up for you, under the stars.

The Original Nottingham Ghost Walk

Be warned: whatever the time of year, strolls don’t come spookier than this! Your body may be warm, enjoying a leisurely stroll on a long summer evening, but as the entertaining tour guides on your Original Nottingham Ghost Walk weave their tales, you’ll shiver at the goosebumps on your arms, hear your breath quicken, and feel your nerves jangling! One of the country’s oldest ghost walks, this fun and fascinating and chilling storytelling tour around the city’s ancient Castle Quarter is perfect entertainment for the whole family (brave souls aged 12 and over).

Each walk covers about half a mile over a leisurely 90 minutes to 2 hours, before culminating in ancient caves below the 15^th century Ye Olde Salutation pub- perfect for that restorative pint! The team have also created special Children's Walks, with some of the adult content removed to pack in reassuringly appropriate extra stories, as well as 'Horrible Histories' inspired educational content. Ideal for younger customers (and mum and dad who don’t want to admit it!) Or brave souls can take courage from the lighter nights and book a private tour- if you dare!

The Bear Grylls Adventure

No need for us mere mortals to moan if we haven’t the time, resources or connections to zoom off to world-wide (and world-wild) adventures; we can bring them to you! Escape the ordinary, experience the awesome and try something new at The Bear Grylls Adventure, located at Birmingham’s NEC. Bringing together the experience of the highest peaks, remotest islands, and deepest seas, just a few of the daring adventures available include high ropes, archery, climbing, shooting, escape rooms and assault course. Or wave goodbye to gravity in the iFLY wind tunnel, experiencing the awesome, adrenaline pumping sensation of free fall flight alongside your expert instructor.

There’s even an underwater paradise where you can snorkel, dive and walk underwater discovering the wonders of a tropical reef, home to over 1,000 species of weird and wonderful exotic creatures, getting up close and personal with the likes of blacktip reef sharks and cow nose rays. Whichever activity you choose, the Bear Grylls ethos is all about the inspiring sense of adventure, so experienced and friendly Adventure Guides will inspire, encourage and support you throughout, to go that one sense further and beast it like a Bear!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have also put together a list of frequently asked questions at the link below, which include some Top Tips and Did you know information, which you can use to show off with your friends and family

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We hope that you have enjoyed reading our article called Days Out in the Midlands and that you have found the information above include our FAQ page helpful in deciding on which venue you to choose for your Activities and Days Out