The region became important in the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, which led to one of its parts being named as the Black Country.

Other important cities include Coventry, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, and Worcester.

[9] Different areas of the Midlands have their own distinctive character, giving rise to many local history and industrial heritage groups.

The Black Country, broadly the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Walsall, played an important part in the Industrial Revolution.

[11] The flag also appears on street signs welcoming people to Tamworth, the "ancient capital of Mercia".

It was also flown outside Birmingham Council House during 2009 while the Staffordshire Hoard was on display in the city before being taken to the British Museum in London.

The cross has been incorporated into a number of coats of arms of Midlands towns, including Tamworth, Leek and Blaby.

[3] A study has shown that some Midlands areas have traditionally had a dialect closer to "northern" but now more influenced by "southern".

[14] The bakewell tart, Staffordshire oatcake and Melton Mowbray pork pie are among the foods that have originated in the Midlands.

[15] The city of Birmingham has also been influential in dishes, notably the local version of Asian balti curry.

More recently, the duo Sleaford Mods have been known for making use of a strong local East Midland accent.

Wenlock Edge, running through the middle of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), is a long, low ridge, which extends for over 15 miles (24 km).

The Precambrian Malverns are formed of some of the oldest rock in England (dating from the Cryogenian period, at around 680 million years old) and extend for 8 miles (13 km) through two West Midlands counties (Worcestershire and Herefordshire) as well as northern Gloucestershire in the southwest.

The highest point of the hills is the Worcestershire Beacon at 425 m (1,394 ft) above sea level (OS Grid reference SO768452).

[25] The Midlands has a temperate maritime climate, with cold, cloudy, wet winters and comfortable, mostly dry, mostly sunny summers.

Due to its geographical location, which is furthest away from the coast than anywhere else in England, it typically receives mostly light winds, with warm days and cold nights.