The central location of Birmingham airport makes it the ideal way to enter the country and tour the area the called the Midlands with the use of a hire car. Not only are there fascinating cities in this region but the countryside is utterly astonishing. From Birmingham airport, you have the Black Country, Warwickshire, Shropshire and even Wales only a short distance away.

The city of Birmingham itself is an energetic and culturally vibrant place to be. The airport is a short drive from the city centre and easy to traverse with a hire car. There are plenty of hotels in the city as well as one of the best shopping areas in the country, ‘The Bullring’. So whether shopping, visiting on business or just for pleasure, Birmingham can be deemed the perfect starting point for your trip.

Heading out into the countryside of the Midlands is also advisable if flying into Birmingham airport. The closest area is the region known as the Black Country; not because the entire region is black, but named so because of a strong industrial heritage. The name comes from the excessive amount of soot that covered the buildings during the industrial period. The museums in this region stand testament to this industrial past and residents are proud of their heritage as the furnace of Britain.

For those who are not keen on travelling by car the ideal way to see this part of Britain is to hire a canal boat. The Midlands has an intricate network of canals that can be traversed at the rather sedate pace of five miles per hour. Being on the canals is ultimately serene, they can transport you to a time when speed was not an issue and the simple pleasures of enjoying life on the water were the only concern. You do not even have to stay in the Midlands, as Birmingham can be seen as the hub of the canal network, you can reach nearly every part of Britain by boat from here.

The canals however will limit what sites you can see while on your trip. While it may not come to mind first of all when landing at the airport, Wales is only a short drive and perfectly accessible to travellers. For those who love imposing hillsides and striking scenery this is an excursion that should definitely be undertaken. Mount Snowdon should form part of your trip and although the climb may be deemed a rather large expenditure of effort, the view makes it untimely worthwhile.

For those who are in a hurry, the M6 toll road that is easily accessible from the airport means travel to the rest of the country is simple and efficient. While the old M6 can be described as a car park at times, this new road is well worth the toll; traffic is next to non-existent ensuring you are on your way in no time.

If you are a fan of sports it may be worth remaining in the Birmingham area rather than going further afield. With two football teams in the vicinity the national game is certainly represented. If visiting in summer, it will be worth checking to see if the most English of pursuits is being played; Edgbaston as one of the major cricket pitches in the country regularly hosts international games as well as games of the home county, Warwickshire.

Birmingham airport offers travellers with a gateway to the Midlands as well as the rest of the country. With a modern and vibrant city at its heart, the region is rapidly becoming one of the most interesting to tour, whether studying the industrial past, the fantastic scenery or simply the delights of the canal. This region has it all.

travel expert thomas pretty looks into why car hire birmingham airport services are ideal for touring the midlands.

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