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The '''Midlands''', sometimes known by the archaism '''Mercia''', is a large region of [[England]] located, as its name suggests, in the middle of the country. It is characterised by a lack of substantial coastline, rolling, fertile countryside, large industrial cities, and distinctive accents and dialects.

The '''Midlands''', sometimes known by the archaism '''Mercia''', is a large region of [[England]] located, as its name suggests, in the middle of the country. It is characterised by a lack of substantial coastline, rolling, fertile countryside, large industrial cities, and distinctive accents and dialects. [[Northern England]] lies to the north, the [[North Sea]] to the east, [[East Anglia]] to the south-east, Southern England and the [[West Country]] to the south and [[Wales]] to the West.

Although the region is broadly defined, for statistical purposes, "the Midlands" generally describes the two statistical regions of [[East Midlands]] and West Midlands combined. The Midlands may also be defined along historical boundaries, such as those of the [[Anglian]] kingdom [[Mercia]], which became a part of the Kingdom of England in the 10th century.  

Although the region is broadly defined, for statistical purposes, "the Midlands" generally describes the two statistical regions of [[East Midlands]] and West Midlands combined. The Midlands may also be defined along historical boundaries, such as those of the [[Anglian]] kingdom [[Mercia]], which became a part of the Kingdom of England in the 10th century.