Did You Know?

East Midlands is one of the regions of England and is the eastern half of the Midlands. The counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and most of Lincolnshire belong to this region. The highest point in the region is Kinder Scout, in Derbyshire at 2,088 ft

Prior to the Roman period, the Corieltauvi tribe settled in what is today considered the East Midlands. Leicester emerged as one of the most important Roman forts in Britain, although Lincoln was the main settlement under Roman control. Following the departure of the Romans, the Danes and Anglo-Saxons ruled areas of the East Midlands. By the ninth century, the Danish-controlled Five Boroughs included Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham and Stamford.

The East Midlands has a strong industrial heritage and claims to be the site of the world's first factory at Cromford Mill. The Derwent Valley Mills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features a string of historically significant sites linked to the Industrial Revolution throughout the region.

Once an important Roman town, Lincoln in East Midlands is now a major retail and tourism centre. Public administration, commerce and agriculture are also major employers, as well as distribution and hospitality. The decline of industry in the city has led to many warehouses being converted into commercial and residential space.

East Midlands two main battles in the English Civil War were the Battle of Naseby in northern Northamptonshire on 14 June 1645, and the Battle of Winceby on 11 October 1643 in eastern Lincolnshire.

Nottingham is one of the top retail destinations in the East Midlands, as well as a major tourist destination in its own right. Links to Robin Hood can be seen throughout the city, which is a gateway to the last remnants of Sherwood Forest.

A land speed record for trains was broken in East Midlands. Although the record was set in 1938, the current world speed record for steam trains is held by LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard, which clocked 126 mph between Grantham and Peterborough, pulling six coaches on the East Coast Main Line near Little Bytham in Lincolnshire, on 3 July 1938. 

The East Midlands emerged as an important scientific centre during the Industrial Revolution, and spirit of innovation that continues into the present day. Henry Cavendish, the discoverer of hydrogen, Herbert Spencer, who first coined the term 'survival of the fittest', Sir John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, and George Boole, who pioneers the Boolean logic of which digital electronics continue to be based.

The Peak District: Popular with tourists and one of the most beautiful areas in the East Midlands. The national park covers 555 square miles and is filled with gorgeous views, ancient ruins and abundant wildlife. Its supporters call it "a source of inspiration, relaxation and recreation for millions.