East Midlands

Encompassing the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, the East Midlands is full of great museums and galleries which reflect the region's history and its cultural excellence.

Derbyshire is renowned for being a hugely diverse county with Derby, one of Britain's youngest cities, offering a rich mixture of arts, tourism and culture. Derby's Museum and Art Gallery holds a fascinating and diverse range of nationally and internationally important collections and displays.

Mills World Heritage Site, and the Barrow Hill Roundhouse, to name but a few celebrate Derbyshire's rich heritage. A host of award-winning attractions and museums based in the city of Leicestershire and also dotted across towns in the county offer so much to discover about county life and worldwide connections to the region. The Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, which charts one of England's most pivotal battles, the Battle of Bosworth, and the National Space Centre being just two of many fine examples. Lincolnshire is also a county renowned for its history and heritage, dating as far back as to around 1000AD. What may surprise you is just how many different museums and galleries Lincolnshire has to offer.

For an insight into this beautiful area, The Museum of Lincolnshire Life is the largest and most diverse community museum in the county, celebrating the culture of Lincolnshire and its people from 1750 to the present day. Other great attractions include the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitors Centre, Ayscoughfee Hall Museum - housed in a beautiful wool merchant's house on the banks ofthe River Welland, Cogglesford Watermill, the National Centre for Craft and Design - home of British craft and design, the Fishing Heritage Centre, and Lincoln Art Works an independent art gallery situated in Lincoln's Cultural Quarter with views of Lincoln Cathedral.

Nottinghamshire is famed for amongst other things the legend of Robin Hood, Lord Byron, and DH Lawrence. Once the heart of the world's lace making industry, the city of Nottingham has a proud industrial heritage still going strong today and portrayed at many of its museums in the city and across the county. For more than 900 years Southwell Minster has been opening its doors to welcome visitors, pilgrims and worshippers. They have placed hospitality in the name of Jesus Christ as being at the heart of what they want to offer the 100,000, or so, people, who visit in a typical year.