This is the West Midlands.

Britain's traditional workshop, the region has rich manufacturing legacy that stretches back to before industrial revolution. This had made it a magnet for hardworking and talented people. In fact, the West Midlands has been welcoming newcomers from all over the UK and Commonwealth for centuries.

But this is just half the story. The region has an unparalleled creative history too. William Shakespeare, Charles Darwin, Ossie Osbourne, the list goes on and on. So, whether, it's making Cadbury's chocolate, Jaguar cars, literary masterpieces, scientific revelations or very loud music, people in the Midlands work hard to get things done. More than this though, they do it with a certain style that makes waves right across the world.

Here's the low-down.

Housing

The average house price in the West Midlands is £166,831.

Council tax ranges greatly. The more affluent areas such as Warwickshire sit above the national average. However, in big cities such as Birmingham, council tax rates often fall below the national average.

Schools

The West Midlands has some of the best performing state schools in the UK. The region's top-five are:

1. Queen Mary's Grammar School (1158), Walsall
2. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys, Birmingham
3. King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon
4. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Birmingham
5. Wolverhampton Girls' High School

No guide to education in the West Midlands would be complete without the mention of Rugby and Shrewsbury public schools. Producer of some of Britain's most notable statesmen and politicians, plus a sport or two, they're amongst the country's most prestigious and oldest educational establishments.

Find out more about schools in the West Midlands by visiting www.ofsted.gov.uk

With highly sought after Universities of Birmingham, Warwick and Keele all on your doorstep there's plenty of opportunity for the mature student too.

City Life

The cities of Coventry and Birmingham gives the West Midlands a cosmopolitan feel all of its own. Museums, restaurants, theatres, bright lights and multicultural delights - the list goes on and on. And with the ongoing regeneration of Birmingham city centre, the region is one of the most up and coming in the UK.

Countryside

Despite its long and valuable manufacturing history, locals guard their wide-open spaces and countryside very carefully. Coventry is separated from Birmingham by a 15 mile stretch of 'greenbelt' called the Meriden Gap - this retains a strong rural feel. Travel further away from the cities and you'll find breathtaking scenery such as Staffordshire's Cannock Chase and Worcestershire's Client Hills.

Transport

No part of the UK is better served by motorways than the West Midlands. Train links are exceptional and London is only an hour away. For those wanting to spread their wings further, Birmingham and Wolverhampton Airports are all on your doorstep.

Religion

As you'd expect with such a diverse region, all major faiths are catered for. Birmingham has one of the largest Asian communities in the UK. And Diwali, Eid and Vaisakhi form a big part of the social calendar, no matter your background. So don't forget your party clothes!

10 things to do in the West Midlands

Walk in Shakespeare's footsteps in Ann Hathaway's cottage,
Stratford-upon-Avon
Sail Birmingham's canals and discover a beautifully regenerated city centre with more waterways than Venice
Travel back to the Industrial Revolution at Black Country Living Museum in Dudley
Indulge your chocoholic fantasies at Cadbury World in Birmingham
Lose your head at historic Warwick Castle
Turn your knuckles white at Alton Towers theme park near Stafford
Watch Premiership football at Aston Villa FC or Birmingham City. Villa play at the world-famous Villa Park in Birmingham. The Blues play across the city at St Andrews
Back the winner at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in Gloucestershire
Walk from the destruction of the old into the splendour of the new and lift your spirits at Coventry Cathedral
Monkey around and be the king of the swingers at Dudley Zoological Gardens