Because it’s delightfully trivial. It’s a perfect icebreaker. “Hey, did you know the centre of England is… well, it’s complicated.” You sound smart and playful.
It also reveals how arbitrary our sense of place can be. We love to mark the world with points and lines. But the world laughs at our pins. It just sits there, being lumpy.
So next time you’re in the Midlands, take a detour. Visit a dusty signpost. Have a pint in Shenton. Stand on the imaginary spot. You’ll feel a tiny thrill of being… central.
And if someone asks you where the centre of England is, just smile and say: “It depends on whether you’re measuring land, people, or the mood of the mapmaker.” Then change the subject to doughnuts.
