Worcester, England Tourist Attractions
The town of Worcester lies mainly on the east bank of the River Severn. It is famed both for its piquant Worcester Sauce and for its porcelain, which has been manufactured here since 1750.
In addition, this county town also possesses a beautiful cathedral and was the site of the last battle between the supporters of the future Charles II and Oliver Cromwell's troops. Unfortunately the town has lost much of its charm as a result of industry and modern development. Its main products, apart from its famous sauce and its porcelain, are gloves (the remnants of a once great textile industry) and metal products.
The Anglo-Saxons took over a Roman settlement and named it "Wigorna Ceaster". In 680 it became an episcopal see. Bishop Oswald founded the Benedictine abbey here in the 10th C. Worcester was the first town to declare itself for Charles I in the Civil War, and the last to surrender to Cromwell after the war's last battle. This took place on September third 1651 some distance from the town, in which the future Charles II had set up his headquarters. On the same night the king began his flight which ultimately led him to France.
A prominent christian site, Worcester Cathedral reflects a mix of architectural styles.
Commandery
Southeast of the cathedral, on the bank of the Worcester-Birmingham Canal, lies the Commandery. It is an impressive Tudor house, built on the site of an old hospital founded by St Wulfstan in 1085. In 1545 it came into the ownership of the Wylde family, and was Charles II's headquarters in 1651 during the deciding battle against Cromwell. The final conflicts raged very close to the house; the Duke of Hamilton, leader of the royalists, was wounded in them, and died in one of the rooms of the Commandery.
An audio guide provide visitors with the history of the building and the site from its earliest days in the Medieval period to its use as a printing factory in the 1950's.
Address:
Sidbury, Worcester WR1 2HU, England
Opening hours:
10am-5pm; Sun: 1:30pm-5pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Christmas - Christian (Dec 25), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (Dec 26)
Entrance fee in GBP:
Adult £5.25, Group discounts £4.25, Concession or reduced rate £4.00, Child 16 & under £2.25, Child 4 & under FREE
Facilities: Gift shop, Restaurant or food service
Transit: Rail: Foregate, Shrub Hill.
Royal Worcester Porcelain
Not far south of the cathedral can be found the production site of the royal porcelain manufacturers, founded in 1750, which can be visited. The affiliated Dyson Perrins Museum displays many of the factory's most beautiful pieces.
Address:
Severn Street, Worcester WR1 2NE, England
Opening hours:
Jan 1 to Dec 31: 9am-5:30pm; Sun: 11am-5pm
Entrance fee in GBP:
Family £10.00, Adult £5.00, Concession or reduced rate £4.25
Useful tips: Factory tours Monday to Friday.
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides: Guided tour included with admission.
Facilities: Gift shop, Restaurant or food service
Tudor House Museum
A 16th century half-timbered house in Friar Street contains a museum, which, in contrast to its name, documents family life in Victorian Worcester. Nearby stands the very beautifully restored, medieval Grayfriars House.
Tudor House is a wonderful building of timber beams, leaded windows, decorated plaster ceilings and walls made of horsehair and mud. Inside are rooms that are 500 years old with a few exhibits.
Address:
Friar Street, Worcester WR12NA, England
Opening hours:
10am-4pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
Guildhall
The imposing Guildhall stands in the High Street. It was built between 1721 and 1723 by Thomas White, a pupil of Wren. Statues of Charles I and Charles II flank the entrance, with their enemy Cromwell hanging by his ears above the door.
King Charles House
Charles II spent the night before the battle in house no. 29, New Street, at the corner of Cornmarket, Worcester. After the battle had been lost he fled via the back door.
City Museum & Art Gallery
This house in Foregate Street displays art exhibitions and also has departments devoted to natural history, to daily life and to two old Worcestershire regiments.
Address:
Foregate Street, Worcester WR1 1DT, England
Opening hours:
9:30am-5:30pm; Sat: 9:30am-5pm; Closed: Sun
Always opened on: Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May), Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, Aug)
Always closed on: Christmas - Christian (Dec 25), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (Dec 26), Good Friday - Christian
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities: Gift shop, Restaurant or food service
Croome Landscape Park
Croome Landscape Park was recently restored by the National Trust. It features elegant park buildings designed by Robert Adam and James Wyatt, but is most famous for its landscaping.
Croome established a new parkland aesthetic that became universally adapted over the next 50 years. It was 'Capability' Brown's first complete landscape, which firmly established him among the landscaping elite.
Address:
Builder's Yard, High Green, Severn Stoke WR8 9JS, England
Opening hours:
Jan 3 to Jan 31: 10am-4pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, FriMar 1 to Mar 30: 10am-5:30pm; Closed: Mon, TueMar 31 to Aug 31: 10am-5:30pmSep 3 to Oct 26: 10am-5:30pm; Closed: Mon, TueNov 1 to Dec 21: 10am-4pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, FriDec 26 to Jan 1: 10am-4pm
Always opened on: Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May), Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, Aug)
Entrance fee in GBP:
Family £10.85, Adult £4.35, Group discounts £4.00, Child £2.15
Useful tips: Dogs welcome on leads.
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides: Guided tour available as optional extra.
Transit: BritRail: Pershore
Greyfriars
The Greyfriars is a National Trust property located in Worcester. The timber-framed house was built in 1480 and has since been carefully restored and refurbished with an extensive garden.
Address:
Friar Street, Worcester WR1 2LZ, England
Opening hours:
Mar 5 to Jun 28: 1pm-5pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, TueJul 2 to Aug 31: 1pm-5pm; Closed: Mon, TueSep 3 to Dec 13: 1pm-5pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Tue
Always opened on: Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May), Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, Aug)
Entrance fee in GBP:
Family £9.50, Adult £3.80, Group discounts £3.10, Child £1.90
Transit: BritRail: Worcester Foregate Street
Hawford Dovecote
Hawford Dovecote is a square 16th century timber framed National Trust property located near Worcester.
Address:
c/o Regional Office, Hereford HR4 8BS, England
Opening hours:
Mar 1 to Oct 31: 9am-6pm
Always closed on: Good Friday - Christian
Entrance fee in GBP:
Adult £1.00
Useful tips: Phone for entry outside regular hours.
Transit: BritRail: Worcester Foregate Street or Worcester Shrub Hill and a bus to the property.
Leigh Court Barn
The Leigh Court Barn is the largest timber-framed barn in Britain, built in the 14th C for the monks of Pershore Abbey.
Opening hours:
Apr 1 to Sep 30: 10am-6pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed
Wichenford Dovecote
Wichenford Dovecote is a half-timbered 17th century National Trust property located near Worcester.
Address:
c/o Regional Office, Hereford HR4 8BS, England
Opening hours:
Mar 1 to Oct 31: 9am-6pm
Always closed on: Good Friday - Christian
Entrance fee in GBP:
Adult £1.00
Useful tips: Last admission 30mins before closing.
Transit: Bus: First midland Red 310/2/3 from Worcester
Witley Court
Witley Court is an English Heritage property near Worcester. It includes the ruins of a Jacobean manor house converted in the 19th C into an Italianate mansion.
Address:
Worcester Road, Worcester WR6 6JT, England
Opening hours:
Mar 1 to Mar 20: 10am-5pm; Closed: Mon, TueMar 21 to May 31: 10am-5pmJun 1 to Aug 31: 10am-6pmSep 1 to Oct 31: 10am-5pmNov 1 to Feb 28: 10am-4pm; Closed: Mon, Tue
Always closed on: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Christmas Eve - Christian (Dec 24), Christmas - Christian (Dec 25), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (Dec 26)
Entrance fee in GBP:
Family £13.80, Adult £5.50, Concession or reduced rate £4.40, Child £2.80, Child 5 & under FREE
Useful tips: Special evening guided tours available. Last admission 1 hour before closing.
Facilities: Gift shop, Restaurant or food service
