Come and visit the University City of Worcester and enjoy its interesting architecture, fascinating history, exciting sporting venues and vibrant shopping
The City of Worcester is best known for its impressive Cathedral, the world-renowned Worcester Porcelain museum, it’s famous Worcestershire Sauce and New Road Cricket Ground.
City of Worcester Cathedral
The city of Worcester has one of England’s loveliest cathedrals. It has the royal tomb of King John and Prince Arthur, medieval cloisters, an ancient crypt and chapter house, and a magnificent Victorian stained glass. There is a fascinating ancient library with archives housing the second largest collection of medieval manuscripts in any cathedral in the UK. The Cloister Cafe is open daily, and the Cathedral is open from 7.30 am – 6 pm, with Services held 3 times daily. Entry is FREE. For more information: www.worcestercathedral.co.uk
Museum of Royal Worcester
The Royal Worcester Museum is housed in what used to be the home of the Royal Worcester factory. Just a two-minute walk from the city centre and Worcester Cathedral, it holds the largest collection of Worcester porcelain in the world! You will be taken on a journey through time as you walk around the Georgian, Victorian and 20th-century galleries, and the informative audio tour shares the factory’s history and its remarkable workforce.
There is a fee to enter the museum, and opening times vary slightly during the winter months, so check their website for more information – www.museumofroyalworcester.org
City of Worcester Guildhall
The City of Worcester Guildhall is a beautiful building dating back to 1721. It has a fascinating history as the seat of justice throughout the city of Worcester and even houses a prison. Your visit will give you a glimpse of Worcester’s rich and varied heritage, which has had its fair share of Royal patronage over its long history. Queen Elizabeth II visited in 2001 and 2012, and King George III in August 1788.
Check the visiting opportunities – www.worcesterguildhall.co.uk
The Commandery, Sidbury
The Commandery is a Grade 1 listed site with a long and varied history that dates back to the 12th century, reflected in its range of architectural styles from Medieval to Victorian. The stories told are about power, greed, war, wealth, romance, death, society and industry. It is a step back in time, a glimpse of the lively characters that have inhabited this ancient building during the past 7 centuries.
Entry to the museum is FREE for Worcester residents – visitors pay a fee to enter.
Opening times are Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm – Sunday: 1.30 pm to 5 pm – History of the Commandery
Tudor House Museum in Friar Street
The Tudor House Museum stands in the most historic street in the City of Worcester. It’s a wonderful building of timber beams, leaded windows, and decorated plaster ceilings, and inside you will find rooms almost five hundred years old. Some displays focus on the Tudor weaving and brewing that went on in the house, its later use as a coffee shop for the poor, an ARP office and school clinic, along with aspects of history that are fascinating about the city.
The Museum is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, –10.00 – 16.00 and it’s FREE admission
Greyfriars House and Gardens
Greyfriars is a late medieval merchant’s house that was built in 1480 by a wealthy merchant. It became home to wealthy families up until the 17th century, then, in 1699, it was purchased by a baker who divided the house into two. Over the next 200 years, it switched between being a home, shop, and business, and the trades varied from clothing, hats, bread, leather goods, umbrellas and China riveting. The complex was extended over the years, including 10 cottages in the backyard. Greyfriars was nearly demolished in the 1930s, then rescued after the Second World War and carefully restored and refurbished with a walled garden designed and created by the Matley-Moores. These two siblings remained Greyfriars tenants until their deaths 1980s, and ownership was transferred to the National Trust in 1966 – www.nationaltrust.org.uk
The Hive
The Hive was 10 years in the making and the result of the vision and commitment of the University of Worcester and Worcestershire County Council. The Hive is open daily from 8.30 am-10 pm – Monday to Sunday inclusive.
Working together, Worcestershire County Council and the University of Worcester created this new multi-million-pound city centre library for students and the public. It’s the first joint public and university library in Europe that gives all users access to an outstanding facility with a vast variety of resources. Music, drama, and art opportunities are found here along with workshops, book clubs and lectures.
Check out ‘what’s on’ during your visit: https://www.thehiveworcester.org/ – The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester, WR1 3PD
City of Worcester Art Gallery and Museum
The City of Worcester Art Gallery and Museum is situated in one of the many Victorian buildings in the heart of Worcester. The interior is beautiful, warm and friendly with plenty for all the family to enjoy. The museum gallery offers some amazing things to see, such as dinosaur footprints, a Worcestershire Sauce archive and many more interesting objects, from a Native American totem pole and a real Roman mosaic.
Enjoy the interactive galleries dedicated to telling the story of the Worcestershire Regiment and the Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry plus the recreated Victorian Chemist Shop.
Entry is FREE, and for more information, visit their website: Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum – Foregate Street, WR1 1DT
George Marshall Medical Museum
You will find the George Marshall Medical Museum at the Charles Hastings Education Centre, which is an education and training facility for health care staff in Worcestershire. This particular museum is FREE to enter and open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. (except Bank Holidays)
Exhibits at this museum are from Mr George Marshall’s fantastic collection of objects illustrating how medicine and health care have evolved over the past 250 years. The Museum shows a gory collection of death masks from hanged criminals, the reconstructed apothecary shop and a Victorian operating theatre and the fascinating world of anaesthetics, including what they used before the discovery of anaesthetics to induce unconsciousness. What would you prefer? a big bottle of brandy or punch in the face! – medicalmuseum.org.uk – Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, WR5 1DD
City of Worcester River Walk & Diglis Basin
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The Worcester and Birmingham Canal starts at Diglis Basin and ends at Gas Street Basin, Birmingham. Cadbury’s was a major user of the canal as they imported cocoa beans via the Sharpness Docks and the River Severn. Today, the Basin is the home of 3 popular cruising rings, so there are always lots of longboats on view.
Take time to enjoy this great walk that starts at Worcester Bridge, along the back of New Road Cricket ground, down to the lottery-funded Diglis Footbridge. As you walk back towards the Cathedral, having crossed over the river, take the detour to the Diglis Basin and then continue back along the river past the fabulous Michael Baker Boathouse. Walk past the back of the Cathedral and enjoy the popular Swan Sanctuary on the river. This walk takes about an hour and is a pleasant detour for your day in Worcester.
City of Worcester Sporting Venues
Worcester Racecourse is located within the city of Worcester, and horse racing has taken place here since at least 1718. Its picturesque tree-lined track is uniquely nestled on the banks of the River Severn and offers a great day out when fixtures are on.
New Road Cricket Ground is also located by the River Severn and is one of the most picturesque Cricket Grounds in the UK.
Worcester Warriors’ Sixways is a great venue to visit if you are a rugby union supporter or would just like to experience the sport of Rugby.
Orchard Side Bed and Breakfast in Hanley Swan near Malvern is an ideal base when visiting the City of Worcester. It’s just 9 miles from the City, 5 miles from the beautiful Spa town of Great Malvern and 3 miles from the magnificent Malvern Hills.
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