England
Worcestershire

Worcestershire Travel Guide - Towns and villages

Abberley Abberley, Worcestershire Beside the rectory of this attractive town stand the ruins of a Norman church, built upon an even older Saxon foundation. The more modern 19th century church is graced with a 160 foot high clock tower. Abberley, Worcestershire, England,

Bewdley Bewdley, Worcestershire Bewdley is an attractive town standing on the banks of the River Severn, at the very edge of the Wyre Forest. At one time Bewdley was an important inland harbour, and its former prosperity is reflected in an abundance of attractive 18th century buildings. The bridge across the Severn, built in 1798, is the work of noted civil engineer Thomas Telford, who was also responsible for the Severn Suspension Bridge. Bewdley, Worcestershire, England,

Bredon Bredon, Worcestershire Bredon sits beside the River Avon at the foot of Bredon Hill. The hill itself is 991 feet in height, a fact which prompted the building of Parson's Folly in the 18th century to reach exactly 1000 feet. The folly is set within extensive Iron Age earthworks which were the site of a desparate and futile defense against the Roman invasion in the first century AD. Bredon, Worcestershire, England,

Broadway Broadway, Worcestershire One of the showpiece villages of the Cotswolds, Broadway has long been a favourite of the coach-tour brigade, and hordes of tourists descend upon its attractive, wide, main street every summer. Broadway, Worcestershire, England,

Bromsgrove Bromsgrove, Worcestershire Bromsgrove is an industrial town caught up in the urban spillover from Birmingham, but it does hold some interest for the casual visitor. The church, reached by a set of stone steps, is topped by a 15th century steeple rising 200 feet. Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England,

Droitwich Spa Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire Droitwich's major claim to fame is as a spa town, but there are good reasons to visit even if you've no intention of following in the footsteps of those who came to "take the waters". Within the area are four enjoyable historic houses, including Westwood House, a Jacobean mansion of brick set behind a an impressive gatehouse. Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, England,

Evesham Evesham, Worcestershire The town of Evesham straddles the River Avon, and on the banks of the river are the extensive ruins of Evesham Abbey, a Benedictine house founded about 701AD. The abbey was, in a roundabout way, responsible for the name of Evesham. It seems that, Eoves, a herdsman of the Bishop of Worcester, had a vision of the Virgin Mary at this spot. It was Eoves' vision that prompted the building of the abbey, and the herdsman's name is immortalized in the name of the abbey and the town that grew up around it. Evesham, Worcestershire, England,

Hanbury Hanbury, Worcestershire An attractive hamlet just a few miles from Droitwich and Bromsgrove, Hanbury is most noted for its association with Hanbury Hall, a delightful William and Mary house of brick that was the seat of the Vernon family for over 300 years. Now run by the National Trust, Hanbury is set in 400 acres of gardens and parkland. Hanbury, Worcestershire, England,

Malvern Malvern, Worcestershire The town of Malvern nestles on the flanks of the Malvern Hills, surrounded by a plethora of other "Malverns" such as Little Malvern, Malvern Link, North Malvern, and Malvern Wells. The name "Malvern" is derived from the Celtic term for "bare hill", which tells you something about the geology of the Hills above the Malverns. Malvern, Worcestershire, England,

Pershore Pershore, Worcestershire Pershore is the self-proclaimed "capital of the plum", a tribute to the tradition of plum orchards in the area. The town grew up around the abbey founded here in 689 by St. Oswald, and it is the abbey church that is the feature of greatest interest for most visitors. The church has nothing of St. Oswald's Saxon establishment left, as the Benedictines built a powerful abbey on the spot in the early Norman period. Pershore, Worcestershire, England,

Worcester Worcester, Worcestershire The city of Worcester lies astride the River Severn just above its juncture with the Teme. The oldest part of the city is on the eastern shore, on low-lying ground formed of sand and river gravel. There was a bridge across the Severn here as early as Roman times, but this was replaced by a bridge of stone in the medieval period, and then by the current bridge in 1781. Until the 14th century this was the best place between Bridgnorth and Gloucester to cross the Severn. Worcester, Worcestershire, England,