Worcester.

In the centre of rural England lies the cathedral city of Worcester, at the heart of one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Surrounded by glorious landscapes such as the Malvern Hills, and charming, historic towns and villages, the city has a rich history of culture, architecture and events.

The city and county have a wealth of fascinating, beautiful and exciting places to visit, from the majestic cathedral on the banks of the Severn in the City's centre, to Royal Worcester Porcelain’s Museum and Visitor Centre, and the remarkable medieval interiors and exteriors of the city centre’s Greyfriars and Friar Street (pictured right).

Just beyond the city more delightful places can be found, from the glorious hills and clear natural springs at Malvern to Elgar’s Birthplace Museum, the magnificent landscapes at Croome Park, the superb castle at Eastnor, and the romantic ruin of Witley Court.

The compact city centre is ideal for strolling, sightseeing and shopping. There is a great mixture of ancient buildings, modern shopping, street cafés, riverside walks and nearby Cathedral, guaranteed to reward you with a relaxing and entertaining visit.

The city’s all-pedestrian High Street features the large stores and smaller, unique local shops. There are delightful shopping malls with clusters of small shops such as Reindeer Court and Hopmarket Yard for specialist shopping, alongside larger, modern malls such as CrownGate and Cathedral Plaza.  For really distinctive and unusual shopping, there is ancient Friar Street (pictured top right) with its charming gift & fashion shops, and art galleries.

Access to the city centre is easy and hassle-free. The City's Forgate Street station is North along the high street, and the Crowngate shopping center houses both the bus station and a large multi-story car park.

In the city center shopping areas there is a wide selection of venues for refreshment, from charming tea rooms to contemporary italian style coffee shops. There are also great cafe bars dotted around, many in enchanting, historic places and with pavement seating, where you can take it easy and watch the world go by with a coffee or glass of wine.