What To Do In Worcester: 10 Things

The city of Worcester is best known for its beautiful cathedral, stunning architecture, and delicious Worcestershire sauce!

The pretty city lies just south of Birmingham, with a vast array of sites to see, and history to learn.

It’s safe to say, you won’t be short of fun activities to do if you live in our Worcester based student accommodation, whether it’s a picturesque walk along the River Severn or a trip to the City Art Gallery to soak up some local creations.

We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 things to do when living here to give you get a head start on all the fun!

1. Worcester Cathedral

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This gorgeous cathedral is situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn in Worcester and is definitely worth a visit.

Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester, and has a whopping 235 steps to the top.

The present cathedral church was built between 1084 and 1504, representing every style of English architecture from Norman to Perpendicular Gothic.

Did you know? The Cathedral’s west façade appeared with a portrait of Sir Edward Elgar (an English composer) on the reverse of a £20 issued by the Bank of England between 1999 and 2007.

We’d highly recommend taking a trip to Worcester Cathedral whilst studying here, it’s gives you the perfect opportunity to soak in the beautiful architecture in this wonderful, historical city.

2. River Severn By Boat

the river severn

What better way to explore the city than by boat! The Earl Cruise Boat departs from Worcester South Quay on the hour from 11am – 4pm.

The cruise lasts 45 minutes in total and there are refreshments available for you to enjoy including coffee, soft drinks, snacks, and a fully licenced bar if you fancy a tipple!

River cruise by day or night, The Earl transforms into a unique music venue/bar running cruises at the weekend. Entertainment includes the best local talent and sometimes appearances from more established artists.

It’s also available for private hire in the evenings, so if it’s a special occasion and you want to surprise your uni mates, why not do it on a river cruise!

3. Tudor House Museum

This beautiful 16th century building is full of unique features and fascinating stories, perfect to visit on a rainy day.

Situated on Friar Street in Worcester, the house was built in the first half of the 16th century on the foundations of an earlier 13th century building.

In the early 20th century, the house was purchased by the famous Cadbury family and served as a confectionary shop!

During WWII, the house briefly served as an air warden’s post and a billeting office, and then served as the Worcester Museum of Local Life.

With a super long and varied history, there’s so many interesting facts you can pick up when visiting here.

The house is decorated with posters and information about Worcester’s social and industrial history, including displays on Lea and Perrins (yummy) and Edward Elgar.

When visiting here, you can learn how the building was built, and see some of the original Tudor ceiling plasterwork that’s still intact, which is a rarity to say the least!

4. Greyfriars’ House and Garden

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Another interesting look into Worcester’s history is at Greyfriars’ House and Garden, built in 1490 by a wealthy merchant.

The house was owned by plenty of wealthy families until the late 17th century.

In 1699, a baker purchased the lease and divided the house into two, it then became a mixture of homes, shops and businesses.

Over the years, extensions have been added to its interior and altered to accommodate many individuals and families who have lived here.

The care of Greyfriars was transferred to the National Trust in 1966 and is now a super popular attraction in the city of Worcester!

5. Croome Park

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Fancy a stroll? There’s more than meets the eye at Croome Park! The secret wartime airbase is now a visitor centre, owned by the National Trust.

The parkland was nearly lost, but is now a fantastic spot for walking with plenty of scenic views to admire.

Once home to the Earls of Coventry, Croome Court has four floors to explore, each telling a different unique story.

Croome Park has a shop, RAF museum and visitor centre, as well as a café if you feel peckish during the day!

6. Gheluvelt Park

This stunning park was built in honour of those lost in the First World War, it has two distinct areas, a formal park to the east and an informal area for wildlife conservation to the west.

You can park for free in Waterworks Road car park and stroll through this stunning park at your own pace, perfect after a hard day of studying.

The park boasts footpaths through the park, a cafe, tennis, outdoor gym equipment, table tennis, and there are plenty of ducks to feed!

Throughout the summer, bands regularly perform on the idyllic bandstand, so what better time to grab your friends and go for a picnic to Gheluvelt Park?

7. Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum

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Calling all art lovers! Worcester City Art Gallery is in an elegant Victorian building in the heart of the city with something for everyone to enjoy.

Whether it’s dinosaur footprints, a Worcestershire sauce archive or a real Roman mosaic, there’s plenty of information to soak up when visiting here.

The gallery showcases an amazing array of objects related to the city of Worcester and its history.

Popular attractions at the museum include the Chemist Shop, the mighty Sturgeon, and Albert the Albatross!

The museum is open Monday to Saturday 10:30am-4:30pm, so if you’re feeling a little bored and you’ve got no lectures, be sure to pop down to this fascinating museum.

8. Kinver Edge

kinver edge

You might need to take a day for this one, but trust us when we say it’ll be totally worth it! Kinver Edge is about a 40-minute drive from Worcester and offers some impeccable views.

Kinver Edge is home to the last troglodyte dwellings in England, with a set of stunning cave-houses excavated into the local sandstone.

The famous Holy Austin Rock has been restored to help you soak up the atmosphere of these unusual homes.

Be sure to take some pictures when visiting here, as you won’t be short of insta worthy views at this unique location!

Just outside is the heathland of Kinver Edge, buzzing with insects and bright purple heather, you’re guaranteed a scenic walk when visiting here, so relax, inhale, and breathe in the fresh air.

9. Worcester Woods Country Park

About ten-minutes away from the centre of Worcester is Worcester Woods Country Park, a scenic hidden gem offering a lovely walking opportunity for all.

The country park has two nature reserves, a huge open field and a café, ideal if you get a little peckish.

We hope your tummy is rumbling, because The Orchard Café has a strong emphasis on locally sourced, organic and delicious fair trade products.

If you’d prefer a picnic, fear not! The park has a great little picnic area and even a BBQ area if the sun is shining.

10. The Commandery

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This historic building is open to visitors 10am-5pm daily, and is famous for being the Royalist Headquarters during the deciding battle of the English Civil War (the Battle of Worcester 1651)

An interactive experience will take you back over 350 years into a conflicted 17th century Worcester, filled with fiery debates!

The Commandery gives you the chance to experience life as a soldier 300 miles from home, and test your skills at battle strategy as you come face to face with Oliver Cromwell, are you brave enough?

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