Worcester is the capital city of the county of Worcestershire and lies beside the River Severn some 25 miles from the Cotswolds and the village of Broadway (the Northern Gateway to the Cotswolds). At its centre is a magnificent cathedral, perched along the riverbank, dominating the skyline for miles around.

The cathedral is one of the loveliest in England and dates back to Norman times. The early 12th century Chapter House, St. Wulfstan's Crypt and the mediaeval cloisters are among the most remarkable in the country, and King John's tomb in the Cathedral dates from 1216. Just to the south of here lies the site of Worcester's 11th-century castle.

Although possessing all the sophistication and amenities of a city, Worcester with its attractive jumble of medieval, Tudor, Georgian, and modern architecture has the feel of a small town. It’s particularly easy to explore and get around – both on foot and using public transport.

Three minutes walk from the cathedral takes you to the famous Royal Worcester Porcelain Museum and adjoining factory. Nearby, you can wander along medieval Friar Street, full of restaurants and bars nestled within original timber buildings.

Greyfriars, a merchant's house built in 1480 next to a Franciscan Friary, is now a National Trust property, and several other historic buildings of interest are situated nearby: the elegant Guildhall of 1721; the Commandery, which was King Charles's headquarters in the Battle of Worcester; the City Art Gallery and Museum; Huntingdon Hall, Worcester's premier live music venue; and the Swan Theatre. All well worth a visit.

Worcester is home to a prestigious, ever-growing university, which recently unveiled one of the city's most exciting modern buildings – The Hive. Constructed using sustainable materials and designed to operate on renewable energy, The Hive is the first joint public and university library in Europe. With over a quarter million books and 12 miles of archive collections, it's a thriving centre of learning and also hosts regular events including public lectures, exhibitions and performances.

Worcester Cathedral

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The Commandery

Located outside the ‘old’ city walls, The Commandery is a grand l5th-century timber framed building, with a great hall decorated with murals and supported by a fine hammerbeam roof. Originally built in 1085 by St. Wulfstan, it was later restored in the l5th century and used by Charles II as his headquarters during the 1651 Battle of Worcester.

The Commandery has exciting stories to tell you about power, greed, war, wealth, romance, death, society and industry. Step back in time to catch a glimpse of the lively characters that have inhabited this ancient building during the past seven centuries. Using state of the art audio interpretation, The Commandery’s long-hidden history comes vividly to life allowing you to explore six chosen periods, enjoying the characters and the atmosphere of the building’s colourful past.

Guildhall

Worcester is home to a number of interesting old houses and Guildhall, designed by Thomas White (a pupil of Sir Christopher Wren), is one of the most gracious Queen Anne buildings in the country.

Statues of Charles I and Charles II greet visitors at the entrance and a carving of Oliver Cromwell’s head is nailed by the ears above the doorway, reflecting the city's historical Royalist allegiance (once known as the 'Faithful City').

The Guildhall is open 6 days a week and the public may view the Grand Italianate styled Assembly room with its collection of portraits.Six rooms are also available for hire, so the Guildhall can accommodate events ranging from meetings for 12 people to private catered functions for up to 200 guests. The Guildhall is wheelchair accessible with disabled toilets.

The Worcester Tourist Information Centre is located in the Guildhall and there is a restaurant on the first floor providing good lunches.

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Troyte House, Sandys Rd
Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 1JJ