Visit Dog Friendly Great Malvern – Attractions, Pubs & Things to Do

Great Malvern is a small town in Worcestershire and right next to the Malvern Hills AONB. It is a beautiful town with lovely buildings, parks and the Malverns as a backdrop. Great Malvern is a great town to visit with a dog and there are many dog friendly things to do. There are many things to see or do in the town and options for things to do locally, particularly for those that enjoy the outdoors.

Great Malvern is a great option for a day trip, staycation or a longer holiday in the area. The principal tourist attractions in the town are its Abbey, the theatres and the Malvern Hills AONB. Both are suitable to visit with a dog.

My latest visit to Great Malvern was with the dog, thus only visited what was open and dog-friendly. However, I have spent more time in the area, including a stay at a yoga retreat for a few weeks a while back. I have always enjoyed visiting The Malverns, and anyone who enjoys hiking and quaint towns probably will too.

Things to do in Great Malvern with a Dog

There are a few good tourist attractions in Great Malvern for visitors to visit. There are also many things to do, including lots of hiking options.

Hiking in The Malvern Hills AONB a Great Dog Walk

One of the most popular activities for visitors to do in The Malverns is hiking. The Malvern Hills AONB has many options for a hike, including climbing some hills and enjoying the views. The North Hill is a steep walk, but at the top it rewards you with some splendid views of the area.

Worcestershire beacon is slightly higher than North Hill at 425 metres in height. However, there are many peaks for visitors to climb.

Visit Great Malvern Priory With a Dog

Great Malvern Priory is a lovely place to visit. It dominates the town’s skyline and is pretty. The building used to be a Benedictine monastery until 1540. However, it is an Anglican parish church. In 1949, they designated a Grade I listed building.

Great Malvern Priory has the largest display of 15th-century stained glass in England, which is beautiful. The building also contains carved misericords from the 15th and 16th century and the largest collection of medieval floor and wall tiles.

Visiting the Priory is free, however they accept donations on site. They also allow dogs to visit, which was a pleasant surprise as few religious sites are dog-friendly.

The church is beautiful, and the organ particularly impressed me. Nicholson of Malvern made the organ in 1879, and is a Certified Historic Organ. They also have a bookstore on site selling a range or religious and history books. You can find out what’s on and more about the history of the abbey on their website.

Tourist Information Centre

If you wish to find out more about the area or pick up some leaflets, then head to the Tourist Information centre near to the priory. The tourist information centre can also help you arrange a variety of activities in the area.

Visit the Malvern Museum

Malvern Museum calls a gatehouse near to the priory home. The venue is rather attractive and there are some nice cafes nearby. The gatehouse was part of the priory. However, in 1979, the museum was established. The museum covers the history of the local area. It has exhibits in the healing water, medieval hill forts, the priory and much more inside. Their website is rather interesting too.

Visit Belle Vue Island

Belle Vue Island is a lovely place in the principal shopping area, an oasis of tranquillity surrounded by roads. The island is a garden with many nice colourful flowers and looks wonderful. It is also home to the Malvina Spring, Edward Elgar Statue and the Enigma Fountain.

The Malvina Spring is an ornate fountain that has a constant flow of “healing” spring water. Many people, including me, were filling up water bottles. I thought it tasted great and was very refreshing.

Explore Priory Park

Priory park is a lovely place for a mooch around. It has some lovely trees and landscaped gardens. There is also a pond with bridges and plenty of wild fowl to see. Priory park has many benches to sit on, as well as very nice lawns.

Theatres

There are a few theatres that make up Malvern Theatres, including a smaller one, The Coach House Theatre. They have a selection of performances scheduled for visitors to attend. It is best to book via their box office.

Sadly, The Theatre of Small Convenience appears to have closed. This was a tiny theatre that I visited 20-plus years ago to watch a puppet show. While open, it was the world’s smallest commercial theatre hosting up to 12 people.

See Christ Church

Another nice historic church to see is the Grade II listed building, Christ Church Malvern. They are a Victorian era church that was built in 1875. It’s a lovely place to see from the outside or you could visit inside and see the interior decor. They host regular services and other events.

Explore Rose Bank Gardens

Rose Bank Gardens is a lovely garden with many colourful flowers and sculptures. It is also home to a CS Lewis Memorial, and the steps to St Ann’s well start here too. There are many splendid views from the gardens, including the iconic Malvern Priory.

Elmslie House

Elmslie House venue and gallery is a lovely Grade II listed building that serves many purposes. They host craft fairs, music and other events.

Malvern Cellar

If you like to try locally produced booze, then the Malvern Cellar is a great place to visit. They stock a variety of wines, beers and spirits, which are all made in Worcestershire or the neighbouring counties. At Malvern Cellar, you can taste and purchase a wonderful selection of drinks. You can find them between two of the town’s dog friendly pubs, the Lion and The Unicorn.

Other Things To See or Do

• Attend an Event at The Three Counties Showground
• Visit Independent Shops
• Visit The Malvern Hills Gallery
• Peruse The Town’s Bookshops

Dog Friendly Pubs & Restaurants For Refreshments

There are many options for eating out or a quick drink while in Great Malvern. There are many independent cafes, restaurants and some pleasant pubs, too. Many of these are dog friendly and we enjoyed visiting a few of the local pubs.

The Morgan is a lovely dog friendly pub

The Morgan is near to the train station, thus a great place to have a drink while awaiting a train. They serve food and an array of nice beer. The Morgan is part of the Wye Valley Breweries pubs and serve some of their in-house beers. They were dog friendly and offered dog water and fuss when I visited.

The Unicorn A Dog Friendly Pub in Malvern

The Unicorn is a dog friendly pub near to Happy Valley and the path into the hills. They have inside or outside seating and dogs are welcome. They had a dog bowl at the entrance and are a great place for a drink after a hike.

Abbey Road Coffee

In the heart of Great Malvern is Abbey Road Coffee, a lovely place for a coffee or lunch. They have a stylish interior and some outside seating too. As a bonus, they are dog friendly and are welcoming to canine guests. Their menu has a variety of homemade items, including cakes and sandwiches.

The Red Lion Great Malvern

Another dog friendly pub in Great Malvern is the Red Lion Inn, who also has a pleasant beer garden. They have many types of beer on offer, including a choice of cask ales. Their menu includes lots of options for steaks. Overall, it’s a lovely place to visit, especially in their garden on a sunny day.

Other pubs, restaurants and cafes in Great Malvern include;

• The Red Lion, a Thai restaurant and bar.
• Gallery 36
• The Malvern Hills Brewery Tap Room

Hotels & Places to Stay in The Malverns

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There are many options for places to stay in The Malverns, from campsites to more luxury hotels. There are also many holiday home rentals throughout Worcestershire. Hotels in The Malverns include:

The Abbey A Dog Friendly Hotel

If you like luxury hotels, then The Abbey in Great Malvern is a great option for a place to stay in Great Malvern. They are centrally located and provide a four-star service. They are in a lovely Victorian era building with various room options. The Abbey Hotel welcome pets and is completely dog friendly. They also have a wonderful reputation for their hotel breakfast. Find out more…

There are also many options for dog friendly accommodation in Great Malvern and the rest of Worcestershire. You can find these by using the pets allowed filter on Booking.com.

Getting To Great Malvern By Train

The Malverns are a great day trip from Birmingham by train. An off-peak return costs only £12. The journey takes an hour on a direct train. Great Malvern is also pretty simple to reach from other parts of the country by rail, including London via Worcester. All UK trains are dog-friendly and free for pets, thus an easy way to travel with your dog in tow.

Is Great Malvern Worth Visiting With a Dog?

Great Malvern and The Malverns are a great place to visit with some interesting historical buildings. The town has many information boards around to highlight significant spots in the area’s heritage. This area comes into its own with hiking options. The Malverns have many steep walks and splendid views. It is also a very dog friendly place to visit and has some fantastic options for dog walks.