Visit Worcester City – Things to See or Do & Tourist Attractions

Worcester is a cathedral city based in the West Midlands area of England on the River Severn. The city was the location of an autumn midweek break away and a glorious trip. The city was near to home but rarely visited by me in the last few decades.

Worcester is a very historic city in Worcestershire, which is most famous for its Tudor and English Civil War History. The city has lots of tourist attractions including historical buildings, museums. Lots of the heritage in the city centre is preserved. There are lots of options for things to do when visiting for a day trip or a longer stay.

On admiring the city from above at Fort Royal Park, the number of spires reminded me of a mini Prague. Other things the city is famous for is Edward Elgar, the musician and not forgetting my favourite Worcestershire Sauce.

My Visit to Worcester City

My visit was with the dog, so places and accommodation in Worcester that were dog friendly enhanced my trip. Not everywhere was but luckily puppy loves to sit and relax for a few hours. This usually gives me the chance to hit the tourist sites and soak up some history and culture.

The city has many options for eating out in the daytime or evenings to suit most tastes and budgets from my observations. I reviewed all the eateries in Worcester that I enjoyed sustenance while in the city.

Things to Do In Worcester

These are tourist attractions that I visited in the city, either with or without Henry that I enjoyed visiting and seeing. I really enjoy looking at older buildings and modern architecture from the outside, usually with a camera in hand. These are the city’s stunning buildings I enjoyed seeing on my trip.

Worcester Cathedral is a great Tourist Attraction

The cathedral is pretty and on the banks of the River Severn, which enhances its beauty. Worcester Cathedral is located right in the middle of town and visible from most places within the city centre. They built the cathedral building over a few centuries between 1084 and 1504. It is unique in the way it represents every style of English architecture, from Norman through to Perpendicular Gothic.

Overall, the inside and exterior is pleasing on the eye and it has a fascinating history. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Cathedral and recommend having a look around.

Admiring the building from across the river at sunrise was a very special moment for me. It’s also a pretty special view throughout the day.

Walking the River Severn

The river Severn runs through the city centre and is a big part of the city with paths on either side to enjoy. You can walk the old city walls on the city centre side with plenty of benches to sit and watch the river go by. The opposite bank is my favourite part which you can view the city from across the river. This is a great place to watch the sunrise and autumnal colours of the trees lining the riverbanks. Upstream the river takes you along the edge of the racecourse and past the rowing club.

For long-distance hikers, the city is on the walking route known as the Severn way. The Severn Way is a long-distance footpath in the UK. It follows the course of the River Severn through Mid Wales and western England and is 224 miles long. If you fancy a lovely walk, Great Malvern is a quick train ride away. There are many walking routes in this lovely town.

Visit the Tudor House Museum

The Tudor House Museum is on Friar street in the city, a very well preserved and historic street. Friar Street is home to many pubs and restaurants and has many buildings with historical facias. The Tudor style black and white timber-framed frontage and really looks the part. Volunteers, which are very helpful and knowledgeable, run the museum.

This museum focuses on life for people in the city during the Tudor and later eras. They also cover World War 2. Overall, the visit to The Tudor House was interesting and educational. You can find out more on their website.

Peruse The Commandery Museum

Taking a step back in time is what I did when visiting The Commandery, a museum that focuses mainly on the English Civil War. I classify this mainly as a war museum. The museum is in Charles II’s former headquarters, his base during the last battle of the Civil War.

They separate the museum into many rooms. It has a one-way system, thus easy to navigate. Following the route through the building takes you through many eras of history, including the reign of the Tudors and Stuarts. The displays here are impressive and even feature visits of some early American Presidents including Thomas Jefferson. You can arrange tickets and find out more on the Commandery website.

See Fort Royal Park/Hill

Needing somewhere to exercise the dog and empty him before visiting some historical buildings, I wandered to Fort Royal Park. This is on a small hill overlooking the city and has some amazing views. I highly recommend visiting here, especially on a blue sky day to see the spires of the city and an amazing view of the cathedral. There are memorials here and benches to sit on. For those travelling with children, it has a fun-looking play area too.

Fort Royal Hill has great historical significance, being the location of the last battle of the English Civil War. The Parliamentarian Army of Oliver Cromwell defeated King Charles II here. The Second President of the USA, John Adams, recognised the significance of the hill where British Democracy was effectively born.

Sightseeing on Friar Street

In the centre of Worcester city is Friar street, a place worth visiting. Friar Street has lots of old, medieval timber-framed buildings to see from the outside. These historic buildings include some tourist attractions, including museums. There are also pubs & cafes in some of these buildings which are pleasant to visit.

See the Sir Edward Elgar Statue

On the principal shopping street opposite the cathedral is a statue of the composer Edward Elgar, one of the city’s most famous sons. Elgar is a composer that I have enjoyed for decades and have heard performed at many concerts. His most famous works include “Land of Hope & Glory” and “Nimrod”.

Anyway, the bronze statue is a tribute to the man himself. They unveiled the statue in 1981 as a tribute to a local person of historical significance. They often regard Elgar as a typically English composer. However, most of his musical influences were not from England but from continental Europe.

Find the Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce Factory

One of my favourite sauces that often finds its way into my cooking is the Lea & Perrins, Worcestershire sauce. This is a versatile ingredient that enhances the flavour of many dishes, especially meats and stews for me. The factory is located towards Shrubb Hill Train Station and felt I needed to visit the home of the sauce. The factory sadly doesn’t do tours or much to see. However, it has some rather funky gates in its distinctive orange branding for photos or selfies.

See the Edgar Tower

The Edgar Tower was formerly known as St Mary’s Gate. It is a fantastic tower. It is part of the cathedral complex and entrance to King’s School. The tower actually looks like a small castle with turrets. Edgar Tower is very eye pleasing. You can see this from parts of Fort Royal Hill. The gate was traditionally the entrance to a benedictine monastery on the site, made up of many buildings next to the cathedral.

Do Some Shopping in The City Centre

For those that love to browse the shops for retail therapy on city breaks. Worcester has an excellent selection of chains and independent stores. I needed a few things and found the city centre a nice place for shopping. The shops were not too busy on a midweek daytime.

Relax in the St Andrew’s Garden of Remembrance

Between the city centre and the river, is St Andrew’s Garden of Remembrance. A nice place to sit and relax, admiring the views and well-maintained garden. This is also home to a rather stunning bell tower. The tower has working bells that chime on the hour alongside the other bells of the city.

The tower called St Andrews Spire, the only remaining part of the former 15th-century church. This is a rather call tower at 245 feet in height and has a really narrow taper.

Visit the Swan Sanctuary

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The section of the River Severn in Worcester is a swan sanctuary. There are lots of swans swimming and going about their business. These are beautiful to see in the numbers here. Some shops sell swan food so visitors can feed them. On the far side of the river, there are some steps down to the edge of the water. This is a great place to get up close. The swans will assume you are carrying food and come over to check you out.

The Museum of Royal Worcester

One of the other popular tourist attractions in the city is the Museum of Royal Worcester. When visiting, you can see 250 years of history stories through the largest collection of Worcester porcelain in the world. Their collection dates back to 1751. At the museum you can see galleries and exhibitions of porcelain, including Admiral Lord Nelson’s breakfast teapot. You can also find out about the workers and artists that made the porcelain and the famous people that enjoyed using them.

Greyfriars House & Garden

An interesting thing to do is to visit Greyfriars House & Garden. This is a national trust property on Friar Street with a timber-framed black and white building that looks fantastic. This was a medieval merchant’s house with a walled garden with a tea shop.

A wealthy merchant built the house in around 1490 and subsequently was home to rich families until the late 17th century. Then in 1699, a baker purchased the lease and split it into two becoming both homes and shops. They nearly demolished the building in the 1930s, however, it was saved to become a national trust property in 1966.

The Guildhall

This is a stunning building on the high street, particularly impressive is the colourful fascia and gates. The Guildhall building dates back to 1721 and has an interesting history. It was once a prison and being the seat of justice for the county.

Currently, it is the tourist information centre and a visitor attraction in its own right. The interior of The Guildhall has a remarkable Assembly Room. King George III described it as “a handsome gallery” when he visited in 1788. Inside you can expect to see the Italianate Ceiling, portraits of royalty and former Mayors. I regret not entering this free attraction on this visit, but the outside was really nice to look at.

Is Worcester Worth Visiting?

Worcester is a lovely small city and is well worth visiting. There are loads of things to do while here. There are some great tourist attractions, including the cathedral and various museums. It’s also great for a night out at the city’s pubs and restaurants. There are also great options for those that like to be active, including some picturesque walks.