Worcestershire: Places I like to visit

Worcestershire has many claims to fame but one of them is of particular interest. Geoffrey Chaucer was here working at court in the Forest of Feckenham when he was inspired to write the Canterbury Tales. You may well be inspired to write about the area after your visit here as well, I know I am. Come along as I share a few of the places I like to visit in Worcestershire.

Places to Visit:

Worcester

Allow at least one whole day to visit the city of Worcester. Begin your visit to the thousand-year-old cathedral. It is the final resting place of Bad King John, the brother of Richard the Lionhearted and son of King Henry and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. He is the protagonist with the Sheriff of Nottingham in the Robin Hood Legends and also the King who signed the Magna Carta. Prince Arthur, the heir apparent of King Henry VII and the brother of King Henry VIII is also buried here. 

It was his marriage to Queen Katherine of Aragon which led King Henry VIII to seek a divorce from his queen (Katherine, yes he married his brother’s wife) and when Rome refused to grant the divorce, Henry crushed papal influence in England and made himself the head of the Church, which still survives today as the Anglican Church.

Royal Worcester Porcelain

In 2001 Royal Worcester Porcelain celebrated its 250th anniversary. It used to be one of our favorite places to shop in Worcester. All that ended in 2008 when the factory closed. However, the Museum of Royal Worchester has remained open in one of the Victorian Factory Buildings since it was not affected by the closing.  The porcelain is so iconic to this area, that it is certainly worth a visit and is only a two-minute walk from the cathedral.

Worcester is a fairly large city so driving can be challenging. Have a good map in hand. Parking is available adjacent to the Royal Worcester Porcelain Museum and this is a good central location. From here you can walk to the cathedral easily and to the shopping mall.

A downtown shopping mall at Crown Gate offers all the shopping options you could possibly want. The city of Worcester has an art museum that is worth visiting.

Broadway

Allow at least half a day even more if you really want to hit the shops. As you drive out of town make a detour to the Broadway Tower. If you are only going to visit one Cotswold Village, this would be a fine choice. The cottages are the typical honey-colored stone and just driving down High Street gives you the historic English village feeling.

Shopping in Broadway is about as good as it gets anywhere in the Cotswolds. Small chain stores and plenty of typically English village type stores and a few surprises line High Street. You will find a bookstore, clothing, food and tea stores and certainly a nice selection of restaurants and cafes. Edinburgh Woolens is a chain but offers lots of good deals and excellent inventory.

Broadway is a charming village with some parking along High St. A good sized pay and display car park is located behind the Cotswold Court Mall. This is a very good walking village. Start on one side and just walk until the shops' end and then cross the street and do the same on the other side.

Many charming B&Bs and hotels, as well as self-catering units, are available in the area. This is not an inexpensive area to stay in but the charm of the entire area makes it very desirable. 

To learn more about the area check out their website.