Worcester

For thousands of years, Worcester has been a trading capital. In Roman times, it was an industrial town for baking pottery and smelting iron. Later, it became a town for the manufacture of cloth, and in the 1700's until today, a place where fine porcelain is made.

A museum dedicated to showing the history of the fine porcelin made is the Worcester Porcelain Museum. Visiting the museum is a facinating experience into the making and painting of fine porcelain through the ages. The collections include delicated painted dishes, teapots and vases once available only to the very wealthy in England. There is a hands on exhibit which allows you to make your own plate or model and take home you as a gift or keepsake. You can also buy Bestware, Seconds and Clearance items. Prices for admission to the museum varies from £4 to £9 depending on the exhibit.

Worcester is home to Worcester Cathedral, a place of prayer and worship since 680 AD. The present building was begun in 1084 and includes the tomb of King John who was King of England from 1199 until 1216, a memorial to Prince Arthur Tudor called Prince Arthur's Chantry, the early 12th century Chapter House and St Wulstan's Crypt. You may recognize the cathedral, as its image is featured on the reverse of the Bank of England £20 note next to the composer Edward Elgar who spent the majority of his life in Worcester. Entry to the cathedral is free, but donations are appreciated. The Cathedral is open every day of the year from 7.30am to 6pm.

Probably Worcester's most famous citizen was composer Sir Edward Elgar, whose father ran a music shop at the end of the High Street. You can delve more into this the man by visiting the Elgar's Birthplace Museum, three miles out of Worcester in Lower Broadheath. It houses a fascinating collection of Elgar memorabilia that gives you an insight into the man and his music. You can also see a statue of Elgar near the original location of his father's shop.

Sports fans, too, are well catered for, with football, rugby, cricket, golf and both horse riding and racing in the area, while a wide range of bars, hotels and clubs with fun and exciting nightlife. There is a type of music for everyone from disco to rock to punk, and restaurants for every taste.

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See a Map of Worcester