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Heritage / Best Of / The Great Outdoors / Worcester / Malvern / Upton upon Severn / Evesham

Getting the best out of your Worcestershire road trip

Worcestershire is a beautiful county in the heart of England, with an ample history, from the Romans and Civil War to the Victorians and beyond, as well as rich in culture.

It's the perfect place for a road trip, with plenty of things to see and do along the way.

Choose your time of year wisely. Worcestershire is a beautiful county year-round, but each season has its own unique charm. For example, spring is a great time to see the wildflowers in bloom, while autumn is a great time to see the leaves change colour.

You can cover a large area of the county with a route of just over 100 miles - a drive time of around 4 with a few stops. This of course, includes a must-visit to the Cathedral city of Worcester, as well as many of the Black & White market towns, riverside towns and villages, plus the bustling conurbations found in the more northern parts of the county.

Depending on how many days you have to explore the county, you can split the road trip into two – a northern and a southern route, using Worcester as the centre point and divide your days accordingly.

With just 3 days you can take a whistle-stop tour around Worcestershire, using this 3-day itinerary as a guide, but of course, allowing a minimum of 5 days, you will uncover more of the county and the wonderful places to visit. A 7-day break will allow a gentle pace, taking time to visit the days out on offer, without a rush.

You should spend a minimum of a full day in Worcester, itself, but really, if you can, this should be stretched to at least two days to enjoy everything on offer in this lovely, Cathedral city. Choose from a visit to Worcester Cathedral, the Royal Worcester Porcelain Museum, the Worcestershire Regimental Museum, Guild Hall and the Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum, or many of the Black & White historic timber buildings, such as Greyfriars House & Gardens, Tudor House Museum, or The Commandery.

Make time to enjoy some of the many outdoor spaces providing a restful and serene environment to recharge your energy. Stroll along the River Severn and watch the swans as they glide gracefully along the river. You will find Gheluvelt Park can connect to the racecourse and provide a delightful walk along the banks of the River Severn too.

Allowing a full day to explore the Malvern Hills is a must and there are wonderful roads to drive along to enjoy the vista. Keep your eyes peeled for the well-signposted ‘Elgar Route’. If you’d prefer to enjoy the views from the hilltop themselves, there are more than a dozen walks and trails to suit all fitness levels. Re-fuel in the pretty town of Great Malvern, in one of the many cafés and restaurants in the town. There are serval hidden gems in the town to discover. C.S. Lewis is said to have been inspired by the Malvern gas lamps for his opening description of Narnia in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The highlights for day 3 are some of Worcestershire's smaller towns and villages.

Upton-upon-Severn is a charming town on the banks of the River Severn. Take a walk along the river, visit the town's many shops and restaurants, or simply relax in one of the town's many parks.

In the afternoon, head to the Vale of Evesham to enjoy the stunning scenery and visit the town of Evesham, itself. Evesham is a charming town with a rich history. Visit the Evesham Museum, which tells the story of the town's past, or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll along the river.

The above ideas are just a small taste of what is on offer in the country of Worcestershire, however, as you’d expect with the nature of road trips, you can weave together such destinations but also enjoy those in-between places, and marry them with hidden gems and experiences, allowing for the road less explored, to be explored. It's in these stretches of your road trip journey, you are sure to encounter a little something a day tripper might not get to see. Leave some time to stop and take in the many monuments, for example, and find out the stories behind them.

Investing in a travel planner, such as Uncover Britain online, can help you plan your trip more effectively. The planner website replaces several guidebooks and will save you hours of researching and make planning a breeze. You can make a deeper connection using the ‘Historic Worcestershire road trip’ to plan the route that covers 107 miles, with a destination guide for 16 locations, including references for over 110 attractions. You can tailor the trip to your own interests and preferences.

You can pinpoint wonderful viewpoints, and over 120 places of interest and discover over 30 hidden gems. Wild swimmers have 12 spots to choose from, to take a dip in the county. The Overnight Stays map covers over 65 campsites on this route, and over 50 ‘secret stays’, which include authorised overnight stops and pub stops, you’ll easily find the perfect spot. If you’re in a car or travelling another way, there are some 60 hotels and 75 guesthouses on the route too. No matter what you choose to do, you're sure to have a great time on your road trip in Worcestershire.

This road trip route with details of experiences to enjoy on the way is available with free online membership at www.UncoverBritain.com.

Upgrading to the paid membership allows online access to the full destination guide for this trip, with all the items mentioned above and more, plus dozens of other UK road trips, with overnight stops, hidden gems, viewpoints, wild swimming spots and much more.

Annual membership is £29.99, however with the code WORCS10 grab £10 off when purchased before 31.12.2023.


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