The historic cathedral city of Worcester spans the River Severn and is located between junction 6 and junction 7 of the M5.
It is just 12 miles (20km) from Malvern where the iconic Morgan cars have been hand-crafted for over a century and the famous hills and water. It is also 118 miles (188km) or so from London, 35 miles (56km) from Birmingham and 25 miles (40km) from Cheltenham.
Worcester has a proud history including Royal Worcester Porcelain (one of the oldest English porcelain brands), the glove making industry, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce and the composer Sir Edward Elgar (famous for Land of Hope and Glory amongst others). It is known as “The Faithful City” for it’s loyalty to the Royalists during the English Civil War in 1642 and The Commandery provides a fascinating insight to that time.
Worcester has a population of around 104,000 people and boasts a 12th century cathedral that creates a wonderful backdrop to one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the country, home to Worcestershire County Cricket Club. You can choose to take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the sights and sounds along the River Severn, which includes the city’s award-winning joint public and university library and archive centre, The Hive. The Guildhall is a Grade 1 Listed Queen Anne style building (rebuilt in 1721), which is along the main shopping street and if you wanted more historical adventures, you can drink in a pub once occupied by King Charles II as he escaped his enemies after the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
With it’s eclectic mix of high street names, independent retailers and small boutiques, an excellent selection of cafes pubs, wine bars and restaurants plus a vibrant programme of festivals and events throughout the year and it all makes Worcester a wonderful and varied place to live and work.
With all the benefits of a city but with the friendly atmosphere of a small town, Worcester is a great place to live and learn. The University is set out over four campus sites in the city and offers courses to nearly 10,000 students. There are two colleges, Worcester Sixth Form College and the Heart of Worcestershire College, offering A-level and vocational courses.
Secondary schools include Bishop Perowne CofE College, Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College, Christopher Whitehead Language College, Tudor Grange Academy, Nunnery Wood High School and New College Worcester which caters for blind and partially sighted pupils from the ages of 11 to 18.
Worcester also has two independent schools located within the city; The King’s School (Kings) and The Royal Grammar School (RGS) taking students through to A-levels. There are other independent schools: Malvern College, Malvern St James, The Downs and The Elms in Malvern, Bromsgrove School in Bromsgrove, Bowbrook House School in Peopleton The River School in Fernhill Heath and Abberley Hall in Abberley around the local area.
By Bicycle
The city has excellent cycle links with other districts in the region as well as the National Cycle Network. The historic city is ideal for travel by bike and a stunning bridge over the River Severn at Diglis creates a picturesque circular route around the riverside whether you are commuting to work or spending some quality time with friends and family.
By Road
Worcester is located between junctions 6 of the M5 (from the north) leading in via the A449 and junction 7 (from the south) via the A38. It is just two junctions south of the M42 (which leads to the M6, M40 and M1) and 55 miles north of the M4.
By Rail
There is a regular and frequent service to Birmingham (via Birmingham International Airport and the Birmingham NEC). Worcester to London Paddington takes just over 2 hours. The city centre has two train stations:
Foregate Street Station (located 0.3 miles from the city centre)
Shrub Hill Station (located 0.6 miles from the city centre)
There is also Worcestershire Parkway station located just outside Worcester (4.7 miles from city centre)
By Bus or Coach
First Bus Worcestershire has over 30 bus routes serving the city centre, the surrounding residential areas and beyond. The main bus terminus is located under the Crowngate Shopping Centre in the city centre.
The city is also served by National Express Coaches. For more information, visit their website at www.nationalexpress.com
By Air
Birmingham International Airport and the Eurohub, with direct flights to the USA and 28 European cities, are within a 1-hour drive via the M42 and M5 motorways. Taxis and train connections are available within the Airport. The airports at Bristol, East Midlands and Cardiff are also within easy reach.
