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Worcestershire is a perfect destination to visit while you are in the area for the 2022 Commonwealth Games! The county can be accessed within as little as 20 minutes by car from Birmingham with the nearby motorway network. If you're travelling from across the country or even from across the globe to see the sporting events and everything else the region has to offer, you won't be disappointed with a day out in Worcestershire.
In this blog, you will discover different things to do in Worcestershire, from delving into Worcester's deep heritage with its English Civil War past or experiencing real family fun at Severn Valley Railway or West Midland Safari Park!
A Day Out in the City of Worcester
The city of Worcester is just a 40-minute train ride or a 50-minute car journey from central Birmingham and has plenty of things to offer.
My top picks include:
The Anglican Cathedral, with magnificent Victorian stained glass and incredible architecture and stonemasonry, is definitely a must-see.
As you walk around the Cathedral and marvel at the architecture of this beautiful place, you can also learn a lot about its deep history. You will see the burial place for the infamous 'bad' King John and learn about his role in the Magna Carta and why he is buried at the Cathedral. The Cathedral's other attractions include Prince Arthur's Chantry, St Wulfstan's Norman Crypt, the unique chapter house, and the Cathedral's medieval cloisters.
There are guides around on hand to explain the many different features of the cathedral, or you can simply take in the atmosphere of the Cathedral at your own pace. Worcester Cathedral is free to enter (donations welcomed). You can book guided group tours online here if you would like to hear themed talks and tours, including the Towers Tours (fees apply).
For opening times and more information, please see their website.
Located centrally on one of the most historic streets in Worcester, Friar Street, the Tudor House Museum is a Grade II* listed 16th century Tudor house, filled with fascinating history and fun activities for younger visitors.
During your visit, you can learn about the house's past, from its origins as separate Tudor weaver's cottages to the Cross Key Tavern, an ARP Warden's office in World War Two, and a school clinic. You can even grab a drink and bite to eat from the cafe which serves tea, coffee and wrapped cakes on vintage bone china.
The museum is free to enter (donations welcomed) and has a few activities for children too including a Tudor Rat trail, dressing up, and games.
For opening times and more information, please see their website.
Learn about Worcester’s Civil War history and the momentous build-up to the Battle of Worcester, at The Commandery Museum.
The museum is an interactive experience that will take you back over 350 years. You will learn about conflicted 17th century Worcester, come face-to-face with Oliver Cromwell (quite literally), step into the dramatic debate between Royalist and Parliamentarian beliefs, and experience life as a solder.
There are plenty of activities for children to get involved in such as creating a stained glass window, dressing up, learning how to write in Braille and how to use a typewriter, as well as lots of colouring opportunities.
You could even grab a coffee and a cake from the independently run coffee shop located just outside the Commandery Museum. Their garden is a lovely spot to watch the narrowboats on the Birmingham / Worcester canal.
Entry into The Commandery Museum costs £7.95 per adult, £3.65 per child (aged 5 -16), and under 5s go free. Family Ticket (up to 2 adults & 3 children) £21.00. There is no charge to visit the Commandery Coffee Shop.
For opening times and more information about The Commandery Museum, check out their website.
Just a short walk from The Commandery Museum, you can find The Anchor Pub and Kitchen. Located in the heart of the Diglis Marina, the pub is perfect for a lunch date or Sunday roast followed by a stroll along the river to walk it off.
The stylish pub has a lovely food selection, including fresh seafood cooked every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
To view their full menu, check out their website here.
If you're looking for a full family day out in Worcestershire, you have many popular attractions to choose from - two of those being Severn Valley Railway and West Midland Safari Park.
If you would like a day out like no other, why don't you and your family jump aboard a vintage steam train and head out into the counties of Shropshire and Worcestershire and explore the beautiful countryside? If you purchase a freedom of the line ticket, you can stop at multiple stations and explore!
At Bewdley, you will be able to spot the purple locomotive in commemoration of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The station is also a short walk away from the town centre, with plenty of shops, restaurants, pubs and walks.
At Highley, you can visit the Engine House Visitor Centre (free entry with SVR tickets) and get up close with different locomotives, discover the hidden history of Britain’s railways, check out the different exhibits, grab a bite to eat, and your little ones can play on the outdoor playground.
Bridgnorth Station has a refreshment room, a traditional pub, and a shop, and is connected to Bridgnorth by a steel footbridge. You could take a ride on the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, discover Bridgnorth’s shops and restaurants, or take a walk alongside the river.
At Arley, you can walk into the beautiful countryside, where the Netflix film, Enola Holmes, was filmed, among others! The station is also a 10-minute walk from Arley Arboretum and Gardens (if you travel by SVR, you can get discounted admission when booking online).
An adult freedom of the line ticket costs £25, a child freedom of the line ticket costs £16.50 (4-17 years), and children aged 3 and under go free. SVR also have family tickets available. For more admission info, click here.
If you would like to see a video of our day out, check out my Instagram reel!
If you're looking for a fun-filled day out in Worcestershire, West Midland Safari Park is a great attraction. In the four-mile Safari drive-through, you will encounter incredible animals, including giraffes, zebra, and rhinos.
In the main park, you can enjoy the African Village, walk through the lemur woods, the goat walk-through, and see the meerkats and ostrich. In the Discovery Trail, you can visit a variety of species such as penguins, sea lions, reptiles, lorikeets, bats, creepy crawlies, and fish.
If your children are huge dinosaurs fans, they will enjoy the Land of the Living Dinosaurs and Ice Age walkthrough. In the Land of the Living Dinosaurs, you will encounter some of the most recognisable dinosaurs, including a velociraptor, triceratops, spinosaurus, and the infamous T-rex. Your children can become palaeontologists as they search for fossils in the under-cover Dino Dig.
In the Ice Age walkthrough, you can see some of the earliest herbivores and the ferocious sabre-tooth cat and woolly mammoth.
WMSP also has an Adventure Theme Park, with rides including a Rhino Rollercoaster, Zambezi Water Splash, Wild River Rafting, Venom Tower Drop, and more! Wristbands can be purchased online or on the day. For more information on the Adventure Theme Park, click here.
There are plenty of eateries and food kiosks dotted around the park, whether you prefer a restaurant-style family meal or to eat on the go. Burger Co is an African-themed restaurant located in the Adventure Theme Park. But there are many other options too!
One of our favourite areas of the safari park is Boj's Giggly Park. The play area has five interactive zones to play in: Mia’s Ladybird Spot; Boj's Burrow; Denzil's Music Mayhem; Rupa's Superfit Challenge; and Gavin's Giggly Playground. There are also toilets, including baby changing within the play area, as well as picnic benches under shade.
There really is so much to do at West Midlands Safari Park. It is definitely a fun-filled family outing where you can spend the entire day.
Admission prices are £25 per adult, £20 per child (3-15yrs), and under 3s free. You also get a free return ticket when booking online.
⭐️ Tip: The safari is usually busy in the mornings, so we’d definitely recommend doing it last.
Easily accessible by train or car from Birmingham, the county of Worcestershire has so much to offer, whether you're looking for a family-fuelled day out or would like to immerse yourself in Worcester's deep history - whatever you're planning during the Commonwealth Games, make Worcestershire part of your story.
If you would like to see more ideas of things to do, places to eat, or places to stay in Worcestershire, check out the Visit Worcestershire website.
Disclaimer: The experiences in this blog were gifted, but all views are my own.
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