Kidderminster
Kidderminster, the biggest town in north Worcestershire, is perhaps most famous for the manufacturing of woven carpets. This town is host to a variety of cafes, restaurants, shops and inns, and also features a huge retail park and several shopping centres. Kidderminster is connected to London, Worcester and Birmingham via a direct railway line that makes access to these places very easy, even during rush hour. Various cultural activities take place in this town every year and the Summer Arts Festival is a notable event that attracts tourists in huge numbers.
Let’s take a brief look at some of the major tourist attractions in Kidderminster:
Railway Museum
Home to a variety of rail artefacts, the Railway Museum has everything you would expect, from timetables and photos, to nibs and timepieces and a huge collection of rolling stock. Items in these collections date back to the time when steam was used as a propulsion for travelling. A volunteer association from the Severn Valley Railway founded this museum in 1990 and significant improvements have been carried out regularly in its structure since then to ensure that it’s always working and safe for visitors. Even today, it looks newly built! The displays have changed a lot since the museum was founded, so you can visit the museum regularly and always see something new. The collection of signal equipment this museum houses is one of the largest in the UK.
Severn Valley Railway
The beauty of the River Severn is best experienced on one of the steam-driven trains on the Severn Valley Railway. Visitors can enjoy an exhilarating 16 mile journey across the scenic Severn Valley. Trips can be booked on most days, but they are especially popular on weekends and school holidays. The Visitor Centre at Highley, and the Engine House, which has a collection of steam engines reserved by the Severn Valley Railway, should both be visited for the full experience. A novelty shop is also available, and is the perfect place to purchase reminders of your trip! Harvington Hall
Harvington Hall
A medieval mansion from the Elizabethan period, the moated Harvington Hall lies to the southeast of Kidderminster. The rooms in this manor contain some original murals from the Elizabethan period, and the Visitor Centre in Malt House recounts the 600-year history of the hall. The building was used during the 18th century to make malt (for beer brewing), a tradition which the Visitor Center still honours to this day. Along the stairs and in the Mermaid Passage lie the celebrated arabesque paintings, which, along with the Nine Worthies figures in this hall, are a feast for the eye.
A moat envelops Harvington Hall, and the beautiful gardens make the perfect place for a stroll with a loved one. At the southeast of Harvingtoan Hall is a herb garden, and a tea room adjacent to the moat serves small meals and afternoon cups of tea. The store has various books and nice gift items. Kidderminster may not be the first place you think of when you consider visiting the UK, but it has some amazing attractions that will impress the whole family.
