Gloucestershire &amp; Worcestershire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>An ancient cathedral city that&#8217;s buzzing with fun stuff to do all year round and an array of independent shops, boutiques and cafes. Worcester has micro &#8216;areas&#8217; within it such as Tolly, the Brickies, The ‘Don, Barbourne and St Johns, all with their own special character. The place is steeped in history – the pretty half timber-framed buildings are a legacy of its past – but they sir cheek by cheek with ultra-modern facilities such as <a aria-label="The Hive (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.thehiveworcester.org/about-the-hive.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hive</a>, a state of the art £30m library and arts centre. &#8216;The Woo&#8217; as locals call Worcester also loves a darn good festival. You won&#8217;t be bored here with a ton of them to dip in to, from Worcestershire LitFest to the Worcester Foodie Festival.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/10/457876790_1133508188193389_5768106193790988086_n.jpg" alt="The Olive Branch small plactes tapas Worcester" class="wp-image-65269" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/10/457876790_1133508188193389_5768106193790988086_n.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/10/457876790_1133508188193389_5768106193790988086_n-600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/10/457876790_1133508188193389_5768106193790988086_n-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/10/457876790_1133508188193389_5768106193790988086_n-300x400.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Olive Branch</figcaption></figure>



<p>Pull up a chair at popular <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ostlersatnumber1/">Ostlers No.1</a> or the <a href="https://lambandflagworcester.co.uk/">Lamb &amp; Flag</a> for great pub food and <a href="https://www.opentable.co.uk/r/sugo-at-the-lamb-and-flag-worcester">Il Sugo </a>right near the cathedral for Italian dishes with a modern twist. Families will love <a href="https://www.facebook.com/auntieemstearoom/">Auntie Em&#8217;s Tea &amp; Toy Emporium</a>, with a great play area nearby. <a href="https://www.hanbao.co.uk/">Hanbao</a> is a hip hangout for amazing east meets west food, and <a href="https://olivebranchworcester.co.uk/">The Olive Branch</a> is a great restaurant and bar with delicious Mediterranean grazing platters. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1440" height="1800" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/10/308168360_486081953528970_3168446794924930389_n.jpg" alt="Petal &amp; Pad gift Shop Worcester jewellery" class="wp-image-65270" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/10/308168360_486081953528970_3168446794924930389_n.jpg 1440w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/10/308168360_486081953528970_3168446794924930389_n-640x800.jpg 640w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/10/308168360_486081953528970_3168446794924930389_n-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/10/308168360_486081953528970_3168446794924930389_n-320x400.jpg 320w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/10/308168360_486081953528970_3168446794924930389_n-1229x1536.jpg 1229w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Petal &amp; Pad</figcaption></figure>



<p>From the lovely indy shops in the ancient cobbled streets close to the centre, Friar Street, to the melting pot of national chains in Cathedral Square, shopping addicts are sorted. <a aria-label="Petal and Pad (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.petalandpad.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Petal &amp; Pad</a> is a gorgeous go-to for lifestyle and homewares, the boutique even features a Flower Bar for picking your own blooms. <a aria-label="Cornucopia (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cornucopia-worcester.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornucopia</a> is a one-stop shop for handmade gifts and <a aria-label="Stripes (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stripesfashion.co.uk/pages/about-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stripes</a> is family-run, elegant fashion boutique replicating the beautiful clothing stores of Paris and Copenhagen. Also, head to Friar Street right now for the first pop-up shop of <a href="https://hopeandstory.com/">Hope + Story</a>, a Worcs-based emporium packed with British brands.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>It&#8217;s easy to stay fit and healthy in The Woo &#8211; there is a wide array of gyms and fitness classes on offer here. And the same goes for hair and beauty. Try <a href="https://www.journeyworcester.com/">Journey</a> or <a href="https://wicked-hair.com/">Wicked</a> for your tresses, <a href="https://trioworcester.co.uk/">Trio</a> for your pampering, and <a href="https://www.soaesthetics.co.uk/">SO Aesthetics</a> for your tweaking (Worcester&#8217;s only CQC registered clinic).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s a brilliant community buzz around Worcester, it&#8217;s a city after all, and with it comes a diverse choice of events that bring people together all year round – from <a href="https://www.visitworcester.co.uk/events-in-worcester/worcester-city-run-2/?occurrence=2024-09-14">Worcester City Run</a> and the annual festive dress-up <a href="https://www.visitworcester.co.uk/events-in-worcester/santa-dash/">Santa Dash</a> at Christmas along the River Severn to <a href="https://www.visitworcester.co.uk/events-in-worcester/the-melting-pot-free-community-event/?occurrence=2024-09-19">Melting Pot</a> – a big community arts festival now in its 10th year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<p>The sports-mad will love it here with cricket at New Road, Horse Racing at Pitchcroft and Rugby at Sixways, home to the Worcester Warriors. Visit the historic National Trust <a aria-label="Greyfriars' House (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greyfriars-house-and-garden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greyfriars&#8217; House</a> in the centre of the city and 20 mins away is the stunning 18th century <a aria-label="Croome Court (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croome" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Croome Court</a> with its acres of parkland.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1050" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/09/1-22.jpg" alt="woman in play Swan Theatre Worcester" class="wp-image-64215" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/09/1-22.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/09/1-22-800x560.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/09/1-22-1000x700.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/09/1-22-400x280.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Swan Theatre Worcester Facebook / Wolf Witch Giant Fairy</figcaption></figure>



<p>The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WorcesterTheatres">Swan Theatre and Huntingdon Hall</a> part of Worcester Theatres pulls in crowds with a year-round calendar of theatre, cabaret and live music. The <a href="https://www.worcesterfestival.co.uk/">Worcester Festival</a>  is hugely popular every August too. <a href="https://www.worcestermusicfestival.co.uk/">The Worcester Music Festival </a>always has a lively line-up of brilliant emerging and established talent, this year it was held from 13 &#8211; 15 September and featured 250 bands across 20 venues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>Overall average house prices are around £289,752, with semis selling for £274,239, detached £421,242, and terraced £243,143.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/11/1-2-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-65838" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/11/1-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/11/1-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/11/1-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/11/1-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/11/1-2-1000x667.jpg" alt="">This charming, Grade II Listed converted former coach house in a rural village near Worcester <a href="https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/residential/for-sale/pensax-stockton-worcester-worcestershire-wr6/wrc012375166">is on the market</a> with Knight Frank for £725,000.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>The excellent <a href="https://www.ksw.org.uk/">King&#8217;s School</a> and popular <a aria-label="Royal Grammar (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.rgsw.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Grammar School</a> have spaces from age 3 yrs upwards. <a href="https://www.whittingtonpreschool.co.uk/">Whittington Pre-School </a>has a beautiful rural setting just outside the centre of the city and <a href="https://www.northworcesterprimary.co.uk/admissions-policy-funding-fees/">North Worcester Primary Academy</a> has convenient ties to its sister primary school for continuity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>Worcester has an enviable number of stand-out schools. Among them is <a href="https://www.ksw.org.uk/">King&#8217;s School</a> and the popular <a aria-label="Royal Grammar (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.rgsw.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Grammar School</a> &#8211; both of which have pre-prep and prep schools allowing children to stay at the same school from ages 3 – 18 yrs. For state options <a href="https://www.worcs.tgacademy.org.uk/">Tudor Grange Academy</a> is a Good rated secondary, as is <a href="https://www.nunnerywood.worcs.sch.uk/">Nunnery Wood High School</a>, located in the heart of the city.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>You don&#8217;t have to love cricket to live here but it helps. It&#8217;s a wicket-lover&#8217;s nirvana here being home to one of the most famous grounds in the country, Worcestershire County Cricket Club. And, Worcester Sauce is still made here too, walk down Midland Road and inhale! You can smell the aroma coming from the factory that makes it here.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Ideally placed being a short hop from Junctions 6 and 7 of the M5, plus there are two stations in the centre of the city, Shrub Hill and Foregate Street and a new station, Parkway, which whisk you into London in 1 hr 58 mins.</p>



<p><em>View the full <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 300 Places to Live</a>.</em></p>


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