Places to visit

Avoncroft Museum of Buildings, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove. Restored buildings including working windmill, agricultural buildings, industrial buildings, timber-frame houses, mission church and the National Telephone Kiosk Collection. Contact for opening times (01527 831886/831363).

Bevere Vivis Gallery & Picture Framing, Bevere Lane, Worcester. Exhibitions by local artists, one-day courses and pottery parties for adults and children. Also framing service (01905 754484).

Bewdley Museum and Tourist Information Centre. Load Street, Bewdley. Wyre woodland crafts and industries, daily demonstrations of rope and clay pipe making. Please ring for details of opening times (01299 403573).

Broadway Tower Country Park. Broadway history tower, magnificent views, exhibitions, adventure playground and animals enclosure. Ring for opening times (01386 852390).

Burford House Gardens, Burford, Tenbury Wells. Rare trees, shrubs, clematis, roses, herbaceous plants. Coffee shop open every day. Opening times Mon-Sun Gardens open daily 10-5pm. Garden centre daily 10-6pm (01584 810777).

Cider Museum and King Offa Distillery, Hereford (off A438 to Brecon). Explore the fascinating heritage of cider making. Open April - October, daily, 10-5.30pm. Nov - Dec daily, 11am-3pm. Jan-Mar Tues-Sun 11-3pm (01432 354207).

Commandery, Civil War Centre, Sidbury, Worcester. Charles II's Royalist Headquarters during the Battle of Worcester in 1651. 16th and 17th Century period rooms and Civil War museum. Special events all year. Open Mon-Sat, 10-5pm, Sundays, 1.30-5pm (01905 361821).

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard. For current programme (01885 488575) and see local press.

Croft Castle, nr Leominster. Restored 14th Century mansion in 1,400-acre estate. Iron Age fort of Croft Ambrey nearby. Please ring for opening times. Tea room available (01568 780246).

Dean Forest Railway, Lydney, Glos. Locos, coaches, wagons. Shop and museum open daily Easter to Christmas. Open daily for static display. Steam train rides as advertised. Talking timetable (01594 843423).

Droitwich Heritage Centre, St Richard's House, Victoria Square, Droitwich Spa WR9 8DS. Two thousand-year history of Droitwich from the Iron Age salt town to the present day spa town. Open Mon-Sat, 10-4pm (01905 774312).

Eastnor Castle -- Georgian Fairytale Castle in Malvern Hills. Lavish interiors, surrounded by an arboretum, deer park and lake. For opening times (01531 633160).

Elgar's Birthplace, Crown East Lane, Lower Broadheath, nr Worcester. Cottage where Elgar was born in 1857, now museum. Open: Every day, 11-5pm. Closed December 23 for four weeks - re-opens 1.2.03 (01905 333224).

Green Badge Guide Walks. Walking weekdays 11am from the Guildhall. After Easter to the end of September. Parties/groups and other times by arrangement (01905 726311 or 07890222117).

Greyfriars, Friar Street, Worcester. National Trust House. Late 15th Century timber-framed, tiled house with walled garden. Opening Easter Monday till end of October, Wed, Thurs, Bank Holiday Mondays, 2-5pm. For opening times (01905 23571).

Hagley Hall. Palladian home of the Viscount Cobham, built 1760, in 350-acre parkland setting. For times of opening (01562 882408).

Hanbury Hall, School Road, nr Droitwich. Red-brick, Wren-style house with painted ceilings, porcelain collection and Dutch flower pictures. Orangery and icehouse in 18th Century garden. Open April to end of October, Sun-Wed 2-6pm. (01527 821214).

Hartlebury Castle State Rooms, Hartlebury, nr Kidderminster. 15-18th Century restored castle, the home of Bishop of Worcester (01299 250416).

Harvington Hall, nr Kidderminster. Moated Mediaeval and Elizabethan manor house famous for its priest holes and unique wall paintings. Open March and October, Sat and Sun, 11.30-5pm; April-September, Wed to Sun and Bank Holiday Monday 11.30-5pm. Closed Good Friday. Organised parties/meetings, contact (01562 777846).

Hellens, Much Marcle. 600-year-old mansion. Pictures, tapestries, armour, carriages and pleasant gardens. Open April 21-October 1 on Wed, Sat and Sun afternoons. Tours 2/3/4pm. Group tours by appointment. Contact Nick Stephens (01531 660504).

Hereford Museum, Broad Street, Hereford. Archaeology, social history, natural history, decorative art and fine art. Temporary exhibitions. Please contact for opening times. (01432 260692).

Herefordshire Waterworks Museum. Broomy Hill, off A49 in Hereford. Diesel pumping engines, horse-drawn fire engine, pumps and gauges for visitors to work. For opening times (01432 361147).

Ledbury Craft Centre: 1 High Street, Ledbury, Herefordshire. Gift shop, picture framing, craft books. Please contact for opening times. Coach parties welcome (01531 634566).

Lower Brockhampton, nr Bromyard. Late 14th Century moated manor house with 15th Century gatehouse. Contact for opening times (01885 488099).

Ludlow Castle, Shropshire. Magnificent 11th-16th Century castle. Please contact for opening times. (01584 873355).

Malvern Museum. Abbey Gateway, Malvern, WR14 3ES. Featuring the history and development of Malvern. Please contact for opening times. (01684 567811).

Malvern Priory Church. Church Street, Malvern. Benedictine foundation priory church of early Norman and Perpendicular architecture. Please contact for opening times (01684 561020).

The Malvern Theatres. (Including Festival Theatre, Forum and Cinema). (Box Office 01684 892277, admin 01684 569256). For current programme see also Evening News, Worcester/Malvern Gazette.

The Museum of Worcester Porcelain, Severn Street, Worcester. Open daily, Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm; Sun 11am-5pm (01905 23221).

Museum of Local Life (Tudor House), Friar Street, Worcester. Museum in 500-year-old buildings containing displays of Worcester's history. Open Mon-Wed, Fri and Sat 10.30-5pm; Thurs/Sun closed. Open Bank Holidays except Christmas, New Year's Day and Good Friday. (01905 722349).

Centre, Newent, Glos. Collection of birds of prey, flying demonstrations. Open from Feb 1 until Oct 31 daily from 10.30-5pm. Last admission 4pm (01531 820286).

Old Grammar School, Ledbury, Heritage centre in Church Lane. Please contact for opening times. (01531 635680).

Pershore Abbey, Pershore. Decorated vaulting, intricately-carved bosses, fine Norman architecture. Open daily 9-6pm or dusk (01386 561520)

Ragley Hall, Alcester. 17th Century home of Marquis and Marchioness Hertford. Gardens, park, adventure wood and country trail. House, garden and park. House and garden open. Contact for opening times. (01789 762090).

Ravenshill Woodland Reserve, Alfrick, nr Worcester. Private woodlands, picnic area, waymarked trails. Contact for opening times. (01886 821661).

Royal Worcester Ltd, Severn Street, Worcester. The oldest continuous porcelain factory still in production. Museum -- largest collection of Worcester Porcelain in the world. Museum and a variety of shops open 9-5.30pm Mon to Sat and Sun 11-5pm. Guided tours of museum and manufactory available 7 days a week. Also family restaurant. (01905 23221).

Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster. 16 miles of nostalgic steam travel along Severn Valley to Bridgnorth. Steam trains daily May-Sept. Sat, Sun and BH. Station open all year 10-6pm. Weekends only from Oct. Santa Steam specials each weekend from late Nov up to Christmas, and mince pie specials Boxing Day-Jan 3. Steam locomotive footplate duties (learn to drive a train) (01299 403816).

Spetchley Gardens (Charitable Trust), Spetchley, nr Worcester. Thirty-acre garden with rare trees, shrubs and plants; red and fallow deer. Open April- September Tues-Fri 11-5pm; Sun 2-5pm; Bank Holiday Mondays 11- 5pm; Good Friday 11-5pm; Easter Monday 11-5pm. Closed Easter Saturday. (01905 345213).

Swan Theatre, Worcester. (01905 27322). For current programmes see Evening News.

Tewkesbury Abbey. Dates from Norman period. Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Open Apr-Sept 7.30-6pm; Oct-Mar 7.30-5.30pm; Sundays all year 7.30-7pm. Admission Free. Guided tours of Abbey and tower, for details and bookings contact (01684 850959).

New Visitors centre with refectory and exhibitions. Refectory (01684 273736).

Abbey Shop 9.30-5pm. For information (01684 276655).

West Midland Safari and Leisure Park, Bewdley. Drive around wild animal safari. Pets Corner, live sows. Amusement area featuring Zambezi Water Splash ride. Open April-Oct 10-5pm daily. (01299 402114).

Witley Court and the famous St Michael's 'Baroque' Church by James Gibbs, Great Witley, nr Worcester. The court is a ruined Italianate mansion and grounds, once the home of the Earls of Dudley. Contact for opening times. Admission price includes audio tour. Refreshments and toilets available (01299 896636). Tea Rooms (01299 896761).

Worcester Cathedral. Dates from 11th Century, contains tomb of King John, fine cloisters and crypt. Guided tours by arrangement. contact visit officer (01905 28854). Open daily 8-6pm.

Worcester Cathedral Ferry, Watergate, Worcester Cathedral. Operates mid-April to end August, weather permitting. Sat 12.30- 5.30pm; Sun and Bank Holidays 1.30-5.30pm. Volunteers always required, contact Mark Glossop (01905 333265).

Worcester City Museum and Art Gallery. Foregate Street, Worcester. Includes exciting programme of temporary art exhibitions, River Severn Gallery, 19th Century chemist shop and the museums of the Worcestershire Regiment and Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry. Cafe, shop. Toilets. Access for disabled. (01905 25371).

Worcester Guildhall, High Street. Queen Anne building. Assembly Room. Open all year Mon-Sat 8.30-4.30. Closed Dec 25, 26, Jan 1. Restaurant and facilities (01905 723471).

Worcester Racecourse, Pitchcroft. One hundred acres with tree-lined promenade beside River Severn. For race dates (01905 25364) or see Evening News.

Worcester Woods Country Park, Wildwood Drive. Free access to public to over 100 hectares of woodland and meadows. Exhibits, refreshments, room for hire. Open daily 10-5pm (01905 766493).

Worcestershire County Cricket Club, New Road. For match fixtures (01905 748474) or see Evening News.

Worcestershire County Museum, Hartlebury Castle, nr Kidderminster, reflecting Victorian life. Displays, archaeology, crafts, industries, furniture, costumes, porcelain. Blacksmith's shop, gypsy caravans, cider mill. Open Feb-Nov, Mon-Thurs 10-5pm; Fri and Sun 2-5pm; Bank Holidays 11-5pm. Closed Saturdays. For other open times/school visits and special events (01299 250416).