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 Framers: Exhibitions by local up-and-coming professional artists, one-day art and craft courses for adults and children. Contact for opening times (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).

Burford House Gardens, Burford, Tenbury Wells. Rare trees, shrubs, clematis, roses, herbaceous plants. Coffee shop open every day. Opening times May 1-Mar 31 10-5pm. Closed Dec 25, 26, Jan 1. (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. Closed Dec 25, 26, Jan 1. (01905 361821).

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

Croft Castle, near Leominster. Restored 14th Century mansion in 1,400-acre estate. Iron Age fort of Croft Ambrey nearby. Please ring for opening times. Tearoom 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 Spa Heritage Centre, St Richard's House, Victoria Square, Droitwich Spa WR9 8DS. Two thousand-year history of Droitwich from the Iron Age settlement to the present day spa town. Open Mon-Sat, 10-4pm. Closed Sunday and Bank Holidays. (01905 774312).

Eastnor Castle -- Georgian fairytale castle stands at the end of the 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, near Worcester. Cottage where Elgar was born in 1857, now museum. Open: Every day, 11-5pm. Closed December 23 for four weeks - re-opens February 1, 2004 (01905 333224).

Green Badge Guide Walks. Walking weekdays 11am, and Wednesday afternoons 2.30pm, from the Guildhall. After Easter to the end of September. Parties/groups and other times by arrangement. Cost, adults £3, children under 12 free with accompanying parent. (01905 726311 or 07890222117).

Greyfriars, Friar Street, Worcester. National Trust House. Late 15th Century timber-framed town house with walled garden. Open Apr-Oct 31 Wed, Thurs, Fri 2-5pm. Sat and Bank Holiday Monday 1-5pm. Also open for Christmas Fayre evenings. Ring for 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 Garden: Mar 24-Oct 30 Sun-Wed 12.00-5.30pm. Sat 11-4pm. Closed July 12 and August 9 and 30th. House: Mar-Oct Sun-Wed 1-5pm. Sat 11.30-3.30pm (01527 821214).

Harvington Hall, near 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 Sun11.30-5pm. Organised parties/meetings, contact (01562 777846).

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

Hereford Museum and Art Gallery, 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).

Huntingdon Arts and Swan Theatre. Chris Jaeger, CrownGate/Moor Street, Worcester. Tel (01905 611427).

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, near 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. 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. Open daily, 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 746000).

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. Open Bank Holidays except Christmas, New Year's Day. (01905 722349).

Old Grammar School, Ledbury, Heritage centre in Church Lane. Please contact for opening times. (01531 636147).

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. Contact for opening times. (01789 762090).

Ravenshill Woodland Reserve, Alfrick, near 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. Closed Dec 25, 26. Guided tours of museum and manufactory available seven days a week. Also family restaurant. (01905 746000).

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 2. Steam locomotive footplate duties (learn to drive a train) (01299 403816).

Spetchley Gardens (Charitable Trust), Spetchley, near 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. (01905 345213).

Tewkesbury Abbey, Church Street, Tewkesbury. Dates from Norman period. Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Open all year. Sun 7.30-7.30pm. Apr-Sep Mon-Sat 7.30-6pm. Oct-Mar Mon-Sat 10.30-4.30pm. 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).

Warwick Castle, Warwick: Set in 60 acres of grounds. State rooms, armoury, dungeons, torture chambers. Open all year daily April-Sept 10am -6pm. Oct-March 10 am -5pm. Closed Dec 24-26. Tel (0870 4422000).

Webbs of Wychbold Garden Centre, Wychbold, Droitwich: 50 acres of gardening, leisure and pleasure, inspirational gardens, gift shop. Open April 1 - Sept 30 Mon-Fri 9am-8pm. Sat, Bank Holidays 9am -6pm. Sun 10.30-16.30pm. Oct 1- March 31 Mon-Sat Bank Holiday 9am -6pm, Sun, New Year's Day 10.30-4.30pm. Closed March 31, Dec 25, 26. Tel (01527 860000).

West Midland Safari and Leisure Park, Bewdley. Drive around wild animal safari. Pets' corner, live sows. Amusement area featuring Zambezi Water Splash ride. Open Mar 16-Nov 3 daily 10am-5pm. Last admission 4pm. (01299 402114).

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

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

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 Garden Centre, Droitwich Road, Worcester: Open all year Mon-Sat 9-6pm. Thurs 9-9pm. Sun 10.30-4.30pm

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 Mon-Sat 10am -5pm. Sun 7am-5pm. Closed Dec 25, 26, 31. Jan 1. (01905 766493).

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

Worcestershire County Museum, Hartlebury Castle, nr Kidderminster is housed in North Wing of Hartlebury Castle. Home of the Bishops of Worcester for over 1,000 years. Open Feb-Nov 30 Mon-Thurs 10am-5pm. Fri and Sunday 2-5pm. Bank Holiday 11-5pm. Closed Good Friday and every Saturday. State room open, Tue, Wed, Thurs 10-5pm. (01299 250416).