Worcester Museums and Art Galleries

(Worcester, Worcestershire, England, UK)



Photograph of Elgar Statue in the city centreThe museums of Worcester celebrate the city's rich pottery heritage and famous past residents. Located on Foregate Street, the welcoming Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum resides within a characterful Victorian building. A stroll to the south will lead you to the Worcester Porcelain Museum on Severn Street, where visitors are transported back to the Georgian period and shown the various processes involved in the production of this quality porcelain.

Located on the north-westerly outskirts of Worcester, in the neighbouring village of Lower Broadheath, the Elgar Birthplace Museum comes with an audio tour, allowing you to learn how a young Elgar developed a love of music and soon began to win awards for his compositions and music scores.


Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum

Address: Foregate Street, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR1 1DT, England, UK
Tel: +44 01905 25371
Visitors to the Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum will enjoy the extensive programme of changing exhibitions and activities. Others will simply like spending time browsing through the local handicrafts in the gift shop, or having a coffee at the popular Balcony Cafe. There are also lots of fun hands-on activities designed for youngsters, and an interesting series of displays relating to Worcestershire's Regiment and Yeomanry cavalries.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:30 to 16:30
Admission: free

Elgar Birthplace Museum

Address: Crown East Lane, Lower Broadheath, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR2 6RH, England, UK
Tel: +44 01905 333224
Packed with information relating to the world-famous classical composer Sir Edward William Elgar (1857 to 1934), who was actually born in this very cottage, the Elgar Birthplace Museum is a unique and fascinating attraction. Onsite, the Carice Elgar Room now serves as a cafe and function room, while the gift shop sells everything that you could possible imagine relating to Elgar himself, such as CDs, sheet music and books, as well as more traditional souvenirs and greetings cards.
Open hours: January and February, December, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 17:00; March to November, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:30, Sunday - 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Worcester Porcelain Museum

Address: Severn Street, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR1 2NE, England, UK
Tel: +44 01905 746073
This wondrous collection of translucent ceramics dates back to the middle of the 18th century, when the city began manufacturing its exquisite Worcester porcelain. The museum leads its visitors back through history, to show how the huge team of factory workers once created these iconic pieces of porcelain, with the designs often being inspired by those from the Far East. There are also period rooms, illustrating how Worcester porcelain would once have been used and displayed, together with a Victorian gallery, where the very best of this craftsmanship is showcased. As the exhibition progresses, you will note the change during the 20th century, when the arrival of freezers and even microwaves meant that a new generation of more robust, heavy duty porcelain was born.
Open hours: January and February, December, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 17:00; March to November, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:30, Sunday - 11:00 to 17:30
Admission: charge, free audio tours upon entry

Royal Worcester Visitor Centre

Address: Severn Street, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR1 2NE, England, UK
Tel: +44 01905 746000
Standing along Severn Street and close to the riverside, the Royal Worcester Visitor Centre is just a couple of minutes south of the cathedral. Guided tours allow visitors to journey through time and right up to the present day, watching talented potters at work, using modern-day production techniques to create their masterpieces. Those feeling creative can even have a go at painting some pottery at the Paint a Plate Studio. Others come here to visit the factory outlet and purchase heavily discounted bone china, porcelain and related souvenirs.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 17:30, Sunday - 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, two children go free with two paying adults

Tudor House Heritage Centre

Address: Friar Street, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR1 2NA, England, UK
Tel: +44 01905 426402
This particular house is believed to be more than 500 years old and its uneven, buckling black and white architecture certainly depicts age. During its life, the house has served as a work place for local weavers and tailors, and at one stage also functioned as a bakery, brewery, public house, restaurant and post for air raid warders during the Second World War. Today, the Tudor House Heritage Centre is very much dedicated to the city's rich industrial heritage and as you follow the timeline and watch the video presentations, you will gain an insight into its past days of weaving and spinning. During your tour, look out for the beautiful antique furnishings and ornate ceilings, which come complete with Tudor plasterwork. There are also displays about the city's renowned Lea and Perrins sauce and how it is now sold all over the world.
Open hours: Wednesday and Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: free


Other notable museums in the area include the following selection:

Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings
Address: Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 4JR, England, UK
Tel: +44 01527 831363

Bewdley Museum
Address: Load Street, Bewdley, Worcestershire, DY12 2AE, England, UK
Tel: +44 01299 403573

The Fold
Address: New House Farm, Bransford, Near Worcester, Worcestershire, WR6 5JB, England, UK
Tel: +44 01886 833633

George Marshall Medical Museum
Address: Charles Hastings Education Centre, Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 1DD, England, UK
Tel: +44 01905 760738

Malvern Museum
Address: Priory Gate House, Abbey Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3ES, England, UK
Tel: +44 01684 567811

Tenbury Museum
Address: Goff's School, Cross Street, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, WR15 8EF, England, UK
Tel: +44 01584 810034

Jinny Ring Craft Centre
Address: Hanbury Road, Hanbury, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 4BU, England, UK
Tel: +44 01527 821272

Upton upon Severn Heritage Centre
Address: Church Street, Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, WR8 0HX, England, UK
Tel: +44 01684 592679

Droitwich Spa Heritage and Information Centre
Address: St. Richard's House, Victoria Square, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, WR9 8DS, England, UK
Tel: +44 01905 774312

Worcestershire County Museum
Address: Hartlebury Castle, Hartlebury, Near Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY11 7XZ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01299 250416