PLACES TO VISIT

Almonry Heritage Centre

Abbey Gate, Evesham. Local history. Contact for opening times (01386 446944).

Avoncroft Museum of Historic 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 and 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. Ring for opening times. (01584 810777).

Cider Museum and King Offa Distillery

Hereford (off A438 to Brecon). Explore the fascinating heritage of cider making. Please ring for details (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. Ring for opening times. (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. Two thousand-year history of Droitwich from the Iron Age settlement to the present day spa town. Ring for opening times. (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 Museum Crown East Lane, Lower Broadheath, near Worcester. Cottage where Elgar was born in 1857, now museum. Ring for opening times. (01905 333224).

Green Badge Guide Walks

Ring for opening times. 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. Ring 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. Ring for opening times. (01527 821214).

Harvington Hall

near Kidderminster. Moated mediaeval and Elizabethan manor house famous for its priest holes and unique wall paintings. Ring for opening times. (01562 777846).

Hellens, Much Marcle

600-year-old mansion. Pictures, tapestries, armour, carriages and pleasant gardens. Ring for opening times. 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. (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 (Festival Theatre, Forum and Cinema). (01684 892277). For current programme see also Evening News, Worcester/alvern Gazette.

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. Please ring for opening times. (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. Guided tours. Also family restaurant. Ring for opening times. (01905 746000).

Severn Valley Railway Station Bewdley. 16 miles of nostalgic steam travel along Severn Valley to Bridgnorth. Steam trains daily. Station open all year. Please ring for all opening times. Steam locomotive footplate duties (learn to drive a train) (01299 403816).

Spetchley Gardens, Spetchley, near Worcester.

Thirty-acre garden with rare trees, shrubs and plants, red and fallow deer. Please ring for opening times. (01905 345213).

Tewkesbury Abbey

Church Street, Tewkesbury. Dates from Norman period. Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Please ring for opening times. 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 Please ring for opening times. Tel (0870 4422000).

Wychbold, Droitwich

50 acres of gardening, leisure and pleasure, inspirational gardens, gift shop. Please ring for all opening times. Tel (01527 860000).

West Midland Safari and Leisure Park, Bewdley

Drive around wild animal safari. Pets' corner, live sows. Amusement area. Please ring for opening times. (01299 402114).

Witley Court and the famous St Michael's Baroque Church by James Gibbs, Gt Witlcy, Stourport-on-Severn.

Great Witley, near Worcester. The court is a ruined Italianate mansion and grounds. Contact for opening times. Refreshments and toilets available (01299 896636).