Make 2024 the year you take a break to The Malverns. Whether you’re a life-long foodie, arts lover, history buff, walking enthusiast or just want to indulge in some unique retail therapy The Malverns has it all. Take in the foodie delights of the district with tempting local produce and foodie experiences or take advantage of one of our entertainments hubs at Malvern Theatres, The Coach House Theatre or The Regal in Tenbury Wells for a theatre break. Heritage lovers will be spoilt for choice as our three historic town centres, Malvern, Upton upon Severn and Tenbury Wells, are stuffed full of iconic buildings and interesting pasts. For walking breaks The Malverns is second to none, having been nationally recognised countless times for their popularity with walkers of all abilities, the Malvern Hills provide spectacular views and countless popular walking routes.
With thanks to Jan Sedlacek from Digitlight Photography for the cover image.
Foodie Breaks
With it’s artisan producers, dedicated farmers, talented chefs and welcoming restaurateurs The Malverns makes the perfect location to immerse yourself in everything food! You can indulge in the finest cuisine, go straight to the source of home grown produce, mooch round artisan farmers markets and even learn to bake your own bread. When it comes to accommodation some of our best hotels also boast fine dining restaurants, with The Cottage in the Wood being awarded 3 AA Rosettes in 2023. Read all about our award winning restaurants here: AA Rosette Restaurants Across The Malverns – Visit The Malverns
On your visit; sample, experience and get involved in everything food related that our district has to offer. Visit local producers such as Astley Vineyard, one of England’s oldest vineyards, or learn to cook vegan with Our Lizzy Cookery School. Taste produce straight from the source with PYO at Clive’s Fruit Farm or indulge in chocolate at Mr Thoms.
From mooching round local farmers markets to fully fledged food festivals there is ample opportunity to stuff your days with delicious activities in The Malverns. Great Malvern Farmers Market takes place monthly and the Great Malvern Food Festival is a highlight of the summer calendar.
The hub for foodie shops in The Malverns is Tenbury Wells. With its history as a market town it still boasts local markets, fishmongers, local delicatessen’s and farm shops. Read about all the foodie shops you can discover on our blog: Discover Foodie Shops in Tenbury Wells – Visit The Malverns
Foodie ExperiencesArts Breaks
The Malverns has long been known as a place for artist and creatives to visit and be inspired. Dame Laura Knight, C. S. Lewis, Sir Edward Elgar and J.R.R Tolkien are just some of the artists that have visited our inspiring district. You can be surrounded by the environment that inspired famous composer Edward Elgar at his birthplace; The Firs National Trust or take the Gas Lamp Trail to see the lamps that may have inspired C. S. Lewis in creating the land of Narnia.
Where better to stay than hotel’s frequented by celebrated artist Dame Laura Knight on her visits to Malvern? Dame Laura stayed Georgian boutique hotel The Mount Pleasant in Great Malvern as well as the Colwall Park Hotel, located just on the other side of the Malvern Hills.
There are plenty of places to hone your artistic craft too, The Fold community runs plenty of workshops from sewing to wild clay making and Elmslie House packs their calendar with craft fairs, creative workshops and music.
Artistic BreaksWalking Breaks
We are lucky to be home to The Malvern Hills area of outstanding natural beauty. These hills are loved by walkers far and wide and constitute some of the most beautiful countryside in Britain. From their lofty peaks you can spend hours gazing down at Malvern Town and the Severn Valley, or across Herefordshire to the Black Mountains in Wales. Walking routes around the Malverns are accessible to those of all abilities, even with the option to hire a Mobility Tramper or drive your own along the specially maintained paths.
For gentler plains head to the verdant Teme Valley. The countryside that surrounds the town of Tenbury Wells is home to rolling green hills, and blossoming orchards. Walk or cycle the Teme Valley Trail, a collection of specially designed walking and cycling routes around the Teme Valley, to get the most out of this lovely area.
If you are a sociable walker don’t miss the Malvern Walking Festival. Taking place in midsummer, from 25 May to 2 June in 2024, the popular festival offers over 70 guided walks across it’s 9 days. The walks are often themed with the 2024 edition including topics such as wartime Malvern, Malvern’s water, quarrying, geology, local history, beer and pubs.
Walking RoutesTheatre Breaks
There’s something special about going away to see a show. The Malverns is home to three brilliant entertainment hubs, The Regal in Tenbury Wells and Malvern Theatres and The Coach House Theatre in Great Malvern.
Malvern Theatres has been providing world class entertainment since the 1800’s and regularly hosts the latest shows from London’s West End. Recently refurbished it offers all the latest films, theatre tours, and classes as well as a packed schedule of top quality music and drama. Located right in the heart of Great Malvern it is well placed for fantastic bars and restaurants as well as some top hotels. Just down the road The Coach House Theatre hosts festivals, small productions and family friendly entertainment in its 110 seater theatre and has been a location for arts and theatre since the 1990’s. The theatre also includes a gallery space where intimate art exhibitions are held.
In Tenbury Wells town centre spend an evening at the restored art deco theatre and cinema The Regal. Open since 1937 there’s a diverse programme of theatre and cinema from Hollywood releases to music and comedy. Make an evening of your visit and head to one of Tenbury Wells fantastic restaurants. Bahar Indian Cuisine is highly rated by visitors and locals alike and The Market Tavern is the perfect place for a pre or post show gathering – specialising in real ale and delicious scotch eggs.
Theatre breaksHeritage Breaks
The Malverns is perfect for history lovers. With a long history stretching back to the Iron Age, with the Iron Age Hill Fort British Camp, you can hardly move in The Malverns for historic landmarks, country houses and places of significance. Great Malvern is known for its boom in the Victorian Era with tourists flocking to the area to take the “Water Cure” – the idea that bathing in the water that bubbles up in Malverns many springs and spouts had healing properties. Tenbury Wells has a rich history of agriculture and apple growing and Upton upon Severn’s important position as a river crossing gave it a vital role to play in the civil war. Each town centre has its own museum where you can delve into it’s dedicated history.
Further afield you can discover for the world famous Morgan Motor car’s are built on a factory tour, experience how The Malverns affluent residents of the past lived in our historic houses such as Croome National Trust, Witley Court & Gardens and Brockhampton Estate.
Shopping Breaks
Spending a couple of days discovering new independent shops, browsing for a new outfit or grabbing your next read is truly just as relaxing as a spa weekend. Luckily The Malverns offers three town centres filled with interesting shops as well as shopping hubs further afield.
In Malvern there are a range of fantastic independent bookshops such as Malvern Book Co-Operative. This community owned bookshop stocks a fantastic range of titles and even serves coffee, hours can be spent browsing and filling up your to-be-read list. Homeware lovers can deck out their pad from Rhubarb Home, Blackbird or Francis of Malvern in Malvern Link. As mentioned above Tenbury Wells is a foodie shoppers paradise with delis and local produce around every turn. Browse new ingredients at The Smiling Goat and pick up a treat from Mr Thom’s Finest Chocolates, Sweets and Ices.
Shopping for a new outfit? Head to Solo Boutique in Great Malvern, Julie-Ann in Upton upon Severn or Marilyn in Tenbury Wells. Upton upon Severn is the perfect place to find unique items from all kinds of maps at The Map Shop, gorgeous fabrics and sewing accessories from The Upton Stitchery and all kinds of gifts and trinkets from treasure trove Edina.
Visit our shopping page, linked below, to plan your next spending spree:
Shopping Pages
