Holidaying in... Malvern?!

[Fredflinstoneswife1]

We are coming from NI to stay in Malvern, Worcestershire, for a week in June.
We have 3 boys (6, 4 and 9 months).
We love visiting pretty towns with antique shops, nicely curated independent shops, national trust properties, good farm shops, etc, as well as nice scenery/forests.
I would like to visit Ledbury, but I am wondering are there any hidden gems?
If you are a local, what would you say are must sees? Happy to drive an hr or so.
Any theme parks or water parks for the boys, or good attractions for them?

Excited! :)

Tewkesbury is nice for a potter about. You can hire a boat and do a trip on the river. The Abbey and grounds are nice.
There's also Croft water park just outside Tewkesbury that does outdoor water activities.

Walking the Malvern Hills is lovely of course.

Have a look to see if there are any shows on at the 3 Counties showground

Worcester and Cheltenham are nice cities

Might be just over an hour but have a look at the Severn valley railway and West midland safari park

Thank you for the replies. I have just realised that I wrote we are going in June, I meant to write August.

I'm wondering - if we spend some time in Malvern itself, and a trip to Ledbury, which I understand isn't very big, which other town: Worcester, Tewkesbury or Cheltenham would be best to visit if I only pick one?

Thank you!!

What about Hereford ? The Cathedral there has the Mappa Mundi.
I like Tewkesbury but it's smaller than Worcs or Cheltenham. The Croft Water Park is very close to Tewkesbury though.
Cheltenham is a lovely Regency town but isn't really fitting your desire for independent shops/National Trust/scenery.
Eastnor Castle near Ledbury is nice for walks etc.

Evesham is a nice day out too. You can take a dragon pedalo for a spin on the river and there's a good water play/splash pad in the park on the river bank.

Hereford Cathedral is wonderful as is the Mappa Mundi.

If the DC like Harry Potter then Gloucester Cathedral was a filming location and there's a themed tour you can do if you download the cathedral app.

Eastnor Castle is good but £££.

Cheltenham and Cirencester both have outdoor pools.
If any of you are into Romans, Chedworth Roman Villa is about an hour away.

Ledbury can be done in about 15 minutes - although Eastnor Castle is worth a visit. Not an actual castle - a 200 year old fake - but it does have a maze.

Witley Court (English Heritage) is maybe a half hour drive from Malvern. It's a derelict mansion with beautiful grounds, a tea room, Church, gardens and incredible views. I love it - it's a bit of wild grandeur and you can still see what remains of the ballroom and some of the other buildings.

Ralph Court Gardens is incredible fun for little ones - again maybe half hour drive from Malvern. It's a private house that has turned its grounds into themed gardens - Japanese, Greek classical, Alice in Wonderland and there's a big dinosaur garden that's better than you think it might be and little boys love it. It's quite kitsch - like a mini Portmeirion - but really quirky and lovely to explore. Great cafe and alpacas in the next field.

I am a Herefordian so biased but I also think Hereford is a better city to visit as a tourist than Worcester and Cheltenham (though the latter are better for shopping and 'naicer' I suppose). Mappa Mundi, the Cathedral, the library opposite always has kids events in the holidays, Cider museum, the big park next to the river plus lots of cute cafes and winding back streets.

Worcester and Cheltenham do have some good parks though - Country Park in Worcester. Plus you can take a boat trip in Worcester along the Severn. If you are going to Severn Valley Railway or West Midlands Safari Park, Stourport on Severn is also a strange and quirky town with a year round funfair.

Edited to add that Malvern has Malvern Splash, a good swimming pool especially for little ones near the train station.

I’m so glad you clarified as I was looking at the date thinking this year or next year?!

I’d have a look at Coltsworld water park.

Cirencester is best for independent shops, nice places to eat and the outdoor pool. It takes far longer to mooch round than places like Ledbury, lots of little back streets etc. There is a Roman museum there and a park near the big church on the high street.

Of the three, if you can engage your DC in the cathedral then Worcester.

Droitwich lido of the weather is good, Habberley Trail for the kids is good too

Good God, I've been visiting Hereford for 30 years and it's an absolute shit hole.
The only good thing about it is beefy boys The rest of it is all tattoo shops and vape shops

I would recommend Cotswold Wildlife Park over West Midlands Safari park. It is significantly cheaper too.

The Lido and new splash pad in Droitwich. Evesham also has a really good play area and splash pad.
Croome National Trust is to the east of Worcester.
Malvern Splash, indoor pool.
All things wild
If your kids are into trains, at Evesham Valley there is a small train you can ride, not too expensive.
Avoncroft, near Bromsgrove (although you'd kids might be a bit little to appreciate).
Worcester museum has a Thunderbirds exhibition on at the moment, which is really cool and even though your kids probably wouldn't know Thunderbirds and friends, the puppets and memorabilia is still really interesting for them to look at.

Really? When did they demolish the cathedral and All Saints?

Ross on Wye has some lovely independents and lots of antique shops, they have a vintage trail through the town. Very pretty buildings and the riverside is lovely too.

Drotwich also has a lido which is literally 25 minutes drive from Malvern

If you do go to Drotwich - just outside is a great breakfast spot Flyford Flavell called toast, with an old American yellow bus outside - they do other meals but ive only ever been for breakfast

Evesham has a splash pad water feature at the out of town shopping centre on the A46 - thats the evesham valley as pp states the small railway is there to
Cotswolds are also very close and Bourton on the Water has streams, which people paddle and a miniature village - though is very busy

Hereford is a lovely city. I love walking down Church Street (lots of Independent shops) and seeing the Cathedral.

I'd pick Cirencester

walking round the town is very lovely, independent shops etc. Along with the museum and then the lido to finish

Mrs Keiths for a coffee and the craft market every Saturday in the CornHall in the middle of town

Malvern splash swimming pool and a lovely park behind it for kids to play/take a picnic

Habberly trail is dub but would be a slog with a pushchair

cotswold wildlife park is lovely

birdland in the Cotswold is good and can walk into bourbon on the water - kids can have a paddle there

Evesham has a good park with sand and water play down by the river or a small splash pad and shops/crazy golf at the valley

Ludlow.

Under an hour's drive. Proper castle. Walks along the River Teme, with amazing geological stuff for the kids. Beautiful old town. Markets. St Laurence's Church with a tower they let you climb. Fab views. Ludlow Farm Shop on the ring road should suit.

Brilliant Stokesay Castle not too far north.

Tewkesbury is lovely - although small, there's plenty to fill a few hours. The Abbey is beautiful, there may be river trips depending on the day you visit, the Battle Trail walk is good, as is the walk round the Ham, there's a nice antique shop to browse, some good little independent shops, and there are several independent coffee shops which are very nice, and have a lot of history. There are a couple of small museums and the Black Bear pub is worth a visit, and has a good riverside garden. There's a play park at the back of the Abbey for the kids.