Attractions and Places To See around Pershore - Top 20
Best attractions and places to see around Pershore include historical landmarks, natural beauty, and cultural sites. This Georgian market town is situated in Worcestershire's Vale of Evesham, with the River Avon flowing through it. The area offers a blend of architectural heritage and accessible outdoor spaces for exploration.
Best attractions and places to see around Pershore
- The most popular attractions is Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill, a man-made monument that stands on a historic hill offering panoramic views. From its summit, visitors can see across Worcestershire to the Malverns and into the Cotswolds.
- Another must-see spot is Pershore Old Bridge, a historical site. Originally built in the 1400s, this structure has undergone various repairs over centuries, serving as a key crossing point.
- Visitors also love St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle, a man-made monument. This church, set in the picturesque village of Elmley Castle, features character and historic interest dating back to the 11th century.
- Pershore is known for its historical landmarks, natural features, and cultural sites. The area provides a variety of attractions to see and explore, from ancient abbeys and Georgian architecture to riverside walks and nature reserves.
- The attractions around Pershore are appreciated by the komoot community, with over 160 upvotes and more than 90 photos shared.
Last updated: May 4, 2026
Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill
Highlight • Monument
The hill was once an Iron Age hillfort, known as Kemerton Camp and it then became an important Roman encampment. In the 18th century, the squire of Kemerton Court erected a small stone tower, Parsons Folly. A number of ancient standing stones also adorn the hill.
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Pershore Old Bridge
Highlight • Historical Site
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St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle
Highlight • Monument
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Croome Court
Highlight • Historical Site
The mansion house is owned by Croome Heritage Trust and leased to the National Trust, which operates it as a tourist attraction. The National Trust owns the surrounding parkland, which is also open to the public.
The foundations and core of Croome Court, including the central chimney stack structure, date back to the early 1640s. Substantial changes to this early house were made by Gilbert Coventry, 4th Earl of Coventry.
George Coventry, the 6th Earl, inherited the estate in 1751, along with the existing Jacobean house. He commissioned Lancelot "Capability" Brown, with the assistance of Sanderson Miller, to redesign the house and estate. It was Brown's "first flight into the realms of architecture" and a "rare example of his architectural work", and it is an important and seminal work. It was built between 1751 and 1752, and it and Hagley Hall are considered to be the finest examples of Neo-Palladian architecture in Worcestershire. Notable Neo-Palladian features incorporated into Croome Court include the plain exterior and the corner towers with pyramidal roofs (a feature first used by Inigo Jones in the design of Wilton House in Wiltshire). Robert Adam worked on the interior of the building from 1760 onwards. The house was visited by George III, as well as by Queen Victoria during summers when she was a child, and George V (when Duke of York).
A jam factory was built near Pershore railway station by the 9th Earl of Coventry in about 1880, to provide a market for Vale of Evesham fruit growers in times of surplus. Although the Croome connection with jam-making had ceased, the building was leased by the Croome Estate Trust during the First World War to the Huddersfield Fruit Preserving Company as a pulping station. The First World War deeply affected Croome; there were many local casualties, although the house was not requisitioned for the war effort. This is possibly because it was the home of the Lord Lieutenant of the county, who needed a residence for his many official engagements. Croome Court was requisitioned during the Second World War by the Ministry of Works, and leased for a year to the Dutch Government as a possible refuge for Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands to escape the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. However, evidence shows that they stayed for two weeks at the most, perhaps because of the noise and fear created by the proximity of Defford Aerodrome. They later emigrated to Canada.
The Croome Estate Trust sold the Court in 1948, along with 38 acres (15 ha) of land, to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, and the mansion became St Joseph's Special School, which was run by nuns from 1950 until 1979. In 1979, the hall was taken over by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON, the Hare Krishna movement) which used it as its UK headquarters and a training college, called Chaitanya College. During their tenure they repainted the Dining Room. ISKCON left the estate in 1984 for financial reasons. It held a festival at the hall in 2011. From 1984 onwards, various owners tried to use the property as a training centre; apartments; a restaurant and conference centre; and a hotel and golf course, before once more becoming a private family home, with outbuildings converted to private houses.
The house was purchased by the Croome Heritage Trust, a registered charity, in October 2007, and it is now managed by the National Trust as a tourist attraction. It opened to the public in September 2009, at which point six of the rooms had been restored, costing £400,000, including the Saloon. It was estimated that another £4 million to £4.8 million would be needed to restore the entire building. Fundraising activities for the restoration included a 2011 raffle for a Morgan sports car organised by Lord and Lady Flight. After the restoration is complete, a 999-year lease on the building will be granted to the National Trust. An oral history project to record recollections about Croome was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. As of 2009, the service wing was empty and in need of substantial repair. The house was listed on 11 August 1952; it is currently Grade I listed.
The mansion is faced with Bath stone, limestone ashlar, and has both north and south facing fronts. It has a basement and two stories, with three stories in the end pavilions. A slate roof, with pyramid roofs over the corner towers, tops the building, along with three pair-linked chimneys along the axis of the house.
Both fronts have 11 bays, split into three central sets of three each, and one additional bay each side. The north face has a pedimented centre, with two balustraded staircases leading to a Roman Doric doorcase. The south face has a projecting Ionic tetrastyle portico and Venetian windows. It has a broad staircase, with Coade stone sphinxes on each side, leading to a south door topped with a cornice on consoles. The wings have modillion cornice and balustrade.
A two-story L-shaped service wing is attached to the east side of the mansion. It is made of red brick and stone, with slate roofs. It was designed by Capability Brown in 1751–1752. On the far side of the service wing, a wall connects it to a stable court.
The interior of the house was designed partially by Capability Brown, with plasterwork by G. Vassalli, and partially by Robert Adam, with plasterwork by Joseph Rose, Jr. It has a central spine corridor. A stone staircase, with iron balusters, is at the east end.
The entrance hall is on the north side of the building, and has four fluted Doric columns, along with moulded doorcases. To the east of the entrance hall is the dining room, which has a plaster ceiling and cornice, while to the west is a billiard room, featuring fielded panelling, a plaster cornice, and a rococo fireplace. The three rooms were probably decorated around 1758–1759 by Capability Brown. The dining room was vibrantly repainted by the Hare Krishnas in the 1970s-80s.
The central room on the south side is a saloon, probably by Brown and Vassalli. It has an elaborate ceiling, with three panels, deep coving, and a cornice, along with two Ionic fireplaces, and Palladian doorcases. King George III was entertained by George Coventry, the 6th Earl, in the house's Saloon. A drawing room is to the west of the saloon, and features rococo plasterwork and a marble fireplace.
To the east of the saloon is the Tapestry Room. This was designed in 1763–1771, based on a design by Robert Adam, and contained tapestries and furniture covers possibly designed by François Boucher and Maurice Jacques, and made by Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins. Around 1902 the ninth Earl sold the tapestries and seating to a Parisian dealer. The Samuel H. Kress Foundation purchased the ceiling, floor, mantlepiece, chair rails, doors and door surrounds in 1949; they were donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in 1958. In 1959, the Kress Foundation also helped the Metropolitan Museum acquire the chair and sofa frames, which they recovered using the original tapestry seats. A copy of the ceiling was installed in place of the original. As of 2016, the room is displayed as it would have looked after the tapestries had been sold, with a jug and ewer on display as the only original decoration of the room that remains in it. The adjacent library room is used to explain what happened to the tapestry room; the former library was designed by Adam, and was dismantled except for the marble fireplace.
At the west side of the building is a Long Gallery[10] which was designed by Robert Adam and installed between 1761 and 1766. It is the best preserved of the original interior (little of the rest has survived in situ). It has an octagonal panelled ceiling, and plaster reliefs of griffins. A half-hexagonal bay faces the garden. The room also contains a marble caryatid fireplace designed by J Wilton. As of 2016, modern sculptures are displayed in empty niches along the Long Gallery.
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St John the Baptist Church, Grafton Flyford
Highlight • Historical Site
The church, with the exception of the 14th-century tower, was entirely rebuilt in 1875, but the old work appears to have been very largely re-used. The modern work is already getting into a very bad state of repair.
The chancel has a 15th-century east window of three lights with a segmental pointed head. In the north wall is a square-headed 14th-century window of two ogee trefoil-headed lights. In the south wall are two square-headed two-light windows and a priest's door, mostly modern. On this side is a single sedile with a cusped head, and near it a pointed piscina with the bowl missing. An internal string-course, largely modern, is carried round the chancel. The chancel arch is of two chamfered orders dying into the wall; the voussoirs are small and regular and are of late 13th or early 14th-century date.
In the north wall of the nave is a pointed 14thcentury arch of two chamfered orders opening into a small chapel with a single-light window on the east and west. Further west is a pointed window of the same date with two lights and a traceried head. In the south wall are two windows, each of two lights and similar to that on the north of the chancel; between them is a plain pointed door. All these features have apparently been restored and reset.
The 14th-century tower is faced with ashlar and three stages high with low diagonal buttresses to the western angles of the ground stage. The tower arch is acutely pointed and of two chamfered orders. This stage rests on a deeply moulded plinth and has a pointed 15th-century west window of three cinquefoiled lights. The second stage is lighted by loops only, but the third stage has a pointed 14th-century window of two trefoiled ogee lights in each face. The parapet is embattled, with carved gargoyles at the angles of the string and panelled and crocketed pinnacles rising above them. From within it rises a low octagonal pyramid of stone capped by a truncated pinnacle set diagonally.
The fittings include a 17th-century communion table with turned legs, a 15th-century semi-octagonal pulpit (on a modern base) having a moulded rail and traceried heads to the panels, and a modern font. In the north chapel is a broken marble monument to Roger Stonehall, who died in 1645. Under the tower are roughly designed paintings on boards of the evangelistic symbols with black letter labels, perhaps of the 16th century; here is also a painted achievement of the royal arms of Charles II inscribed 1687 C.R. In the tracery of the east window are some fragments of 15th-century glass tabernacle work and in the north chancel window are two shields, one with the arms of Mortimer and the other imperfect with those of Beauchamp. In the west window are fragments of white and yellow 15th-century glass in the tracery.
There are five bells, all cast by John Martin in 1676: the tenor is inscribed, 'All men that here my roring sound repent before you ly in ground, M. Robert Baker 1676'; the fourth, 'We wish in heven theer souls may sing that caused us six here for to ring, Amell Doxly, Richard Haynes C.W. 1676'; the third, 'Be it known to all that doth wee see John Martin of Worcester, he made wee 1676'; the second, 'All prayse and glory be to God for ever 1676'; and the treble, 'Jesus be our good speed, God Save the King 1676.'
The plate includes a cup and cover paten, London, 1571, and a plate, London, 1679, inscribed 'Grafton Flyford.'
The registers are in one volume as follows: baptisms 1676 to 1813, burials 1676 to 1812, marriages 1678 to 1777.
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Tips from the Community
Beautiful medieval bridge over river Avon. Incredibly well preserved given its age.
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Pleasant views of Malvern and the surrounding areas from up there. The folly is ugly as sin but then it IS a folly so... yeah. Not a particularly difficult climb to get up there from either direction.
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A worthy addition to the National Trust. Wonderful house, set in Capability Brown's first landscape park.
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The old bridge is picturesque, and its also a great place to while away an hour or two by the river.
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The folly itself actually looks like it really is an industrial tower housing mobile phone equipment, but the views are very good. Nearby is the Elephant Stone - it looks like an Elephant kneeing down. Not far from the Cotswold Stone drystone wall is the circular stone that marks the very top of Bredon Hill.
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Good parking, half a dozen spaces on Woollas Hill, near Deer Park centre. Views on way up to Folly are spectacular. Good to get the climb out the way early with gentle, long descent in to Broadway.
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Quiet Anglican church with some gorgeous mosaics inside. Nice brown signpost on the nearest A-Road, so you won't miss the turn.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What historical landmarks can I explore in and around Pershore?
Pershore is rich in history. You can visit the impressive Pershore Abbey, a medieval structure dating back to 689 AD, known for its 13th-century architecture and stained-glass windows. Don't miss the picturesque Pershore Old Bridge, a medieval crossing point over the River Avon. Further afield, St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle, offers significant historic interest, while St John the Baptist Church, Grafton Flyford, also boasts a rich past.
Are there good places for walking and enjoying nature near Pershore?
Absolutely! The River Avon flows through Pershore, offering scenic riverside walks and opportunities for wildlife spotting. Just outside town, Tiddesley Wood Nature Reserve is an ancient woodland with well-maintained walking trails, especially beautiful with bluebells in spring. For more expansive views, Bredon Hill, home to Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill, provides spectacular vistas of the surrounding countryside. You can find various running routes, including one through Tiddesley Wood, in the Running Trails around Pershore guide.
What are some family-friendly attractions in the Pershore area?
Families can enjoy several spots. The Pershore Old Bridge is a great picnic spot and the starting point for a circular walk. Nearby, Croome Court, a National Trust property, features extensive parkland designed by 'Capability' Brown, perfect for family strolls. Historic churches like St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle and St John the Baptist Church, Grafton Flyford are also listed as family-friendly.
Can I find cycling routes around Pershore's attractions?
Yes, Pershore offers a variety of cycling routes. You can explore the area on two wheels with options like the 'Pershore Old Bridge loop from Pershore' or a longer 'Croome Court – Station Road Level Crossing loop from Pershore'. For more details and route options, check out the Cycling around Pershore guide.
What cultural experiences does Pershore offer?
Pershore has a vibrant local culture. The town is known for its elegant Georgian architecture and independent shops, restaurants, and pubs. The Number 8 Community Arts Centre hosts various artistic and cultural events. Additionally, the town celebrates its agricultural heritage with the annual Pershore Plum Festival in August, a popular event drawing many visitors.
Where can I find panoramic views of the Worcestershire countryside?
For breathtaking panoramic views, head to Bredon Hill. From its summit, you can gaze across Worcestershire to the Malverns and into the Cotswolds. The Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill is a prominent landmark there, marking a fantastic viewpoint.
Are there any museums or heritage centers in Pershore?
Yes, Pershore offers insights into its past through local museums. The Almonry Museum, housed in a 14th-century building that was once part of the medieval Abbey, provides a glimpse into the area's history. The Pershore Heritage Centre, located in the town hall, also features collections and information on Pershore and its surrounding villages, including local lace-making.
What kind of outdoor activities are available besides walking and cycling?
Beyond walking and cycling, the River Avon provides opportunities for boat trips, offering a unique perspective of Pershore. For those interested in mountain biking, there are several MTB trails around the area, including routes around Bredon Hill. You can find detailed options in the MTB Trails around Pershore guide.
What is the best time of year to visit Pershore?
Pershore is charming year-round, but the best time often depends on your interests. Spring is beautiful with bluebells in Tiddesley Wood Nature Reserve. August is particularly lively due to the annual Pershore Plum Festival, celebrating the town's famous fruit. For outdoor activities like walking and cycling, late spring to early autumn generally offers pleasant weather.
What is Croome Court and what can I see there?
Croome Court is a mid-18th-century Neo-Palladian mansion surrounded by extensive landscaped parkland, near Upton-upon-Severn. It was designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown and is now managed by the National Trust. Visitors can explore the historic mansion, wander through the vast parkland, and appreciate the architectural and landscape design.
Are there any specific natural features to look out for in the Pershore area?
Beyond the scenic River Avon, the Avon Meadow Community Wetlands is a thriving wildlife area perfect for nature enthusiasts. Tiddesley Wood Nature Reserve is notable for its ancient woodland, wildflower meadows, and birdwatching opportunities. Bredon Hill stands out as a prominent natural landmark, offering not just views but also ancient monuments, wildflower meadows, and rare wildlife.
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