Malvern

Malvern sits along the eastern slopes of the Malvern Hills, a narrow ridge of ancient granite that rises abruptly out of the flat Severn Vale and forms one of the most distinctive skylines in the West Midlands. The town itself is really a string of settlements, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Malvern Wells and West Malvern, that grew up along the hillside during the nineteenth century, when its reputation as a spa resort turned a scattering of villages into a fashionable Victorian destination. That legacy is still visible everywhere, from the terraced streets of tall stuccoed villas to the wrought-iron water fountains dotted around town where locals still fill bottles with spring water for free.

What makes Malvern unusual is how close the wild and the civic sit to one another. Within a few minutes' walk of the theatre, the priory and the shops on Church Street, the pavement gives way to open hillside, gorse and short-cropped turf, with paths climbing straight up toward the ridge. The Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty runs for about nine miles along the county boundary with Herefordshire, and on a clear day the views from the top stretch across the Severn and Avon valleys to the Cotswolds, the Cambrian Mountains and the Brecon Beacons. It is a landscape that has drawn walkers, writers and composers for well over a century, and that pull has lost none of its force.

Top things to do in Malvern

Malvern rewards both a lazy afternoon in town and a proper day on the hills. Highlights include:

• Worcestershire Beacon — at 425 metres this is the highest point in the Malvern Hills, reached by a steady climb from Great Malvern with panoramic views said to stretch as far as Wales on a clear day.
• Great Malvern Priory — a former Benedictine priory church dating back to the eleventh century, renowned for its exceptional medieval stained glass and one of the finest collections of fifteenth-century floor tiles in the country.
• Malvern Theatres — based in the town's Winter Gardens complex, this has been a centre for the performing arts since 1885 and today stages touring West End productions, music and comedy.
• St Ann's Well — a spring-fed well house above the town reached by a short, steep walk, still dispensing the famously pure Malvern water and now home to a small café.
• The Elgar Route and Elgar's Birthplace — composer Edward Elgar lived much of his life in and around Malvern, and the town and surrounding hills are threaded with places connected to him, from his statue on Church Street to the Firs, his birthplace cottage at nearby Lower Broadheath.
• Malvern Museum — housed in the Priory Gatehouse, telling the story of the town's transformation from village to Victorian water-cure resort.
• Morgan Motor Company — the famous sports car maker has built cars by hand in Malvern Link since 1913, and offers factory tours for visitors keen to see traditional coachbuilding in action.

Getting to Malvern

Malvern is well served by rail, with Great Malvern station on the line between Worcester and Hereford, giving direct connections to Worcester Foregate Street and onward services toward Birmingham, Oxford and London Paddington. By road, the town sits just off the A449 and A4103, with easy links to the M5 at Worcester, around fifteen miles away. Birmingham Airport is roughly forty-five minutes' drive to the north-east, making Malvern a realistic option even for visitors arriving from further afield.

Best time to visit Malvern

Late spring through early autumn is the classic window for walking the hills, with long daylight hours and the best chance of the clear views the ridge is known for. May sees Malvern's well-established Spring Gardening Show, while summer brings a full programme at Malvern Theatres and open-air events in the town's parks. Autumn colours the beech woods on the lower slopes beautifully and the hills are quieter, while winter, though colder and often muddy underfoot, still draws walkers for crisp, clear days and wide views without the crowds.

Where to stay in Malvern

Malvern's Victorian spa-town heritage means a good spread of characterful hotels and guest houses, many in the grand villas built for nineteenth-century water-cure visitors, several with hill or valley views. There is also a solid choice of B&Bs and self-catering cottages in the surrounding villages of the Malvern Hills, appealing to walkers who want to be right on the doorstep of the paths up onto the ridge.

Food and drink in Malvern

The town has a good spread of independent places to eat and drink. The Nags Head on Bank Street is a long-standing, multi-roomed pub known for its range of real ales and unpretentious pub food. The Wyche Inn, up near the Wyche Cutting on the hills themselves, is popular with walkers for its beer garden and views. In town, Croque Monsieur and the Lady Foley's Tea Room at the station serve reliable cafe fare, while the Malvern Farmers' Market, held monthly, is a good spot to pick up local produce, including cheese, meat and the odd bottle of the town's famous water.