Hotels in Worcestershire

Worcestershire is mainly a lowland area of undulating terrain with the Lickey Hills in the northeast and the Malvern Hills in the west, the latter of the two forming the border with Herefordshire, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Heavily wooded in prehistoric times, there is little evidence of settlement in Worcestershire until the 6th century when the Anglo-Saxon Hwicca tribe built forts in the area. By the late 7th century, Worcester had developed into an important trading post between England and Wales, but the area was later conquered by the Danes in the 9th century. Following the Norman conquest of the 11th century the county prospered predominantly from agriculture, but from the 15th century onwards Worcestershire became renowned for the manufacture of fine porcelain.

Today the county is home to many diverse industries, and it continues to flourish as an industrial area with many hi-tech engineering businesses. Still largely rural, tourism is economically important, of note are Worcester Cathedral (home to the Three Choirs Festival), the Royal Grammar School (established in 1291 at Worcester) and many fine old villages and market towns featuring half-timbered houses.