The run up to Christmas can be an expensive time of year so we have put together a list of free things you can do in our town centres to keep the whole family entertained. Your local town centres offer plenty to do in the run up to Christmas that won’t break the bank.
Parking
This year MHDC are offering free parking in our town centre car parks on certain days in December leading up to Christmas. Free Christmas parking is as follows:
Great Malvern: free Fridays (1, 8, 15, 22 Dec).
Tenbury Wells and Upton upon Severn: free Saturdays (2, 9, 16, 23).
Christmas Lights
Make the most of the darker nights and take a wander around each town centre to see the beautiful Christmas displays.
Great Malvern switches on it’s lights on 25 November at the Great Malvern Christmas Festival and Tenbury Wells Christmas Lights Switch On is 18 November. Malvern Link celebrates with Christmas in the Link on 1 December. Upton upon Severn has a Christmas lights switch on and late night shopping on Wednesday 22 November and hosts a Christmas Extravaganza celebration on Saturday 9 December.
Free Trails to Celebrate the 125th Birthday of C. S. Lewis
There are two free town centre trails to enjoy this year in celebration of the 125th birthday of C. S. Lewis from 24 – 30 November. In Great Malvern take The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe Gas Lamp Trail to see the famous Malvern Gas Lamps that could have inspired the iconic gas lamp in the famous book.
Across Great Malvern, Barnards Green, Malvern Link and Link Top MHDC are joining forces with Creatives Connect and Malvern Traders to bring you an innovative arts project. Participating shops and businesses will display a stencil of a gas lamp, decorated by local artists, in their window from 24 November, creating a display of decorated windows to commemorate one of our most illustrious and best-loved authors.
Find out more about how The Malverns is celebrating the 125th birthday of C. S. Lewis on the blog below:
Play Areas
Visit Great Malvern’s fantastic play area in Priory Park which will keep the family entertained for hours. There are also great play areas to explore in Upton-upon-Severn, Tenbury Wells and Malvern Link.
Sightseeing and History
Take this opportunity to visit places on your doorstep that you’ve never been to before. There’s the Heritage Centre in Upton-upon-Severn , the Priory in Great Malvern or The Pump Rooms in Tenbury (pre-booking essential for tours).
Malvern, Upton upon Severn and Tenbury Wells Tourist Information Centres are all brimming with ideas, free leaflets and advice on how to make the most of your visit to our towns.
Walks
Download The Malverns Walking App to discover new walks near you, with many starting in our town centres. There are also lots of free trails, such as The Chronicles of Malvernia, that can be picked up from your nearest Tourist Information Centre.
Free Events
