Visit The Malverns

Malvern Hills Literary Loop: Tolkien, Lewis, Darwin & Dickens
2025-06-14 10:30 - 13:30, 2025-06-14 14:30 - 17:30, 2025-06-21 10:30 - 13:30, 2025-06-21 14:30 - 17:30, 2025-06-22 10:30 - 13:30, 2025-06-22 14:30 - 17:30 (Europe/London) | Worcs
Legendary fantasy authors JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis were frequent visitors to the Malvern Hills around the middle of the 20th century and the distinctive landscape may have inspired features of Middle Earth and Narnia, like the Giant’s Cave from the Hobbit and the Victorian gas lamps from The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.
A century earlier, authors Charles Darwin and Charles Dickens visited Malvern for the Water Cure and most of the treatment centres and guest houses still remain.
The Malvern Hills Literary Loop starts at the Mr. Tumnus bench in Priory Park and heads up past Knotsford House where Dickens stayed to Lewis’s former school Cherbourg House before pausing at the Lewis Memorial in Rosebank Gardens and following the gas lamps up to St. Ann’s Well cafe.
After admiring the views around North Hill, the trail descends to Alexandra Rd where Lewis’s close friend & biographer George Sayers lived, opposite the former home of composer Edward Elgar.
The loop then heads up past Montreal House where Darwin stayed during his daughter’s treatment and past Lewis & Tolkien’s favourite pub The Unicorn Inn before passing the Hobbit door and down to Malvern Priory to find Anne Darwin’s grave and potentially the original Narnian gas lamp.
Dates and booking
The walks are available on many dates, often with the option of two start times on the same day. For more information, including prices, availability and to book. visit the Malvern Hills Literary Loop: Tolkien, Lewis, Darwin & Dickens page on Airbnb.

Guided Tours of Great Malvern Priory
2025-06-14 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-06-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Great Malvern Priory, WR14 2AY
Come and explore the fascinating history and unique treasures of Great Malvern Priory from its Norman origins to the present day. Discover more about the glories of this architectural gem, with its beautiful stained glass, medieval tiles and misericords.
There are guided tours most Saturday mornings at 11am and occasionally at 2pm (or very occasionally at other times). Please check the Priory Church calendar to confirm that a tour is going ahead on the day of your visit.
Donations are welcomed and all money from the tours goes towards the ongoing repairs and restoration of the Priory building and the medieval glass windows.
In addition to the scheduled Saturday tours, groups tours are available by prior arrangement on any day between 9am and 5pm as long as the Priory is not being used for another event. For these tours, a small charge of £5 per person is made. Please visit the Friends of Malvern Priory website for more information and booking details.

Moth Morning
2025-06-15 09:30 - 11:00 | Croome Park, High Green, Worcester, Worcs, WR8 9DW
Join the team from West Midlands Butterfly Conservation to uncover moth traps in the orchard at Croome. Find out more about the beautiful insects that usually fly at night and what we as humans can do to help their survival.
Meet outside visitor reception at 9.30am before taking a very short stroll to the orchard.
The event finishes after 90 minutes, when you’ll be given a voucher to use in the café for a hot drink and a breakfast roll.
Please note that the event will be cancelled only in extreme weather conditions.
Booking is essential for this event and a charge applies – visit the National Trust website to book

Malvern Town Walk
2025-06-16 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-06-21 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-06-23 10:30 - 12:00 | Malvern Tourist Information Centre, The Lyttelton Well Courtyard, 6 Church Street, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 2AY, United Kingdom
Cost
Adults: £7 (plus small booking fee online; no booking fee if booking direct in person or on 01684 892289)
Carers and children under 14: Free
About the walk
Why not join one of Malvern Civic Society’s walks and find out about the fascinating history of Malvern?
– See how Malvern’s famous Water Cure and Spa flourished in the 19th Century
– Learn about the mediaeval Priory
– Find out about the town’s Elgar connections
– Hear of important visitors to the town and the story behind some ‘blue plaques’
– Discover more about the coming of radar
Walks last approximately 90 minutes.
Please be aware that Great Malvern is a hillside town and our tour follows its steep gradients and steps along narrow pavements.
If you have a disability that requires support from a carer, the carer goes free. Children under 14 and vulnerable adults should be accompanied by an appropriate adult. If you are under 14 or the carer of a vulnerable adult, there is no charge.
Sorry – no dogs are allowed, except assistance dogs.
Walks are led by enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides from Malvern Civic Society.
Dates and times
Walks run every Monday (including Bank Holidays) and Saturday at 10.30am from 5 April until 27 October 2025.
Please note – the following dates are fully booked: 2 June 2025, 4 October 2025
Booking
Please book in advance to avoid disappointment. Ten places are available on each walk: four are available to book through Malvern Tourist Information Centre either on 01684 892289 or in person; the other six are available to book online at Ticketsource (small booking fee applies to online transactions). Any tickets for Saturday unsold online by noon on Friday, or tickets for Monday unsold online by 8am on Monday, will become available to purchase through Malvern Tourist Information Centre during opening hours. Please note that children’s tickets cannot be booked online and should instead be booked through Malvern Tourist Information Centre.
Malvern Tourist Information Centre is located at The Lyttelton Well Courtyard, 6 Church Street, Malvern WR14 2AY (close to the Lyttelton Well Cafe). Telephone: 01684 892289
New specialist tour (2024 onwards)
Some guides now offer a specialist tour, by arrangement, for those with a particular interest in the arts: “The Culture and The Cure”. This walk, for pre-booked groups only (minimum group size may apply), explores Malvern’s cultural connections alongside the history of the town as a centre for the controversial Water Cure. Writers, artists and musicians have been attracted to Malvern for over a hundred years – hear their stories plus how this small Worcestershire town became a major spa.
For more details regarding this bespoke tour, please contact the Malvern Tourist Information Centre in the first instance. All walks are subject to guide availability.

Workshop at Aetheria Gallery and Studio
2025-06-17 10:00 - 13:30 | Aetheria Gallery & Studio, 3 Edith Walk, Malvern, WR14 4QH
Aetheria Gallery and Studio is a contemporary art gallery in the centre of Great Malvern, dedicated to showcasing the work of local artists. With a focus on nature, fantasy, and escapism, the gallery offers a carefully curated selection of paintings, creative photography, prints, ceramics, and jewellery.
Our programme of group exhibitions presents original artworks in a bright and welcoming setting. The gallery is also home to the studio of Gallery Director Alison Simons, where visitors can witness the creation of her fluid acrylic paintings. In addition, Aetheria gallery hosts regular art demonstrations by featured artists, as well as a variety of engaging workshops for those looking to explore their own creativity.
Workshops at Aetheria Gallery in 2025
Fluid Acrylics Introduction with Alison Simons
Learn the techniques of fluid acrylics, use the swipe and blow-out method to create an abstract floral artwork.
6 April 2025: 10am – 1.30pm
18 May 2025: 10am – 1.30pm
£140
Fluid Acrylics Continuation with Alison Simons
Build on the foundation of techniques taught in the introductory course, develop your skills in fluid acrylics.
8 June 2025: 10am – 1.30pm
£140
The Alchemy of Inks with Felicity Robinson
Dive into the world of inks, make your own sketchbook and learn the techniques of inks by experimenting with mark-making.
15 April 2025: 10am – 1.30pm
£110
Capturing Summer: Colour, Marks and Mini Masterpieces with Felicity Robinson
Create abstract paintings by exploring mark making, using tools and creative methods to bring expressive movement to your work.
6 May 2025: 10am – 1.30pm
£110
Expressive Collage: A two-session creative journey with Felicity Robinson
Make your own sketchbook and create richly textured collages with gelli printing and experimental mark making.
10 & 17 June 2025: 10am – 1.30pm
£195
Ceramics with Gabrielle Rucinski
An introduction to pottery, learn to make a coil pot, a pinch pot, and how to paint with underglazes.
1 June 2025: 10am – 1.30pm
£110
To book a place, please visit Aetheria Gallery & Studio, 3 Edith Walk, Malvern WR14 4QH or call 01684 355185.

Guided Tour of Madresfield Court
2025-06-18 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-06-18 11:30 - 13:00, 2025-06-18 13:30 - 15:00, 2025-06-18 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-06-19 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-06-19 11:30 - 13:00, 2025-06-19 13:30 - 15:00, 2025-06-19 14:30 - 16:00 and 7 more dates | Madresfield Court, Madresfield, Malvern, Worcs, WR13 5AJ
Madresfield Court, situated within the Madresfield Estate at the foot of the Malvern Hills, is a moated stately home that has been in the Lygon family for over 900 years and is currently home to its 29th generation.
The house played a significant part in nurturing the Arts and Crafts movement and contains a fine collection of paintings, furniture and ceramics. It also has a rich history, with both Edward Elgar and Evelyn Waugh being frequent visitors.
The house and beautiful grounds are open to welcome visitors at various times throughout the year. Access to the house and gardens is by guided tour only and tickets must be pre-booked online.
The Madresfield Estate also hosts several popular events throughout the year within the grounds of the Court.
2025 season details
The 2025 tour season at Madresfield Court runs from the end of April until the end of June.
Tours generally run on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (with some exceptions).
On most days of operation, four tours (one at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm) will run, with each tour taking a maximum of fifteen people aged 16 and over. Sadly, the tours are not suitable for babies or children under 16 and are subject to accessibility restrictions.
Tickets are £17 per person and all visitors will have the chance to enjoy the gardens either before or after the house tour.
New for 2025, refreshments can now be enjoyed in the newly refurbished Play Room.
For full details, including booking terms and conditions, to check that a tour is running on your chosen date and to book your place, visit the Madresfield Court website.
Photo supplied by Madresfield Court.

Book Talk: Mark Billingham & T M Logan in Conversation
2025-06-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Elmslie House, WR14 3AG
Bestselling authors Mark Billingham and T M Logan are joining forces to talk about their new thrillers. In conversation with bookseller Rustie, Mark and Tim will chat about their latest titles and their careers. There will be an audience question-and-answer session and the opportunity to have books signed.
Tickets: £10 – available online at Ticketsource or from Rossiter Books (Malvern) on 01684 368817

An Evening with Sir Tony Robinson: Civic Society Annual Malvern Lecture (Midsummer Malvern)
2025-06-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Malvern Theatres, WR14 3HB
Malvern Civic Society presents the 2025 Malvern Lecture
Famed as Britain’s foremost face of popular history, not to mention the creator of a worldwide comedy icon and an award-winning writer of children’s books, we are proud to present this year’s esteemed speaker, Sir Tony Robinson.
Tickets available from Malvern Theatres online and on 01684 892277.
