Area Guides
Kidderminster Area Guide
Welcome to Kidderminster, a historic town in the heart of Worcestershire. Often referred to as the "Carpet Capital of the UK," Kidderminster has a rich history within the carpet industry. Kidderminster also holds an important place in postal history as the birthplace of Sir Rowland Hill, the inventor of the Penny Post, which revolutionized the way people sent mail.
Beyond the industrial past, the town is home to iconic attractions such as the Severn Valley Railway, a heritage steam railway offering scenic journeys through the countryside, and the West Midland Safari Park, a must-visit destination for wildlife lovers.With a mix of historic charm, modern shopping destinations like Weavers Wharf, and excellent transport links with direct train services to Birmingham city centre.
Kidderminster is a great place to live and explore, offering a diverse range of neighbourhoods, each with its own unique character and appeal. From the bustling town centre to the peaceful suburbs, there's a perfect spot for every lifestyle. Explore areas like Blakebrook, Franche, and Habberley to find the ideal setting for your new home.
Education and Schools
Families relocating to Kidderminster will appreciate its excellent educational offerings. From outstanding primary schools to top-rated secondary schools, there are plenty of options to ensure your children receive a quality education. Explore schools like Foley Infant School, St. Catherine's CofE Primary School, and Wolverley CE Secondary School & Sixth Form.
Shopping and Restaurants
For shopping lovers, Weavers Wharf is the heart of Kidderminster’s retail destination, offering a mix of high-street brands, dining options, and leisure facilities. Built on the site of an old carpet factory, Weavers Wharf blends historic architecture with modern shopping. With an array of shops including Marks & Spencer, Next, TK Maxx and restaurant and coffee shops including Tappetto, Wall2Wall, Pizzahut and Costa. There is also a new soft play called Wacky Playland to keep the little ones occupied too!
Bewdley Area Guide
Nestled on the banks of the River Severn, Bewdley is an inviting Georgian town known for its rich history, scenic beauty, and welcoming community. With its picturesque streets, riverside views, and vibrant local events, Bewdley is a highly desirable place to live, offering both town amenities and a semi-rural lifestyle.
Bewdley Museum offers a fascinating look into the area’s history, the museum features Traditional Craft Workshops, Local Art Exhibitions and Heritage Garden & Café. The museum also houses the award-winning Tourist Information Centre where staff are on hand to help you make the most of your visit.
Bewdley is a great place to live, offering a semi-rural lifestyle with local amenities at easy reach. Riverside properties are always popular and with recent improvements to the river infostructure to compact flooding riverside properties are more desirable than ever. Other popular areas to consider moving to are Northwood Lane & Ribbesford, Wribbenhall, and Wyre Hill.
Education and Schools
Bewdley is a popular location to relocate to for its popular schools. The town offers top-rated Bewdley Primary School and St. Anne’s CE Primary School and The Bewdley School secondary school.
Shopping and Restaurants
With a delightful mix of independent shops, artisan boutiques, and cosy cafés, Bewdley’s town centre has something for everyone.
The Bewdley Deli is a fantastic spot for locally sourced cheeses, fine wines, and gourmet treats. Bewdley Farm Shop offers fresh fruit, vegetables, and locally produced goods. And for day-to-day essentials, Bewdley also has a Co-op, Sainsburys Local convenience store, and Morrisons, meaning you don’t have to head into Kidderminster or Stourport to do your main weekly shop. The Garden Kitchen located in the beautiful Bewdley Museum gardens offers fresh, homemade food with outdoor seating in a tranquil setting. Riverside Café, with stunning views of the River Severn, is perfect for a relaxed breakfast or light lunch. The Garden Kitchen, Piccolos and the Boathouse Bistro and many, many more. If you are looking for something more the The Mug House Inn and Restaurant, Merchants Fish Bar & Café, The Courtyard, The Little Pack House, The Hope Pole Inn and Severn Fine Indian Cuisine plus many more offer ample choice to suit your needs.
With many more pubs, restaurants, café shops and bars, you have so many choices than you know what to do with!
Stourport Area Guide
Along the River Severn from Bewdley you will find, Stourport-on-Severn. This charming Georgian town in Worcestershire, is ideally located just a short drive from Worcester (just 12 miles away) via the A449. Known for its beautiful canals, family-friendly attractions, and rich history, Stourport is a perfect destination those looking to call it home. Stourport has plenty on offer for all ages so whether you are looking to retire or looking for your first family home Stourport is an idyllic place to live.
Stourport was originally a small settlement but transformed into a thriving canal town in the 18th century with the construction of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. This turned Stourport into an important inland port, bustling with trade. Today, the town preserves its Georgian heritage, with canal basins, historic warehouses, and picturesque waterside walks.
There are plenty of top family destinations in the town to keep the children and grandchildren entertained for hours on end, come rain or shine. Treasure Island Amusement Park has the classic fairground rides and arcade games and Playland Fun Park is perfect for younger children, with bouncy castles and mini rides. Canal trips along the historic canals are perfect sunny day activities with Stourport Riverside Meadows offering open green spaces with a fantastic playground, picnic areas, and scenic river views.
Education and Schools
Stourport has several well-regarded primary schools, many of which are rated “Good” by Ofsted, these include Stourport Primary Academy, Wilden All Saints CE Primary School, Lickhill Primary School and Burlish Primary School. For Secondary education The Stourport High School & Sixth Form College offers a broad curriculum and sixth-form options.
Shopping and Restaurants
Stourport is a great place for shopping and dining, with a varied of independent boutiques, high-street stores, cosy cafés, and family-friendly restaurants, there is plenty on offer. Cooks garden Centre offers not just plants but homeware gifts and a lovely café. The town also benefits from a Tesco Superstore, Lidl and Co-op Food. There are plenty of family-friendly restaurants and pubs, cafes and tea rooms, Indian and Asian cuisine, Italian and fish and chips takeaways.
Bridgnorth Area Guide
Bridgnorth is a charming market town in Shropshire, with rich history, and thriving local community it is a perfect place to settle down. Split into High Town and Low Town, connected by the famous Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, the town offers a blend of historic charm, modern amenities and scenic countryside. Whether you're a history buff, nature lover, or looking for family-friendly activities, Bridgnorth has plenty to offer. You can spend your days exploring Bridgnorth Castle & Gardens or heading on the Severn Valley Railway stopping at Arley, Highley, Bewdley or Kidderminster and exploring what each individual stop has to offer.
With its excellent transport links to Telford, Shrewsbury, and Wolverhampton, this makes Bridgnorth an ideal town to relocate to, and with its stunning riverside walks, vibrant market scene, or strong sense of community, Bridgnorth has something for everyone.
Education and Schools
Bridgnorth offers a range of schools, with primary and secondary schools, along with independent and special education options in the area. Castlefields Primary School, St John’s Catholic Primary School, St Leonard’s CE Primary School and Bridgnorth Primary School & Nursery provides options for you as all have different learning environments and extracurricular activities. The Bridgnorth Endowed School is a modern academy which takes students up to 18 years old with its sixth-form option. Oldbury Wells School is the other secondary school in the area ith a good academic record, excellent extracurricular opportunities, and strong pastoral care. Bridgnorth School of Excellence (Independent Tuition & Alternative Learning) offers private tuition and alternative education pathways for children who need a more tailored approach to learning.
Shopping and Restaurants
Whether you're looking for a cosy café, a fine dining experience, or a lively pub, Bridgnorth has something to offer, and mix of independent retailers, high-street brands, and regular markets that bring a unique shopping experience to the town.
Beaman’s Butchers, Elizabeth & Ernest, Tanners Wines, Tea & Roses, and The Book Nook are all Independent & Boutique Shops providing a brand of products to the town. There us a range of traditional pubs to choose from including the Black Boy, The Shakespeare Inn, The White Lion and The Old Castle – which is located over the road from our Bridgnorth office. If you are looking for some food The Bandon Arms, The Kings Head and The George are provide a variety of meals to choose from. If you are prepared to travel further a field The Down Inn is a countryside pub and are known locally for the exceptional carvery. The Pheasant at Neenton is a real hidden gem, with high-quality, locally sourced food in a beautifully restored inn. And The Boycott Arms is a traditional pub with a great beer garden and excellent Sunday lunches.
Bridgnorth has an excellent mix of historic pubs, independent shops, and high-quality restaurants, making it a great place to work and live.
Spoilt For Choice………..
On the boarders of Worcestershire and Shropshire we are spoilt for choice, with ample choice of Countryside Walks, Nature Reserves, picturesque historical towns, and the West Midlands Safari park on the doorstep, there is plenty to do and see.
Bodenham Arboretum
Explore the beauty, peace and tranquillity of Bodenham Arboretum, having been described as Worcestershire’s Hidden Garden it provides an oasis of plantations, pools and avenues beautifully landscaped including over 3000 species of trees and shrubs.
The plantings and water, combined, cover 54 acres. And visitors can explore over 5 miles of wonderful woodland walks.
Our 15 pools have their own constant supply of water. Bridges provide access to the islands in the big pool – such as “Giants Island” which children love to explore.
You can enjoy the range of events on throughout the year to suit all ages from children’s trails and themed dining, or pop down to the café to enjoy the Enjoy Home Cooked Food with Home reared meat & locally sourced ingredients, something for everyone.
For more information on their opening times and events go to Home - Bodenham Arboretum.
Wyre Forest
Wyre Forest is the largest woodland National Nature Reserve in the country and the vast woodland has a variety of walks including the Gruffalo trail for the little adventurers, cycle paths, and horse trails, plenty of ways to explore the forest. With its own on-site café and Go Ape there is plenty of things to do to keep the family happy and fed!
Severn Valley Country Park
Discover the fantastic countryside, exceptional views and wonderful wildlife at Severn Valley Country Park. The Green Flag award-winning Severn Valley Country Park offers 126 acres of beautiful accessible countryside. The Park offers a variety of activities for families, including guided and self-led walks, cycling, horse riding, and kids’ play areas. It provides educational opportunities, a wheelchair-accessible nature trail, and a pond dipping platform for children. Visitors can enjoy scenic views from the visitor centre and café, as well as picnic areas throughout the park. The park features a rich industrial history, diverse habitats, and is easily accessible with ample parking.
Dudmaston
A much loved home for over 875 years, Dudmaston Hall is something unexpected in the Shropshire countryside. With a wide range of activities and events throughout the year, there is plenty to do and see. Offering a unique blend of history, art, and nature this stunning National Trust property is still lived in by the same family. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful escape or a fun-filled family day out, Dudmaston has something for everyone. Visitors can enjoy delicious, locally sourced food and drinks at The Orchard Tea-room. Indulge in locally sourced food including homemade cakes, fresh sandwiches, and seasonal treats made from ingredients grown on the estate. The café offers a welcoming spot to relax and recharge and exploreing the hall and grounds. For young adventurous there is an Adventure Play Area with a dedicated play zone with natural wooden climbing frames and swings, seasonal activities and events from easter hunts to Christmas trails and cycle routes.
With its mix of heritage, nature, and local food, it’s a must-visit National Trust property in Shropshire.
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) is one of the UK’s most popular heritage railways, offering a nostalgic journey through stunning countryside.
Running between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth you’ll travel through miles and miles of picturesque countryside, crossing the River Severn multiple times and from Kidderminster stopping at Bewdley, Arley, Highley, Hampton Loade and ending at Bridgnorth. The Engine House Visitor Centre is located at Highley where you can discover interactive railway exhibits, vintage locomotives, and family-friendly activities. Through the year there are themed events such as the popular Santa Specials, Peppa Pig Days, 1940s Weekends, and Real Ale Trains.
West Midland Safari Park
West Midlands Safari Park, located in Bewdley, Worcestershire, is one of the UK’s top wildlife attractions. It offers an exciting blend of safari experiences, animal encounters, thrilling rides, and educational activities, making it perfect for families, wildlife lovers, and adventure seekers. With a Safari Drive-Through, African & Asian Animals, Discovery Trail, Adventure Theme Park, Land of the Living Dinosaurs and Conservation & Education talks there is plenty on offer for an unforgettable day out for all ages. Whether you're a thrill-seeker or a nature enthusiast, it’s the perfect place to explore and make lasting memories!
Little Owl Farm Park
Little Owl Farm Park, located in Worcestershire, is a fantastic family-friendly attraction offering a mix of farm animals, wildlife, play areas, and hands-on experiences. Whether you're looking for a fun day out with the kids or an educational visit, this farm park provides the perfect blend of adventure and learning. Whether you're feeding animals, exploring the play areas, or simply soaking up the countryside charm, this farm park guarantees a memorable day out.
Habberley Trail
If you are looking for a fun family day out, a team-building activity, or just an exciting way to enjoy the outdoors, Habberley Trail is a must-visit attraction. Located in Kidderminster, the Trail is a unique outdoor adventure park offering a mix of fun challenges, nature trails, and interactive activities. Perfect for families, friends, and adventure seekers, this attraction provides an exciting way to explore the great outdoors while testing your balance, agility, and problem-solving skills. All the trail is custom built by their design team, offering a bespoke experience and with its own café it provides everything onsite for the ideal family day out.
Trimpley Reservoir
If you are looking for something off the beaten track, to roam in the countrywide without passing member people and to enjoy scenic walks without the crows then Trimpley reservoir provides that. Nestled between Bewdley and Kidderminster, Trimpley Reservoir is a hidden gem offering stunning countryside views, peaceful walks, and excellent wildlife spotting opportunities, this reservoir is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the beauty of Worcestershire.
Harvington Hall, Hartlebury Hall, & Hanbury Hall
Worcestershire is home to some of the most stunning historic estates, each offering a unique glimpse into the region’s rich heritage.
Harvington Hall is a beautifully preserved Elizabethan manor house, with original oak panelling, a stunning moat, and fascinating history, this Hall is a must-visit for history lovers. The on-site tearoom serves traditional cakes, sandwiches, and locally sourced produce, making it a perfect stop after a tour of the house and gardens.
Hartlebury Castle is formerly home to the Bishops of Worcester for over 1,000 years, and is a magnificent estate filled with history, culture, and beautiful surroundings. Today, it houses the Worcestershire County Museum, showcasing the county’s past through engaging exhibitions, period rooms, and historic artifacts. The castle grounds provide scenic walks, while the Georgian Saloon and Great Hall offer a glimpse into aristocratic life. The Bishops’ Table Tearoom offers a delightful selection of homemade cakes, light lunches, and locally sourced treats and with the dedicated outdoor woodland play zone, children can climb, swing, and explore in a natural setting.
Hanbury Hall is a breathtaking 18th-century stately home, managed by the National Trust. The Hall features exquisite painted ceilings, grand Georgian architecture, and ornate gardens, making it a favourite for history and nature lovers alike. Visitors can enjoy walks through the beautifully maintained formal gardens, explore the historic estate, and relax at the café, which serves homemade treats and locally sourced dishes.
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