Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire
UPDATE: Gardens and plant sales open, cafe closed. Hergest Croft Gardens lies in the heart of the Welsh Marches with stunning views towards the Black Mountains. From spring bulbs to autumn colour this is a garden for all seasons. There are gorgeous flower borders. An old fashioned Kitchen Garden with a Rose Garden; Spring Borders with carpets of bulbs; and unusual vegetables; the Azalea Garden with spectacular colour in the spring: and Park Wood, with thirty foot high rhododendrons are fantastic all to discover. Autumn colour throughout the gardens is superb The Gardens are the perfect place to explore and relax. Teas and light lunches, provided by the award-winning Ridgeway Catering, specialising in local homemade food, are available in the old Dining Room and outside on the Terrace. Plants Sales contains many rare and unusual specimens from all over the world. A wide range of gifts are presented in the Hall. There are special entry rates for pre-booked groups of 20 or more.
UPDATE: Grounds and cafe open with limited takeaway menu only. Must pre book online. PLEASE READ THE CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST: nationaltrust.org.uk/press-release/the-national-trusts-latest-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19 Croft Castle sits deep in the heart of Herefordshire countryside surrounded by 1500 acres of historic woodland, farm and parkland. This intimate house became the Croft family home before the Domesday Book. 2019 marks 75 years since D-Day and 80 years since the start of the Second World War. To commemorate these significant anniversaries, we’re sharing the stories of the Croft family from 1939-45. Families can step back in time and discover what life was like at Croft when it was a school for evacuated children during the war, with dressing up and games in the Family Room. In the castle you can live life as Sir James Croft and find out how the family bought back their home in 1923. Explore the family photographs or sit and read through the auction catalogues. Look out for the 1950s photographs and memorabilia which detail how Croft was at risk of demolition before 1957 and what it was like here then. Step outside and explore the working walled garden complete with historic orchards, vineyard and 1908 glasshouse. Find […]
Kentchurch Court, home of the Lucas-Scudamore family has survived for nearly 1000 years through political alliances, intrigue, advantageous marriages and strong women! Lying beneath Garway Hill in the Monnow valley, close to the city of Hereford, this beautiful historic house and gardens are not to be missed whilst visiting Herefordshire. Features of the gardens include a Rhododendron wood, walled garden and a vegetable garden. Around 250 deer live in The Deer Park, where examples of ancient trees including Yew, Chestnut and a number of large Maple trees can be found. Kentchurch Court is Steeped in history dating back as far as 1058. Read more about the house, family and history. The gardens are open to the public from Good Friday to 30 September. The house is available for group visits of 5 or more, by appointment only. Please check the calendar for opening times and days. Kentchurch Court is a perfect destination for walkers and cyclists to use as a base. Taking advantage of the tea room for their refreshments. Painting groups are welcome to use the gardens and house for inspiration and car clubs often include Kentchurch Court in their itineraries. Dogs are welcome on leads and most of […]
CLOSED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS RISK, PLEASE SEE STATEMENT BELOW We are sad to say that as of today, the museum will be CLOSED until further notice. We will not be taking any meeting room bookings nor will the shop be open. Stay safe, and we hope to see you in better times. Visit Hereford’s Cider Museum and explore the story of traditional cider making. Learn how the apples were milled and pressed and how the resulting juice was fermented to produce cider. Herefordshire is world famous for its cider and here is a wonderful way to discover its history and the traditions of how it was made, right through to the modern day. A tour of the Museum reveals the history of cidermaking and visitors have the opportunity of walking through original champagne cider cellars and viewing a cooper’s workshop, vat house and cider making memorabilia. View a rare collection of engraved English Lead Crystal cider glasses dating from the 18th century onwards and a collection of 19th century watercolours which were commissioned in 1865 to produce the Herefordshire Pomona – a book illustrating the different varieties of apples and pears grown. Group visits are welcome including school groups and […]
FURTHER UPDATE – Deer Park Campsite open on Saturday 4th July until 23rd August, then again from 6th to 30th September. AN UPDATE ON OUR OPENING… It’s so lovely to be open again that we’ve added extra days!* Open every Saturday, Sunday and Monday until Monday 13th July. For anyone home-schooling, we’ve also put together a page pointing to lots of learning resources around Castles! With the recent news that the majority of children are unlikely to go back to school until September, an Outdoor Learning Day at Eastnor visiting a real-life castle might be a welcome change of scenery! We hope to see you soon, don’t forget tickets are limited and must be pre-booked online! Adults: £5.00 Children (3–15yrs): £2.50 *Opening is still on a Limited Grounds Only basis – full information available on our website, please read before purchasing tickets. Eastnor Castle is a great day out for the whole family! Open to visitors on selected days from Easter until the end of September, there is plenty to entertain and amuse visitors of all ages, including dogs who are most welcome. Visitors can explore the state rooms within Eastnor Castle where guides are on hand in every room to […]
Hereford Museum is full of interesting local history with hands-on elements for all the family including a children’s Victorian kitchen and puppet theatre. Some of the most popular displays are a live bee hive, a two metre long sturgeon fish, and fascinating archaeology & fossils. The Art Gallery hosts regularly changing exhibitions of contemporary and historic art and objects. The Brian Hatton Gallery displays art works by local artist Brian Hatton, killed in the First World War. Hereford Museum and Art Gallery will be open the following hours in 2020, in partnership with the library service (opening times may vary at short notice) Tuesday and Wednesday 1-4pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10-1pm Half term extended opening Hours: Tuesday 27th October Open 10-4pm Wednesday 28th October Open 10-4pm The Museum and Art Gallery will be closed from the 1st December 2020 – 22nd January 2021 Numbers are restricted at any one time so if the library is full please return another day as there is no queuing system. Entry is free but donations are appreciated Toilets, wheelchair access via lift, tactile images and braille guides. Website Also see The Black White House Museum
The Black and White House Museum is a 17th Century timber-framed building The Black and White House Museum is a newly re-opened and refurbished magnificent Jacobean half-timbered building in the heart of Hereford City, furnished in period style. Built in 1621 and home in the past to butchers, saddlers and bankers. Explore the rooms which give a glimpse into daily life in the 17th Century. Including fashion, dining and bedrooms. Learn about the city during the Civil War. Hands on activities for children and families. For those unable to climb the stairs, a virtual tour is situated on the fully-accessible ground floor. There are also Braille and tactile images for the blind and visually impaired. Note parking is available close by. Take a look at the council car parks page. There are public toilet facilities nearby, but not on site. Opening Hours for 2020 (open hours may vary at short notice) Tuesday – Saturday 10-4 Sunday – 12-3 Open Monday 26th October 10-12 and 1-4 Closed for lunch 12-1 on the following dates: 20th, 21st, 22nd, 26th and 27th October Admission Charges Adults – £3 Children – £2 (under 5s free) Family ticket – £9.50 (2 adults and up to 3 children) Access to ground […]
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust works across the county, looking after its wonderful landscapes and wildlife – and inspiring others to do the same! The trust manage 59 nature reserves which range from the tiny – perfect pockets of meadow and woodland – to the expansive, such as the popular Queenswood Country Park. Touring the nature reserves is a fantastic way to discover the heart of Herefordshire as the trust conserve some of the best examples of the county’s orchards, meadows, riversides, woodland and lakes. Undertaking projects across Herefordshire with partner organisations, landowners and local communities to ensure maintainance of Living Landscapes where wildlife and people can thrive. Most recently work includes restoring a network of ponds across Bromyard Downs, Bringsty Common and National Trust Brockhampton estate as part of the Pooling Together project while along the Lower Lugg Valley, the trust have protected the river banks to improve the water quality and wildlife habitat for the future. Herefordshire Wildlife Trust run events, activities and courses throughout the year and across the county, for all ages. Why not join the WildPlay team for a morning of den making and outdoor cooking, enjoy a guided tour of the reserves with knowledgeable reserve officers or sign up […]
Let the Hereford Guild of Guides take you around the historic city of Hereford Guided Walks in the historic city of Hereford will run from September 1 until October 31 2020. Hereford Guild of Guides look forward to welcoming you on a GUIDED WALK around Hereford, at 11.30 daily, except on Sundays at 14.30. You will visit the site of the medieval castle and see Hereford’s interesting and historic buildings and other structures, hear about the history of the city through the ages from Saxon times, its role in the Civil War and its famous people and learn about Dan the dog! Tickets from the Cathedral Shop (from the Guide on Sundays) £5 for adults and £1 for accompanied children aged 6-12. Walks are limited to a maximum of 6 people to allow for social distancing. Meet your Guide outside the main entrance to the Cathedral. There is no need to book in advance but you will need to purchase a ticket from the Cathedral shop prior to joining the walk (or from the guide on Sundays if the shop is closed) – the charge is £5 per adult, £1 for accompanied children aged 6 – 12. Please note that we can only allow […]
The jewel in the crown of Herefordshire homes Hellens Manor still serves as a residence but is also open to the public, administered by the Pennington-Mellor-Munthe Charity Trust, and hosting tour groups as well as cultural events such as lectures, concerts, school field-trips, and literary discussions, forming a key part of the cultural life of Much Marcle. The inside of the manor is impressive with Tudor style architecture and fine delicacies. The manor was originally occupied by French Monks but a short while after in the year of 1096 the manor was granted to the De Balun family who became witnesses of the signing of the Magna Carta. In 1301 Hellens went to Lords Audley, a nephew James who was companion to the Black Prince rented the manor for a pair of silver spurs. Afterwards he then leased the manor to Walter De Helyon who then later gave his name to the house. Over the following centuries the manor passed through several hands including those of Richard Walwyn who became occupier of Hellens Manor in the late 14th century, in the 15th century the wealthy family made many changes to the house. The Audleys and Walwyns held court in the […]
At Frome Valley Vineyard there is a 1.5ha vineyard with nine different vine varieties. Classic English sparkling and still wines are made from the vineyard set among the orchards and hopyards of the Frome Valley. There is also a demonstration vineyard showing the main trellising systems used throughout the world. The shop sells seven still wines together with the award winning sparkling wine as wells as cider, brandy and other wine related gifts. Visit the winery and taste the wine and go on a tour round the demonstration vineyard. Opening times: WINERY: April-September:Tuesday-Thursday 11.30am-5.00pm or by arrangement. TOURS AND TASTINGS: By appointment. Please contact: 01885 490768 If you are travelling any distance please call us to ensure that we are available to meet you. We can accommodate groups of up to twenty people for tours and wine tastings. For more information please call: Jeanie Falconer, Owner 01885 490 768 or James Cumming, Vineyard Manager 07970 162 798
Update: the museum is closed until at least October 2020 CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS RISK, PLEASE READ THEIR FULL STATEMENT HERE. The Waterworks Museum – Hereford is a brilliant day out for the whole family as well as the engineering and history enthusiast. Suitable for all ages, this Museum is open one day a week – on a Tuesday between 11am and 4pm, and on 20 in-steam family days each year (Sundays and bank holidays). The Museum Charting the heritage of Herefordshire’s water supply, the Waterworks Museum – Hereford houses a unique collection of working industrial artifacts concerned with the supply of potable water, all in the authentic surroundings of a Victorian waterworks building and grounds. It might not be obvious, but the museum is a time-capsule of social history and the public health development in Herefordshire and beyond. The Museum has possibly the widest chronological range of working water-pumping devices in Britain, with exhibits spanning from 1850 to 2000, whilst authentic working replicas cover some of the earliest water-raising devices of the Greek and Roman periods. The Museum is home to more than thirty working engines of all types. From early beam engines to internal combustion, and everything in between including gas and […]
Home of the Mappa Mundi Hereford Cathedral is built on a place of worship used since Saxon times. It contains some of the finest examples of art and architecture from Norman times to the present day, including the famous Mappa Mundi, the medieval Chained Library and the Hereford Magna Carta. Hereford’s elegantly restored Cathedral Close sits at the heart of our historic city and diocese, with new social spaces, artworks and interpretation for you to enjoy. From Monday 27 July, the Mappa Mundi & Chained Library Exhibition will be reopening for visitors with a brand new exhibition, The Two Thomases. Further details here Mappa Mundi The Mappa Mundi is a unique medieval treasure, recording how scholars interpreted the world over 700 years ago. More than a thousand drawings and inscriptions show cities and towns, Biblical events, plants, animals, birds, strange creatures and monstrous races. The map bears the name of its author ‘Richard of Haldingham or Lafford’ (Holdingham and Sleaford in Lincolnshire). Recent research suggests a date of about 1300 for the creation of the map. Mappa Mundi is drawn on a single sheet of vellum (calf skin) measuring 64″ by 52″ (1.58 x 1.33 metres), tapering towards the […]
One of England’s best kept secrets, Hampton Court Castle is genuinely one of the most romantic houses in England The forerunner to the internationally renowned Hampton Court Palace in Surrey by some 80 years. Situated in the very heart of the Herefordshire, English countryside, the 15th Century Grade One Listed Castle is set in over 1000 acres of estate. The tastefully-appointed State Rooms, including the magnificent Ballroom and exquisitely hand-painted Chapel, are now open to the public for tours. The Castle also boasts 24 sumptuous bedrooms, with feature bathrooms, four of which can be viewed on our Castle tours. The original Victorian Walled Garden now contains breathtaking displays of flower beds, ornamental walkways, waterways, fountains, island pavilions, and cascades. The legendary wisteria tunnel is said to be almost 200 years old and leads to the Castle lawns and beyond to the secret garden and waterfall. Over a thousand yew trees have been planted to create a maze with a gothic tower at its centre offering panoramic views of the gardens. The ornamental kitchen garden includes fruits & vegetables all organically managed. Lunch or afternoon tea can be enjoyed in the Joseph Paxton designed Orangery Café where produce from the kitchen […]
Standing proud and strong, this fine Georgian mansion sits within Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s final garden and landscape. This year, we’re embarking on our ambitious Garden Project. This aims to restore, revive and reimagine ‘Capability’ Brown’s iconic walled garden and pleasure grounds for future generations. We’re working in partnership with local community groups to ensure the vision for the gardens are co-created and beneficial for the local community. We need to raise £200,000 to repair the garden walls, including the rare curved section, which is one of only two left surviving in this style. From July 2019, you’ll be able to step inside and explore this area for the first time. Find out how you can support the project on your next visit and ask the team about the various fundraising events and gardening workshops we have planned for the coming year. In the centre of the walled garden, you can discover ‘LOOK! LOOK! LOOK!’, a bold contemporary pavilion designed by internationally renowned artists, Heather and Ivan Morison. Inspired by Berrington’s Georgian origins and eighteenth-century culture, this 8-metre-tall by 8-metre-wide pink structure inhabits the walled garden; highlighting the importance of this piece of ‘living history’ as the final masterpiece of ‘Capability’ […]
