Photo: Tony Grist (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Herefordshire
Wondering what to do in Herefordshire? This guide lists the area's attractions — zoos, museums, theme parks and more — with distances, so you can plan every day of your trip.
🎟️ This weekend near Herefordshire
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 23:00
Lust - Sweet Temptation
Tramps Worcester, Worcester · 23.2 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 20:00
Funhouse Comedy Club - Comedy Night
Corn Exchange, Ross-on-Wye · 14.6 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Holborn Audio Tour: Inns of Court, Diamonds and the Viaduct
Gray's Inn Chapel, London · 18.6 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Worcester Audio Tour: Historic Gems
Corn Exchange, Worcester, Worcester · 23.3 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Museums & Galleries
3.2 mi from Herefordshire
Museum of Cider
The Museum of Cider explores the rich history of cider, housed in the old Bulmer's cider factory in Hereford, Herefordshire. You can explore the museum's collection, learn about th...
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3.4 mi from Herefordshire
Herefordshire Museum Resource Centre
The Herefordshire Museum Resource Centre, known as the History Store, holds an amalgam of art, archaeology, costumes, social history and natural science collections. You can explor...
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3.4 mi from Herefordshire
Old House
Grade I listed historic house museum in Hereford, Herefordshire, England,UK
3.5 mi from Herefordshire
Waterworks Museum
The Waterworks Museum occupies a Grade II* listed Victorian pumping station in Hereford, open since 1974 and run entirely by volunteers. Inside you'll find over 50 engines and pump...
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3.5 mi from Herefordshire
Mappa Mundi and Chained Library
At Hereford Cathedral you can see the famous Mappa Mundi, a medieval map of the world made around 1300 on a single sheet of vellum, showing how Christian Europe understood geograph...
3.6 mi from Herefordshire
Broomy Hill railway and Hereford society of model engineers
narrow gauge railway
3.9 mi from Herefordshire
Herefordshire Regimental Museum
Herefordshire Regimental Museum tells the story of the Herefordshire Light Infantry, the Herefordshire Regiment and the Herefordshire Rifle Volunteers, volunteer soldiers from this...
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6.7 mi from Herefordshire
Weobley Museum & Local History Centre
Weobley Museum & Local History Centre occupies the village's former Magistrates Court and Police Station, next to the Library, and is run by volunteer stewards from the Weobley and...
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8.7 mi from Herefordshire
Leominster Museum
Leominster Museum, formerly known as Leominster Folk Museum, is an independent, volunteer-run, museum in Leominster, Herefordshire, England. — Wikipedia
12.1 mi from Herefordshire
The Time Machine Museum of Science Fiction
Museum in Bromyard, Herefordshire, England, UK
12.1 mi from Herefordshire
Local and Family History Centre
The Local & Family History Centre is based at 5 Sherford St, Bromyard, Herefordshire, and run by the Bromyard & District Local History Society. It offers a research room, an exhibi...
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13.9 mi from Herefordshire
Kington Museum
Kington Museum is a volunteer-run local history museum in the market town of Kington, Herefordshire, England. It opened in June 1986 and occupies the stable block of the former Kin... — Wikipedia
15.8 mi from Herefordshire
Tenbury Museum
Tenbury Museum is housed in Goff's School, a small Victorian school building in Tenbury Wells, and tells the story of the town's development as a market town, once allegedly descri...
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16.2 mi from Herefordshire
The Judge's Lodging
The Judge's Lodging is a museum in Presteigne, Powys, that recreates an 1870s judge's household, including a courtroom with public gallery and curious Victorian details such as a d...
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17.9 mi from Herefordshire
Malvern Museum
Malvern Museum of Local History is housed in the town's ancient Benedictine Priory Gatehouse, in the centre of Great Malvern. Inside you'll find themed rooms covering the Malvern H...
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18.5 mi from Herefordshire
Ludlow Museum
Ludlow Museum at the Buttercross is a small museum set within the town's historic Buttercross building, built between 1743 and 1746. Inside you'll find fossils, the ancient Bitterl...
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Theme Parks
23.9 mi from Herefordshire
Go Ape Forest of Dean Mallards Pike
Go Ape Mallards Pike sits within one of England's largest ancient forests, offering the Forest of Dean's toughest Go Ape with two Tarzan Swings and zips up to 180 metres through th...
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24.4 mi from Herefordshire
Go Ape Wyre
Go Ape Wyre is a treetop adventure course set among towering Douglas firs in Wyre Forest's 'Valley of the Giants', offering high ropes, obstacles and zip wires for ages four and up...
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Water Parks
Zoos & Wildlife
13.3 mi from Herefordshire
Small Breeds Farm Park
Small Breeds Farm Park is a zoo and wildlife attraction in Kington Rural, Herefordshire. Visit the Larger Animals, including Pygmy Goats, Miniature Horses, Miniature Donkeys, Alpac...
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27.2 mi from Herefordshire
West Midlands Safari Park
West Midlands Safari Park is a wildlife and theme park in Bewdley, Wyre Forest, combining four miles of drive-through safari with a walk-through Safari Walk and an Adventure Theme...
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28.8 mi from Herefordshire
Slimbridge Wetland Centre
Slimbridge Wetland Centre is a wildlife reserve and visitor attraction where you can explore adventure play areas, take a canoe safari, join expert-led talks and tours, and visit S...
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Where to stay near Herefordshire
Places to stay within easy reach of these days out.
Getting your bearings
Herefordshire suits a slower pace. Instead of one headline attraction, you'll find a scattering of castles, country houses and outdoor spaces, plus a handful of museums in the county and just over its borders in Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Powys. This guide sorts them by type so you can match each day to the weather and to whoever's coming with you.
Heritage: castles and country houses
This is where Herefordshire is strongest. Its landmarks include Croft Castle, Brampton Bryan Castle, Hay Castle and Homme House, alongside the stately homes Canon Frome Court and The Mynde. Three of the county's listed landmarks are National Trust properties, among them Berrington Hall and The Weir.
Historic houses don't all keep the same arrangements. Some private estates open only occasionally or by appointment, so check each one's own website for current access and opening days before you set off. If you're a National Trust member, keep your card handy.
Outdoors
The Weir, a National Trust site, is a natural choice for a few unhurried hours outside. Where the grounds of the county's castles and country houses are open to visitors, you can easily combine a look indoors with a stroll outside.
If you don't mind crossing the border, Coppett Hill Butterfly Site is listed under Monmouthshire. For wildlife like this, a warm, settled day gives you the best chance of seeing something, so save it for when the forecast is kind.
Rainy days
The Black & White House Museum is the indoor option within Herefordshire itself. If you're happy to drive further, there's a good choice of museums in neighbouring counties:
- Shire Hall Museum and Coleford Great Western Railway Museum, both listed under Monmouthshire
- Dean Heritage Museum and Discovery Centre, Museum of Gloucester, both in Gloucestershire
- Stourbridge Glass Museum and Greyfriars, both in Worcestershire
- The Robert Owen Museum in Powys
Travel times vary, so look at a map before committing to anything over the border on a wet afternoon.
With children
The Black & White House Museum makes a manageable first museum stop, especially when it's raining. For water play, Croft Farm Waterpark is listed under Cheltenham and there's a Splash Pad in Worcestershire. Children who love trains may enjoy Coleford Great Western Railway Museum, while the National Telephone Kiosk Collection in Worcestershire offers something a bit different. Check age suitability, facilities and whether you need to book before you go.
Putting together a sensible day
Herefordshire is rural, and journeys can take longer than you expect. Two main stops a day is plenty. A few combinations that work well:
- Heritage day: a castle in the morning and a country house in the afternoon, such as Croft Castle followed by Berrington Hall. Check the route between them first.
- Changeable weather day: start indoors at the Black & White House Museum, then head out to The Weir if the skies clear.
- Cross-border museum day: pair two museums in the same neighbouring county, such as Dean Heritage Museum and Discovery Centre, Museum of Gloucester in Gloucestershire, so you're not zigzagging.
Where to eat
We don't currently list specific places to eat for this area, so here's how to plan meals. Food hygiene ratings are usually displayed at the door or can be looked up online, and they're worth checking. Larger heritage properties sometimes have a café, but confirm this before relying on one. For outdoor days, a packed lunch saves time and gives you more flexibility. In rural areas, book evening meals ahead, especially at weekends.
Turning it into a short break
With 187 places to stay on BritStays in Herefordshire, you can choose a base that suits your plans. A simple three-day outline:
- Day one: arrive, settle in and visit one nearby landmark, perhaps The Weir.
- Day two: a full heritage day, such as Croft Castle and Berrington Hall, or Hay Castle if that's closer to your base.
- Day three: keep it flexible. Choose a museum if it's wet or somewhere outdoors if it's fine, then head home.
Pick where you stay according to what matters most to you. If the castles are the main draw, look for a stay with easy access to the ones you most want to see. Hosts can be a useful source of local tips, so it's worth asking them.
Practical tips before you go
- Check opening days and access for every historic house and castle, as some open only occasionally.
- Remember that several attractions in this guide are in neighbouring counties, and allow time for the drive.
- Pack waterproofs and sturdy shoes, even in summer.
- Download maps in advance, as phone signal can be patchy in rural areas.
- Keep a rainy-day option up your sleeve, such as the Black & White House Museum.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main heritage sites in Herefordshire?
Herefordshire's landmarks include Croft Castle, Brampton Bryan Castle, Hay Castle, Homme House, Canon Frome Court, The Mynde, Berrington Hall and The Weir. Check opening arrangements before visiting, as some private estates open only occasionally.
Which Herefordshire landmarks are National Trust properties?
Three of the county's listed landmarks are National Trust properties, including Berrington Hall and The Weir. Members should bring their card.
Is there a museum in Herefordshire for a rainy day?
Yes. The Black & White House Museum is the indoor option within the county. Further afield, there are museums such as Dean Heritage Museum in Gloucestershire and Shire Hall Museum in Monmouthshire.
Are there water parks near Herefordshire for children?
There are no water parks within the county in our listings. Croft Farm Waterpark is listed under Cheltenham and there's a Splash Pad in Worcestershire, so allow for travel time.
How many attractions should I plan for in one day?
Two main stops is usually plenty, because Herefordshire is rural and journeys can take longer than expected. One example is Croft Castle in the morning and Berrington Hall in the afternoon, once you've checked the route.
How many places to stay are there in Herefordshire on BritStays?
There are 187 places to stay in Herefordshire on BritStays. Choose a base close to the attractions you most want to see.
More ways to explore
Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in Herefordshire.