Worcester Oxford Train

With Birmingham to the north and Gloucester to the south, the city of Worcester is located in the West Midlands of England. The picturesque city is dominated by its cathedral and by the River Severn that runs though it. The city hosts a number of cultural events each year. The Worcester Festival celebrates a variety of music, theatre and cinema and is held every August. The festival concludes with a firework display on the banks of the River Severn on the Monday of the August Bank Holiday weekend. Now in its 4th year the city also hosts the Worcester Music Festival which includes original music performed mainly by local bands and artists. Performances are free and are held in the many bars, clubs and community buildings in the city, including churches. Another recently formed event is the Worcester Film Festival that was founded in 2012. The festival is focused on placing Worcestershire on the film-making map and encourages local people to get involved in film making. Finally, there is the Victorian themed Christmas Fayre which attracts many visitors each year.

Composer Sir Edward Elgar's father ran a music shop at the end of High Street and a statue of Sir Edward Elgar stands near the original location of that shop. His birthplace is a short way outside Worcester in the village of Broadheath.

Located in the county of Oxfordshire, the city of Oxford has a rich history and is famous for being home of the prestigious Oxford University, which is made up of 38 colleges. However, there is more to Oxford than the university. You can take a stroll around the city and discover lovely tea rooms and cafes, museums, many of which are free to enter, or explore the famous Botanic Gardens. The Gardens were founded by the Earl of Danby, Henry Danvers as a physic garden in 1621, and is the oldest botanic garden in Britain. It houses a good collection of trees and plants, has tropical greenhouses, a Bog Garden and a Rock Garden. To get an overview of the city before you begin walking, try climbing up Carfax Tower in the city centre. Other views over the city are available from the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin in the High Street, and St. Michael Northgate, in Cornmarket. All of these vantage points have small admission charges. Walking tours of the city centre depart from the Oxford Visitor Information Centre (unless otherwise stated) and last between 1.5 and 2 hours. As well as introductory guided walking tours, specially themed tours are also available.