
Set in the heart of England between the Malvern Hills and the mellow Cotswolds, Worcestershire is the home of Worcester Porcelain, Worcestershire sauce, Morgan sports cars and Malvern Spring water. Stately homes and magnificent churches abound in and around famous spa towns.
Restaurants make good use of fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit in season, some grown in their own kitchen gardens or sought in The Vale of Evesham, known historically as England's market garden.
The Elms HotelThe sumptuous elegance of The Elms Hotel at Abberley, near Worcester, offers an opulent, fine dining experience fit for monarchs.
, Abberley, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern British
Bank House HotelCradled within the Malvern Hills lies the Bank House Hotel, located within its own magnificent, secluded setting and complete with an 18 hole golf course.
Golf & Country Club, Bransford, Worcestershire - Cuisine: British
Buckland ManorIt's hard to imagine a more perfect English pastoral scene than this ancient gabled manor beside St Michael's thirteenth-century church, framed against immaculate gardens and panoramic Cotswold countryside.
Buckland, Broadway, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern British
Dormy House HotelDormy House is a 17th century former farmhouse retaining all of the original features and has loads of exposed beams creating a warm atmosphere.
Willersey Hill, Broadway, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Classic
Russell'sBilled as 'a boutique restaurant-with-rooms' in the heart of touristy Broadway, Russell's is the brainchild of experienced hoteliers Barry Hancox and Andrew Riley.
20 High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern British
The Lygon ArmsIf the Cotswolds is an idealised chocolate-box vision of Olde England, then the splendid sixteenth-century Lygon Arms is one of its choice selections.
High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern French
Grafton ManorHome to the 'Earls of Grafton' (aka. the Morris family) since 1945, this old manor house still sports Elizabethan-style chimneys, a carved sandstone porch, tall mullioned windows and even a private chapel - making it a highly popular wedding hotspot.
Grafton Lane, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern European
Maekong ThaiSpread over two floors close to Bromsgrove town centre, Maekong Thai has made quite a name for itself as a reputable venue for authentic food.
12 Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Thai
Nailers ArmsThe Nailers Arms is a traditional country pub that is as much a favourite with locals propping the bar with an ale as it is with diners in the adjoining modern restaurant.
62 Doctor's Hill, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Contemporary
The Bell & CrossRoger Narbett has been a well-known figure on the Midlands restaurant scene for many years (he's also chef to the England football team) and his latest venture is this tall, mustard-coloured hostelry at the foot of the Clent hills (two miles from junction 3 of the M5).
Holy Cross, Clent, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Rossini's RestaurantA popular choice for traditional Italian food in Droitwich, Rossini's Restaurant has been tastefully done out with modern fittings, muted colour schemes and black leather chairs around neatly laid tables.
6 Worcester Road, Droitwich, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Italian
The Hadley Bowling Green InnHadley Bowling Green is the oldest in Britain, and was probably laid out during the reign of Elizabeth I (although club records only date back to 1775).
Hadley Heath, Droitwich, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Rily's RestaurantIn a scenic setting overlooking the river Avon, Rily's of Evesham is a smart yet unstuffy Indian restaurant in the rural market town of Evesham.
2 - 3 Waterside, Evesham, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Indian
Riverside Restaurant and HotelAs its name gives away, The Riverside commands magnificent views over the River Avon from its own attractive, secluded location.
The Parks, Evesham, Worcestershire - Cuisine: European
Salford Hall Hotel & RestaurantSalford Hall has stood since 1470 and in its rather varied past it has existed as an Abbott's retreat, a school, and since 1989 a hotel.
Abbots Salford, Evesham, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern British
The Evesham HotelJohn Jenkinson and family have been running this quirkily idiosyncratic Cotswold hotel since the '70s and show no signs of calling it a day.
Coopers Lane, Evesham, Worcestershire - Cuisine: International
Brockencote Hall'A taste of France in the heart of England' just about sums up Brockencote Hall. You approach this imposing Victorian mansion via a long drive that winds its way through 70 acres of grounds, past fine specimen trees, a dovecote and a lake.
Chaddesley Corbett, Kidderminster, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern French
Stone Manor HotelDiscreetly situated in 25 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens and grounds two miles from Kidderminster, Stone Manor is an imposing Tudor-style building that has established an enviable reputation as a country house hotel.
Stone, Kidderminster, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern European
The Granary Hotel and RestaurantFor 25 years, The Granary has existed as a popular, family-run Hotel and Restaurant, set within its own secluded, beautifully-appointed spot that offers respite from the pressures of modern life.
Heath Lane, Kidderminster, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern
The TalbotFor more than two decades, Annie and her sister Wiz Clift have been running this seriously rustic, white-painted hostelry overlooking the River Teme as part local boozer and part restaurant-with-rooms.
, Knightwick, Worcestershire - Cuisine: British
Colwall Park, Seasons RestaurantThe great Malvern ridge looms tantalisingly behind the glorious landscaped gardens belonging to this substantial – but charming – Edwardian hotel.
Walwyn Road, Malvern, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern British
Cottage in the Wood HotelSet among the rolling Malvern Hills, the family-run Cottage in the Wood Hotel occupies a secluded spot aloft the countryside beyond and commands truly breathtaking panoramic views over the valley.
Holywell Road, Malvern, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern English
Holdfast Cottage Hotel'What a luv-er-ly little place, teddy bears and all,' wrote Paddy Burt in the Weekend Telegraph, and this enchanting country cottage known as Holdfast Cottage Hotel, at the foot of the Malvern Hills certainly weaves a very special kind of magic.
Marlbank Road, Malvern, Worcestershire - Cuisine: British
Crown & Sandys HotelThe name derives from a link between King Charles I and the local Sandys family during the English Civil Wars, but today this Dutch-gabled, white-painted coaching inn functions as a family-friendly pub/hotel/restaurant.
Main Road, Ombersley, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern European
Venture InThe Venture In is reckoned to be the oldest building in Ombersley - a village full of historic, half-timbered dwellings.
Main Street, Ombersley, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern British
Belle House Restaurant & BarBelle House is the exciting conversion of a local council building on the main road through Pershore. It's now a stylish modern restaurant and bar decorated in natural shades and fitted out with square tables and wicker chairs; next door there's Belle House Traiteur – a French-style deli selling all kinds of provisions and ready-made meals from the restaurant kitchen.
Bridge Street, Pershore, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern European
The Angel Inn HotelThe Angel Inn, located alongside the shops and hostelries of Pershore's High Street, offers all the comforts of a traditional town house of days of yore.
9 High Street, Pershore, Worcestershire - Cuisine: International
GR RestaurantThe vibrant GR Restaurant is at the hub of the award winning Holiday Inn Express hotel in Redditch. Ideally located near Redditch train station, within easy reach of the NEC, Birmingham and near the M42, this modern air-conditioned hotel with wi-fi and work desk in each room, is perfect for a business stop over or a leisure break, that won't break the bank.
Holiday Inn Express Redditch, Redditch, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern British
Brook InnThe Brook Inn at Elcocks Brook near Redditch, guide entry suspended.
Elcocks Brook, Redditch, Worcestershire - Cuisine:
Old Rectory Hotel RestaurantThe Old Rectory is a charming 500 year old building set within its own attractive and secluded grounds. The airy and spacious Conservatory is the home for the restaurant, commanding views over the garden.
Ipsley Lane, Redditch, Worcestershire - Cuisine:
Whites Restaurant at the Rose & CrownThe Rose & Crown is the new home of Whites Restaurant, formerly Whites @The Clockhouse. Local girl Sarah Macdonald and her partner took over the pub in November 2009, sympathetically refurbishing the property which is now packed full of character and exudes a warm and friendly ambience.
Boraston Lane, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern British
The White Lion HotelCivil War connections and centuries of history lie behind this venerable coaching inn, which dates back to 1510 and still has its quota or ancient timbers, plaster walls and other original features.
High Street, Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern European
Boot InnA family run business, The Boot Inn used to be a Coaching Inn and parts of it can be traced back as far as the 13thcentury.
Radford Road, Worcester, Worcestershire - Cuisine: English
Brown's RestaurantLong-serving Brown's (now more than 20 years old) occupies a mighty converted grain mill by the banks of the Severn, and it makes the most of its stunning waterside location.
The Old Cornmill, Worcester, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Anglo French
King Charles II RestaurantStep back in time and enjoy a classical dining experience at Worcester's King Charles II Restaurant. Housed in a black and white building that pre-dates the English Civil War, the restaurant that you see today was once a merchant house in the Cromwellian era and in later years an antique shop.
29 New Street, Worcester, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Classic English
Pear Tree InnThe Pear Tree Inn, a traditional country inn that was once a cider house, is widely renowned for its idyllic location, excellent food and friendly hospitality.
Smite, Worcester, Worcestershire - Cuisine: European
The Glasshouse BrasserieHaving re-located from its original premises in Church Street, the Glasshouse occupies a custom-built, three-floor venue with great views of the city and the cathedral.
Danesbury House, Worcester, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Modern British
Valentino's RestaurantValentino's Restaurant on Foregate Street is a traditional Italian restaurant, offering an imaginative and extensive menu that incorporates classic pizzas and pasta dishes alongside meat and fish specialities, complete with a good Italian wine list and attentive service.
43 Foregate Street, Worcester, Worcestershire - Cuisine: Italian