Best Things to Do in Hereford (Herefordshire, England)

Hereford is a city of cathedrals, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, about 16 miles (26 km) east of the border with Wales. The city can offer you multiple best things to do in Hereford, where you can explore the culture, history, architecture etc. etc. 

World primarily know it as a trading centre for a broad agricultural and rural area. Hereford’s products include cider, beer, leather goods, nickel alloys, poultry, chemicals and cattle, including the famous Hereford breed.  

Let’s talk about the 8 Best Things to Do in Hereford :

1. Black and White House Museum 
2. Mappa Mundi
3. Hereford Cathedral
4. Chained Library.
5. All Saints Church
6. St Francis Xavier’s Church
7. Bull Statue
8. Waterworks Museum

Also read:- Things to Do in Knaresborough (North Yorkshire, England)

1. Black and White House Museum

Here is the most prized landmark of Hereford, and adviseable for the best things to do in Hereford. This Jacobian timber house started in the 1620 century.

Also famous as the Old House, the Black and White House has led to bay windows and exquisite carvings on its gates and eagles.

The building started as a butcher shop and was a commercial building until 1929 when the Lloyds Bank branch closed and became a museum.

The interior is frozen in time and has rare frescoes, here is an essential collection of English oak furniture and information panels on Jacobian life in Oxford.

Children can entertain themselves by solving interactive puzzles and dressing up in period costumes.

2. Cathedral Of Hereford 

Someone with an eye for medieval architecture will be thoroughly familiar with Hereford Cathedral.

Cathedral first raised in the 7th century and rebuilt at Norman period in 1079 and the middle of 12th century.

This Romanesque building shines through many of the pillars. It has the arches connecting the northern transept with the semi-circular arches of the cavity, the clerical trek, the south transect and the arches.

The choir stalls feature 40 folding seats of the 14th century, carved with quaint parrot faces, everyday scenes, and mythical animals. Give yourself time here to inspect the burial monuments for the 12th and 13th-century bishops of Hereford and the baptismal font south of the nave.

The medieval architecture makes this as best things to do in Hereford.

3. Mappa Mundi, Hereford

Mappa Mundi is one of the best things to do in Hereford. In 1996 the New Library Building was opened in the southeast corner of Cathedral Close to provide protection of this medieval treasure as well as suitable climatic conditions for the Cathedral’s Chand Library.

Mappa Mundi is from a medieval map of the world, dating from the early 14th century.

It is the most extensive surviving medieval map in the world and possibly the most essential demonstrated ancient document in the nation. Covering 158 x 133 cm and drawn on a sheet of vellum (calf-skin), the text depicts Jerusalem at its focus, and you can also choose the Garden of Eden.

There are about 500 pictures on the map, showing images from cities and towns, people of the world, natural life and classical mythology.

The map may be a bit mysterious to modern eyes, but there are interpretation boards, and you hear explanations by a resident expert.

4. Chained Library, Hereford

If you watched the 5th and 6th seasons of Game of Thrones, you would have noticed that the library in the Citadel has chains on its shelves.

The inspiration came from a real historical security system, such as you would encounter here at the Chained Library of Hereford Cathedral. That’s why it the best things to do in Hereford.

It is the single library of its kind to survive with all its chains, rods and working order and locks in place.

The first building dates back to the 17th century, while the new library building now contains 229 medieval manuscripts, with shelves arranged from 1611 to 1841. The book collection is ancient, and its most valuable book is the Hereford Gospels from the 8th century.

5. All Saints Church

This church is on the High Street of the High Town is hard to miss for It’s Twist Spire.

The monument dates back to the 1200s and looks to a large extent after a refurbish during the 14th-century era.

It has also become a community centre following restoration in the 1990s. At the same time, it is famous for a wide variety of theatre performances and concerts.

It can be considered as best things to in the city as the church is at the centre of daily life. The popular café @ All Saints is here for its vegetarian options and with an outdoor terrace at the front. 

Also read:- Best Things to Do in Cromer (Norfolk, England)

6. St Francis Xavier’s Church

On Broad Street, your eye can get it attracted to this temple-like Neoclassical Church.

St. Francis Xavier was completed in 1839 and had a gateway of two-weight Doric columns.

The Roman Catholic Society of Jesus founded the church after the Catholic Relief Act of 1829, which allowed the marginalization of British society to sit in the Catholic Parliament centuries later.

The anti-Catholic sentiment was still strong in the country at this time and may explain that this church has no window, fearing their breakdown.

The luxurious interior is light up by a lightwell and has beautiful stuccowork, and an altar built by two ionic columns make it as one of the best things to do in Hereford.

7. Statue Of Bull, Hereford

Several people throughout the world, the name “Hereford” will always be associated with a breed of cows that arose in the county of Herefordshire.

There are five million pure Hereford cattle in some 50 countries around the world.

The local football team, Hereford FC, is named “The Bulls” and parade a real Hurford bull around the pitch on Edgar Street before every home game.

And to recognize that this is a bovine city, there is a life-size bronze statue of Angford Bull. Unveiled in 2012 outside the Black and White House Museum. This statue is the most visited attraction and as well make this the best things to do in Hereford.

8. Waterworks Museum, Hereford

A picturesque walk along the Wye west of the High Town, the museum has been housed in a Victorian water pumping station since 1856. The Waterworks Museum has the most extensive assortment of pumping engines in working condition in the UK. There are the industrial revolution, as well as petrol, diesel and gas engines. And also steam-powered beam engines from modern submarine electric pumps.

The show-stopping attraction is the two-story triple expansion steam engine, the oldest machine of its kind still operating the country.

Building restored in the 19th century, exhibitions recall the history of drinking water in human civilization.

There are trails for children where they can play with replicas of ancient water lifters. And with working models of Victorian steam pumping engines.

Also read: 10 Best Things to Do in Bridlington (Yorkshire, England)

Hereford is a beautiful city and a place where you can see things grow. Where you can kick back, relax and enjoy the balanced pace of life. It is about people, community and specific character. 

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