Things to do in Hereford

Destination shopping, history, sport, museums and world class restaurants mean you’ll never be short of things to do in Hereford. Just a short drive from Discover Parks, it’s a cathedral city with a friendly, market town feel.  

Hereford’s top attractions

Hereford Cathedral

If you’re in the city, you must go to the cathedral. It stands at the convergence of Church Street, Broad Street and Castle Street in the tree lined Cathedral Close. The Close is well worth a stroll around as the buildings, including the Precentor’s House and the Archdeacon’s House, are both historic and stunning.

You’ll also see a sculpture of a bloke leaning on a bike! This is Sir Edward Elgar (Pomp & Circumstance, Enigma Variations, etc), leaning on his bike and gazing up at the cathedral. It was sculpted by Jenna Pearson and unveiled in 2005. Why Elgar? Between writing classical bangers, Elgar loved to cycle around the lanes of Herefordshire & Worcestershire. From 1904-1911he lived in the city at Plas Gwyn in the Hampton Park area.

(Image Visit Hereford)

Cloisters, crypts and carvings

Directly outside the cathedral watch the stonemasons working as they constantly repair and replace the ancient building. Inside there’s tombs of bygone bishops, a spectacular corona that’s suspended over the alter, the cloisters and the crypt. If it’s not a religious experience, it’ll certainly be an architectural one! There’s a mix of styles including Saxon, Norman, Early English, Gothic and Victorian.

It’s likely that there’s been a religious building on this site since the 8th century. The cathedral is dedicated to St Ethelbert the King, a Mercian king killed in AD 794, and St Mary the Virgin. The current building dates from between 1107 and 1158. (It’s a big old building so allow a couple of hours at least for your visit, and there’s a tearoom too!)

There’s a few things you must take a look at once you’re inside. The cathedral’s main organ is the ‘Father Willis’ organ and dates back to 1892 and is very loud! There’s the shrine of St Ethelbert and the tomb of St Thomas of Hereford (a bishop canonised 1320) in the north transept. There are also many historic carved memorials and tombs.

Hereford Cathedral 

(image Visit Hereford) 

Mappa Mundi and Chained Library 

Next door to the cathedral is a relatively new building that’s home to the Mappa Mundi, the largest medieval world map, and the Chained Library. 

Once displayed in the cathedral, by the 1980’s both were in need of urgent repair. The cathedral launched the Mappa Mundi Trust Appeal in 1988. One donor was the American oil magnate and philanthropist, John Paul Getty! The building was erected thanks to his and many other donations and now houses these artefacts. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II opened the building in 1996.

Mappa Mundi, Hereford 

The Castle Green – the site of Hereford Castle

Hereford Castle no longer exists, but it’s site is marked by the Castle Green, about a 5 minute walk from Hereford Cathedral. Little remains above ground except for earthworks (motte &bailey) and fragments of the moat. The Castle Green is a large open space where the castle’s outer bailey would have been.

The castle stood in a strategic position right by the River Wye. As the English and Welsh became more friendly and stopped killing each other, it’s strategic position declined. The Green was turned into landscaped ground in 1752 and in 1833 it was leased to the council for recreational use.

While Hereford Castle no longer remains, you’ll find plenty of excellent castles nearby: Castles in Herefordshire & Shropshire

(image Visit Hereford)

Museum of Cider, Hereford

Hereford is synonymous with the cider industry. Most notably its links with the Bulmer family.  

Who hasn’t heard of Strongbow (as strong as your thirst the advert said!), Woodpecker and Pomagne (a fizzy beverage made from local pears with a play on the word champagne)? People under 40 will be more familiar with Inch’s, Old Mout and Jaques, all from the Bulmer’s cider stable.  

Other famous brands coming from Herefordshire include Symonds, Dunkertons, Gwatkins and Westons. No wonder then, that there’s a museum dedicated to this apple drink.  

Bertram Bulmer and Norman Weston set up the Hereford Cider Museum Trust in 1973 to ensure the industry was documented. In 1981, after years of fundraising, the museum opened inside the grounds of the old Bulmer’s factory. 

The Museum has displays of cider making artefacts including an old cider brandy distillery. The Cider Museum Shop, stocks over 150 craft ciders and perries. It’s well worth a visit whether cider is your tipple or not! 

Cider Museum, Hereford

Waterworks Museum, Hereford

This unusual museum tells the story of how the drinking water supply reached Hereford and beyond. You don’t need to understand the workings of a triple expansion engine to marvel at how domestic drinking supplies came about. Exhibits from 1850 to 2000 include 50 machines, many of which are the only working examples still in existence.  

On 10 Sunday’s during the year there are ‘steam days’, when you can see these monster machines working. The smell is a throwback to a time long gone. There’s an onsite shop and a cafe selling homemade cakes and sandwiches. 

Don’t take tap water for granted – a visit to the Waterworks Museum will explain why.

Waterworks Museum, Hereford 

Learn more about the history of the city in our blog Historic Hereford

Hereford Racecourse  

Whether you’re a serious student of the form book or you just like to see beautiful racehorses up close, then Hereford Races are worth a visit during the season.  

A National Hunt course, the grandstand has unrivalled views across the city. The course has played a part in the careers of Herefordshire horse racing dynasties like the Biddlecombe’s and the Scudamore’s. Trainers including Venetia Williams, and jockeys from Aiden Coleman to Sam Twiston- Davies also have close links to the course.

Hereford is one of the oldest courses on the English racing circuit. The season runs from October to May with around 15 race days including special events like Ladies Day and Christmas events.  

Hereford Racecourse 

The Courtyard Theatre, Hereford

Fun fact – when you’re sat in the Courtyard’s main theatre (or The Yard Theatre as it’s also known) you’re just where the deep end of the old Hereford Swimming Baths used to be!  

The Courtyard building is an architectural mix of glass, steel, and wood. It has 2 spaces – the main auditorium seating 400 and the studio seating around 140.  

A wide range of performances and exhibitions can be seen. From blockbuster films to top tours, comedy to drama, musicals to dance, pantomime to visual arts.  The Courtyard Cafe Bar is an award-winning eatery, but you’re also only a 5-minute walk from all the restaurants in Hereford’s Old Market Shopping Centre.  

The Courtyard Theatre, Hereford

(image Visit Hereford)

The Old House  

So called because it’s old! It’s also known as the Black and White House, because, you’ve guessed it, it’s black and white!  

The Old House is a Grade 1, timber framed, Jacobean building built in 1621. It’s the only surviving building from ‘Butchers Row’ after the rest of the buildings were demolished in the 1800s. Now a museum it gives glimpse into the life of a merchant and his family in the 17th century. 

Standing in front of the Old House is a fairly new sculpture of a bull. It’s a bronze depicting the famous Hereford breed and has been in situ since 2012. The bull’s become a meeting point for people and an ideal backdrop for a Hereford selfie! 

Old House, Hereford 

(image Visit Hereford)

Hereford Museum and Art Gallery 

This is a bit of a curved ball, because the city’s museum and art gallery is currently closed for renovation and redevelopment. However, you can still admire the Victorian Gothic building in Broad Street from the outside. (Extreme left above) 

The façade features a ground‑floor arcade of five arches, dressed stone detailing, carved animal/plant motifs and signs of the zodiac.   

You won’t be able to see its local archaeological exhibits, gallery and historical collections until around mid-2027. But when you can – it’ll be free! 

Hereford Market

There’s three distinct market features in Hereford and just outside the city:

The Old Market Shopping Centre

This is the Hereford’s, fairly new, shopping and eating area and sits on the site of the city’s old cattle market.

The cattle market on this site served the county’s agricultural community for over 150 years. In the early days drovers took stock to market through the city streets! Later, farmers from Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Shropshire brought their stock to market every Wednesday- and the traffic was a nightmare!

The decision was taken to move the market form the city centre and it closed in 2009. The market now has a purpose built, 48 acre home at Stretton Sugwas, northwest of the city.

Now, The Old Market Shopping centre has parking for 600, and many leading shops and restaurants. Among the shops you’ll find Matalan, Next, Fat Face, Jules, Waitrose and TK Maxx. If it’s food you’re after, it’s the original home of the Beefy Boys, plus there’s ZiZi’s, Nando’s, Miller and Carter and plenty more.

Hereford Markets

There are general markets in High Town on Wednesday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s, selling local produce and crafts.

Learn more about the best shopping spots in our blog Shopping in the City of Hereford

Things to do with the kids in Hereford  

(image Visit Hereford)

Hereford Cinema 

Odeon Hereford is situated in the Old Market Shopping Centre. It has 6 screens, a cinema bar and serves Costa Coffee. The screens are on the 1^st floor accessed by lift or escalator. It’s right by the Old Market restaurants for pre or post film meals. 

ODEON Hereford Cinema

Play Planet Hereford 

This is the biggest soft play centre for kids in Herefordshire. There are separate play areas for under 2’s, under 4’s and 4-12year olds. With wavy and enclosed slides, tunnels, rope bridges, spider web climbing and more. The whole environment is air conditioned as things can get quite warm! 

The centre is safe as only staff can allow access to the play space. There’s a large cafe area serving hot and cold drinks and food.  

Play Planet, Hereford

Flip Out Hereford  

If you like bouncing then this is for you! Housed in a massive warehouse-style building on the outskirts of the city, it’s full of incredible inflatable stuff. There’s massive drop slides to travelators and free fall drops to a ninja wipeout experience.

There’s also an inflatable obstacle course, a football shoot out, foam blocks to jump on or over, and an interactive climbing wall that’s surrounded by inflatables so it’s fine to take a tumble! 

You need to buy special socks to access the equipment – but you can use these on any subsequent visits. This is a brilliant experience for both parents and kids alike as everyone can have a go!  

All this activity will make you hungry and thirsty so you can visit the Park View cafe overlooking the whole of the floor space. Pizzas, paninis, jacket potatoes, waffles, milkshakes and more are available. Tuck in and watch people tumbling about below! 

Flip Out, Hereford

Hereford Bowl

This is 10 pin bowling just a few minutes’ walk from the city centre. It’s housed in an old railway shed with 17 lanes to choose from. There’s pool tables, an arcade, plus much more to keep you busy.  

Hereford Bowl 

As you’ve seen, Hereford is about so much more than cider and cattle. Come and stay at Discover Parks and immerse yourself in all that the city and county has to offer.

FAQ about Hereford