The market town of Leominster is historic and characterful. Crammed with quirky shops and cafes, surrounded by stunning countryside, there’s plenty of things to do in Leominster making it well worth a visit.
Leominster (pronounced Lem-ster, and don’t get it wrong as it drives the locals mad!) is one of Herefordshire’s most characterful market towns. Home to a striking Priory church, the distinctive Grange Court, and unusual independent shops, there’s lots to see and plenty of things to do in Leominster as our blog reveals.
Leominster is a 10-minute drive from Arrow Bank, 15 minutes from Pearl Lake, and half an hour from Rockbridge.
(Image Visit Herefordshire)
The Priory is a stunning church just minutes from the town centre. Founded in 1123, and originally a collection of buildings forming a monastery for a community of Benedictine monks.
When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, the priory buildings, including the cloisters, were destroyed. However, the church survived because it was serving the local people.
The Priory church today is a mix of Norman and medieval architecture. There’s lots of carvings and unusual details to see.
A highlight for any visit to the Priory is the rare, historic ducking stool. The stool was used to punish ‘scolds’. Scolds were generally women who were found guilty of nagging and being disruptive! It was last used to dunk Jenny Pipes, in 1809
It’s a real piece of social history!
Interesting fact – there’s a huge tree between the Priory and the War Memorial. It’s a Verdun oak grown from an acorn taken from Verdun, a WWI battlefield site. It commemorates the fallen from Leominster during the Great War.
A truly stunning, Grade II listed, half-timbered building that was once the town’s market house. It’s a few minutes’ walk from the town centre. In the 17th century it was right in the middle of Leominster and called the ‘Butter Crosse’.
The building served the town both as market place and civic centre. By the 19th century, Leominster had grown and the Grange building had become something of a blockage in the middle of town. In the 1850s it was taken apart, piece by piece, and taken to its present location near the Priory.
Today it houses a dog friendly cafe (open Monday to Saturday), it’s a wedding venue and serves as a general meeting place for locals.
In front of the Grange is a wide open space that was originally the centre of the old monastery’s farming activities. Over the years it’s been used for a variety of things including cricket and tennis matches, to a gathering place for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Today it’s a great space for letting kids run off steam and giving the dog a stretch.
Just to the left of the Grange is a large play area for kids.
Not a massive museum, but worth a visit to understand how Leominster has evolved over time. The museum tracks the town from Roman times to the present day.
Full of artefacts, it includes a collection of paintings by Victorian artist, John Scarlett Davis, one of the town’s most famous sons. (the other one is Jarrod Bowen who plays for West Ham and England!)
Located on Broad Street, this gallery is named after father and son wildlife artists Patrick and Michael Oxenham. It was opened in 2014 by Michael’s daughter Alice, who believes art should be accessible to everyone. You’ll find pieces to suit all budgets alongside pottery, jewellery and gifts.
Leominster has built a reputation as an antique hub in the UK. There are over 20 dealers in and around the town centre. The town regularly features on TV antique shows including ‘Bargain Hunt’ and ‘Antiques Road Trip’. Because there are so many antiques shops so close together, it’s an ideal filming location!
Take a browse around the antique shops including:
Second-hand Warehouse – over 12,500sq ft to browse so there’s always plenty of large items including dining tables and dressers. They also stock plenty of smaller items like jewellery and ceramics.
The Merchants House – is a cafe downstairs and an antique shop upstairs. The building is Grade II, black and white and is located in Corn Square. Lots of antiques and collectables to browse including books and glassware.
Leominster Antiques Centre – includes an outside space where you’ll find larger architectural antique pieces. There’s lots of rooms to explore and a large range of vintage and retro items too.
War & Sons – military antiques and medals experts based in Broad Street. A father and son partnership who buy and sell collectables in the military field.
But it’s not just Georgian furniture and tables with Queen Anne legs that the town has in abundance! There’s some fabulous, one-off shops and some welcoming cafes and restaurants to take a break in!
(Image Visit Herefordshire)
Situated in Drapers Lane, a historic, narrow pedestrianised street that connects Corn Square and the High Street. Sassy is a light, bright boutique shop selling a wide selection of women’s clothes and accessories at really affordable prices.
Shopping in Sassy is like having your own personal shopper! The staff are super helpful and keen to show you the quirky, stylish pieces on offer.
Sassy stocks lots of independent brands including Goose Island and Last True Angel. As well as clothes, there’s unusual handbags, scarves, jewellery and sunglasses. You’ll be hard pressed not to come out with something!
These guys make handmade bags in their Leominster workshop. We’ve all heard of fast fashion? Nushi is process-led slow fashion!
No two bags are the same. They’re made from sustainable or recycled materials like inner tubes, tweed and waxed cotton, so they’ll never end up in landfill. From boho to beach bags, clutch to crossbody, Nushi will make one that suits you!
You can see and buy the bags at Leominster Information Centre in Corn Square
(Image Visit Herefordshire)
A local, independent bookshop chain – there’s also one in Hereford. Rossiter’s stocks all types of books, runs book clubs and author events. If you’re a bookworm, then this offers a very personal experience than larger chains and staff really know their subjects.
Rossiter’s is situated in a lovely little building in Drapers Lane. Although not a huge space, the books have been expertly curated. It’s great for a good old browse or to add to your library!
Also in Drapers Lane is Motif. It’s run by Sally and Simon it sells a smorgasbord of gifts, clothing, jewellery and homewares. Sally says if they like it, they sell it!
Fans of Roka of London bags will find a great selection in Motif. There’s a wide choice of scented candles including some of which are anti-migraine if you’re a smell triggered sufferer.
One reviewer called it a dangerous shop! So many things you didn’t realise you needed!
Symonds is a fab menswear shop for the discerning gentleman! It’s have been operating in Hereford since 1859, and they opened the Leominster shop in 2024.
Stockists of shirts by Dario Beltran and Giordano and knitwear by Franco Ponti. You can buy shoes, jackets and trousers all under one roof. It’s also in Drapers Lane, a street for his and hers clothes shopping!
This is a really fascinating shop full of barometers and clocks! You can buy antique or reproduction pieces or get your own items restored. They really know what they’re doing as it’s been family run for 50 years. I had a barometer restored here and it’s better than the met office app!
Pretty much everything is handmade and the shop sells reproductions by Italian instrument maker, Comitti.
From ships clocks to stick barometers. You’ll enter into a bygone world when you step through the door of this Broad Street shop.
Handcrafted, luxury fudge to tantalise the tastebuds located on the High Street. It takes fudge to the next level! If you thought fudge was hard and sugary then think again! Banoffee, Biscoff, ginger and dark chocolate, lemon meringue and malteser are among the flavours. Plus, there’s a dairy free and vegan range and they make coconut ice too!
Martins Models – All sorts of children’s toys from traditional to the latest fads! They know what they’re doing as they’ve been around for over 30 years.
Best Wishes – Really unusual cards for all occasions that you certainly won’t find in High Street chains. Plus handpicked gifts including candles and ceramics.
The Gift Monger – An independent gift and homeware shop selling soaps, travel mugs, ceramics, candles, gift sets and much more.
As well as its many antique shops and unusual independent shops, there’s lots of brilliant places to eat and drink in Leominster too.
Located in Corn Square, it looks nothing from the outside, a bit 1970s maybe, but the food is top quality! Trained baristas, generous portions and everything cooked to order. Open from 8am, closing around 3.30pm.
The menu covers jacket potatoes, sandwiches, sausage rolls, pies, salads, quiches and more. The banoffee pie has people coming back for more – you’ve only to read their reviews!
The banoffee pie has people coming back for more – you’ve only to read their reviews!
On the corner of Corn Square and Drapers Lane this is a cafe/bar like you might find in a busy street in Barcelona! Back in the eighteenth century this was the Duke’s Head pub.
It’s rustic interior with its wooden floors, mismatched chairs and bar that feels a bit Peaky Blinders, gives it real character.
You can have breakfast and lunch, coffee, tea and cake or choose from a selection of wines, beers, spirits and shorts. There’s seating outside in a real suntrap, where you can sink a pint and watch the world go by.
An independent cafe bar that’s also a bookshop! Husband and wife owners, Karl and Emma, opened 35 West three years ago after extensive travel in Europe.
The coffee and tea are top notch. They also stock Belgian beers, local and international bottled and canned beers. 35 West serves cocktails whilst live music takes place regularly in the back bar area.
It never seems to be empty and there’s a jolly hum of conversation. The wall opposite the bar is lined with thousands of books, curated by a local collector.
The outside area is a real treasure trove with lots of mismatched items that somehow all fit together. Children and dogs are welcome inside and out.
Situated on Broad Street, Saverys opens at 8.30 for breakfast and, like most places in Leominster, closes at 4. The interior is classy rustic, with tables that spill out onto the street in warmer weather.Excellent breakfasts and light lunches (the quiche of the day is always worth having) alongside top-quality teas, coffees and homemade cakes.
And if you fancy a small glass of vino with the lunch, choose from their wine list.
A 16th century inn on Etnam Street, about five minutes from the town centre and close to public car parks. It’s owned by Wye Valley Brewery, and Butty Bach, Nightjar and 1985 are all on tap .
It’s lovely to look at from the outside with all its black and white glory and large beer garden. Inside there are 2 bars and stacks of original features. It’s a ‘wet pub’ so there’s no food on offer.
Situated in an a very old building in the iconic Drapers Lane. The Deli sells lots of mouthwatering including from bread, pastries, pasta, cheese and charcuterie. If you love food, this is the place for you.
You can eat in too with sample snacks, light lunches and proper coffee. One highlight is their sharing boards, great if you can’t make your mind up on just one dish! The Deli is licensed so you can choose wine or local ciders and beers to swill it all down with. The products they sell are used in their meals.
On a Friday they do a seasonal small plates and a glass of wine deal. The food is really international and the menu changes frequently, so you’ll never be bored!
This is a truly hidden gem in Leominster’s South Street! It’s like being in France without having to go via LeShuttle. Everything is inspired by traditional French patisserie crafts.
Croissants, tarts, bread, pastries are shaped and baked by hand daily. The coffee is from single origin beans and is properly prepared and served. Choose from strong espresso to cafe au lait.
The Banoffee Cheesecake is a work of art and the rustic loaves take bread to a new level.
With only a couple of tables for customers in what is really a bakery, you won’t be disappointed if you have to wait!
Just off the A49, Leominster is easily accessible from all three Discover Parks. However you visit the Herefordshire and the Powys border – we’ve got it covered!
Join us as a holiday home owner. Come and go as you please and embrace the laid back lifestyle of rural Herefordshire. Famed for our cider and big old Hereford bulls, it’s a county that’s good for the heart and soul. Bring your tourer, tent or motorhome and stay in our superb touring areas. Try our holiday accommodation from historic cottages, to luxury lodges with hot tubs and saunas or a swish couples retreat!
Don’t miss out! Come and see us!
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