Worcestershire is a landlocked ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England, centred on the valley of the River Severn. It covers 672 square miles (1,741 km2) and had a population of 604,902 at the 2021 census. Worcester is both the county town and the largest settlement.
The county is run in two tiers: Worcestershire County Council plus six district, borough and city councils. Outside the northern towns it is mostly farmland, orchards and market gardens.
| Country | England, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Region | West Midlands |
| Area | 672 sq mi (1,741 km2) |
| Population (2021) | 604,902 |
| Density | 347 people per km2 (900 per sq mi) |
| County town | Worcester |
| Largest town | Worcester (103,872) |
| Districts | Bromsgrove, Malvern Hills, Redditch, Worcester, Wychavon, Wyre Forest |
| Highest point | Worcestershire Beacon, 425 m |
| Postcode areas | WR, DY, B |
Towns and Villages in Worcestershire
The GeoNames gazetteer records 524 named places in Worcestershire. The 250 below cover its towns and villages, alphabetically from Ab Lench to Wythall; the remainder are estates and named quarters inside Worcester, Redditch and Kidderminster.
- Ab Lench
- Abberton
- Acton
- Alfrick
- Alvechurch
- Ashton under Hill
- Astley
- Aston Bank
- Astwood Bank
- Atch Lench
- Badsey
- Barnettbrook
- Barnt Green
- Baughton
- Bayton Common
- Beckford
- Belbroughton
- Bell Heath
- Bentley
- Beoley
- Besford
- Bewdley
- Bickley
- Birlingham
- Bishampton
- Blackminster
- Blackwell
- Blakedown
- Bluntington
- Bournes Green
- Bradley
- Bransford
- Brayswick
- Bredon
- Bredons Hardwick
- Bridge End
- Broad Common
- Broadmore Green
- Broadwas
- Broadway
- Brockencote
- Bromsgrove
- Broombank
- Brotheridge Green
- Bryan’s Green
- Buckeridge
- Cakebole
- Callow End
- Callow Hill
- Castlemorton
- Caunsall
- Chadwick
- Chapman’s Hill
- Chatley
- Childswickham
- Church Lench
- Cladswell
- Cleeve Prior
- Clevelode
- Clifton upon Teme
- Cofton Hackett
- Collett’s Green
- Cookhill
- Cooksey Green
- Cotheridge
- Cow Honeybourne
- Crabbs Cross
- Crossway Green
- Crown East
- Cutnall Green
- Dayhouse Bank
- Defford
- Dordale
- Doverdale
- Drakes Broughton
- Drayton
- Droitwich
- Dunhampstead
- Dunley
- Earls Croome
- Eckington
- Eight Oaks
- Eldersfield
- Elmley Lovett
- Evesham
- Fairfield
- Far Forest
- Feckenham
- Fernhill Heath
- Fladbury
- Forhill
- Frith Common
- Gallows Green
- Golden Valley
- Goom’s Hill
- Grafton
- Great Comberton
- Great Dodford
- Great Malvern
- Great Witley
- Green Street
- Guarlford
- Hadley
- Hagley
- Hall Green
- Hallow
- Hanley Castle
- Hanley Swan
- Hanley William
- Hartlebury
- Harvington
- Hawbridge
- Headley Heath
- Heightington
- Hill Furze
- Hillhampton
- Hindlip
- Holberrow Green
- Hollybed Street
- Holt
- Holt Heath
- Honeybourne
- Hook Bank
- Hopwood
- Hunnington
- Hurcott
- Inkberrow
- Kemerton
- Kempsey
- Kendal End
- Kerswell Green
- Kidderminster
- King’s Green
- Kington
- Kinsham
- Knighton
- Knowle Fields
- Kyrewood
- Lea End
- Leigh
- Lenchwick
- Lickey Hills
- Lincomb
- Linkend
- Little Comberton
- Little London
- Little Witley
- Long Green
- Low Habberley
- Lower Bentley
- Lower Broadheath
- Lower Lightwood
- Lower Moor
- Lower Wolverton
- Lydiate Ash
- Madresfield
- Malvern
- Malvern Link
- Martin Hussingtree
- Martley
- Mill End
- Moor End
- Mount Pleasant
- Mustow Green
- Naunton
- New End
- Newland Common
- Nineveh
- Norchard
- Northampton
- Noutard’s Green
- Oddingley
- Oldfield
- Ombersley
- Outwood
- Park End
- Pebworth
- Pendock
- Peopleton
- Perryfields
- Pershore
- Pie Corner
- Pinvin
- Podmoor
- Pound Green
- Powick
- Purshull Green
- Ramsden
- Red Cross
- Redditch
- Rhydd
- Rock
- Romsley
- Rowney Green
- Ryall
- Sale Green
- Sandford
- Sedgeberrow
- Severn Stoke
- Shatterford
- Shelsley Beauchamp
- Shelsley Walsh
- Sheriffs Lench
- Shrawley
- Sinton Green
- Sneachill
- South Littleton
- Spetchley
- Stakenbridge
- Stock Green
- Stockton on Teme
- Stoke Prior
- Stone
- Stonebow
- Stoneybridge
- Stourport-on-Severn
- Strensham
- Suckley Green
- Swinesherd
- Tanwood
- Tenbury Wells
- The Grove
- Throckmorton
- Timberhonger
- Torton
- Trimpley
- Uckinghall
- Upper Arley
- Upper Broadheath
- Upper Rochford
- Upper Wick
- Upton Snodsbury
- Upton upon Severn
- Vigo
- Walcot
- Warndon
- Welland
- West Hagley
- White Ladies Aston
- Wichenford
- Wickhamford
- Wilden
- Windmill Hill
- Wolverley
- Woodmancote
- Worcester
- Worlds End
- Wychbold
- Wyre Piddle
- Wythall
Worcester (103,872 in its built-up area at the 2021 census) leads, followed by Redditch (87,036), Kidderminster (57,400) and Malvern (30,462). Bromsgrove, Droitwich Spa and Evesham each hold 24,000 to 30,000 people.
Geography
The Severn runs the length of the county from Bewdley through Worcester to Upton. The Teme joins it from the west, and the Warwickshire Avon from the east at Tewkesbury, just over the border. The valley floor floods regularly, and Worcester’s cricket ground under water is a familiar winter sight.
The Malvern Hills rise sharply on the western edge to 425 metres at the Worcestershire Beacon; they are made of some of the oldest rock in England. The Vale of Evesham fills the south-east with market gardens, Bredon Hill stands isolated in the south, and the Wyre Forest covers the north-west.
Shropshire lies north-west, Staffordshire north, the West Midlands north-east, Warwickshire east, Gloucestershire south and Herefordshire west.
Demographics
The 2021 census counted 604,902 residents, up 38,345 on 2011. Density averages 347 people per square kilometre, with roughly half the population in the four northern districts closest to Birmingham.
Wychavon and Malvern Hills are the most rural districts and have older age profiles. Redditch, developed as a new town from 1964, is the youngest and most compact.
Economy and Local Life
The Vale of Evesham is one of England’s main horticultural districts, growing asparagus, plums, salad crops and soft fruit under glass and in the open. Farm shops, pick-your-own and the Evesham asparagus season in May are a large part of the local calendar.
Malvern has a long-standing defence and radar research cluster dating from the wartime move of the Telecommunications Research Establishment. Morgan has built cars there by hand since 1914. Kidderminster made carpets from the 1730s, Droitwich worked brine springs from Roman times, and Lea and Perrins has bottled Worcestershire sauce in Worcester since 1837.
History
Worcester Cathedral holds the tomb of King John, who was buried there in 1216 at his own request. The city gave its name to the last battle of the English Civil War in September 1651. Cromwell’s army defeated Charles II there and forced him into exile.
Edward Elgar was born at Lower Broadheath outside Worcester in 1857. The Three Choirs Festival has rotated between Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester since the early 1700s. The county lost Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen and its Birmingham suburbs to the new West Midlands county in 1974.
Getting There
The M5 runs the length of the county, junctions 4 to 8 serving Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Worcester and Tewkesbury. The M42 clips the north-east near Redditch, and the A38, A44, A449 and A456 carry the cross-county traffic.
Worcester has two stations, Foregate Street and Shrub Hill, plus Worcestershire Parkway on the Cross Country route. The Cotswold Line runs to Oxford and London Paddington, and local services link Birmingham to Redditch, Bromsgrove and Kidderminster. The Severn Valley Railway runs heritage steam from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth. Birmingham Airport is about 30 miles north-east.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Worcestershire?
604,902 at the 2021 census, an increase of 38,345 since 2011.
What is the largest town in Worcestershire?
Worcester, with 103,872 people in its built-up area. Redditch (87,036) and Kidderminster (57,400) follow.
Which councils cover Worcestershire?
Worcestershire County Council, plus Bromsgrove, Malvern Hills, Redditch, Worcester, Wychavon and Wyre Forest.
What is the highest point in Worcestershire?
The Worcestershire Beacon in the Malvern Hills, at 425 metres.
What postcode areas cover Worcestershire?
WR across the centre and south, DY around Kidderminster and Stourport, and B in the north around Bromsgrove and Redditch.
Where is Worcestershire?
In the west of England, south-west of Birmingham, between Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.