Attractions and Places To See around Hill Croome - Top 20
Best attractions and places to see around Hill Croome include a variety of historical sites and natural landscapes within Worcestershire, England. The region is characterized by its blend of cultural heritage, such as the Croome Court estate, and prominent natural features like Bredon Hill. Visitors can explore extensive parklands, historic churches, and enjoy views of the Malvern Hills.
Best attractions and places to see around Hill Croome
- The most popular attractions is Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill, a man-made monument that offers panoramic views across Worcestershire to the Malverns and the Cotswolds. This 18th-century stone tower is located on an Iron Age hillfort, providing historical context to its scenic location.
- Another must-see spot is Pershore Old Bridge, a historical site that served as a key crossing point between London and Worcester. Originally built in the 1400s, it has undergone various repairs and rebuilds over centuries.
- Visitors also love St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle, a man-made monument with significant historical interest, located in the village of Elmley Castle. This church features architectural elements dating back to the 11th century and houses various historical monuments.
- Hill Croome is known for historical sites, religious buildings, and scenic viewpoints. The area offers a variety of attractions to see and explore, from ancient bridges to landscaped parklands.
- The attractions around Hill Croome are appreciated by the komoot community, with more than 160 upvotes and over 90 photos shared by visitors.
Last updated: May 9, 2026
Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill
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The hill was once an Iron Age hillfort, known as Kemerton Camp and it then became an important Roman encampment. In the 18th century, the squire of Kemerton Court erected a small stone tower, Parsons Folly. A number of ancient standing stones also adorn the hill.
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Pershore Old Bridge
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St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle
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Croome Court
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The mansion house is owned by Croome Heritage Trust and leased to the National Trust, which operates it as a tourist attraction. The National Trust owns the surrounding parkland, which is also open to the public.
The foundations and core of Croome Court, including the central chimney stack structure, date back to the early 1640s. Substantial changes to this early house were made by Gilbert Coventry, 4th Earl of Coventry.
George Coventry, the 6th Earl, inherited the estate in 1751, along with the existing Jacobean house. He commissioned Lancelot "Capability" Brown, with the assistance of Sanderson Miller, to redesign the house and estate. It was Brown's "first flight into the realms of architecture" and a "rare example of his architectural work", and it is an important and seminal work. It was built between 1751 and 1752, and it and Hagley Hall are considered to be the finest examples of Neo-Palladian architecture in Worcestershire. Notable Neo-Palladian features incorporated into Croome Court include the plain exterior and the corner towers with pyramidal roofs (a feature first used by Inigo Jones in the design of Wilton House in Wiltshire). Robert Adam worked on the interior of the building from 1760 onwards. The house was visited by George III, as well as by Queen Victoria during summers when she was a child, and George V (when Duke of York).
A jam factory was built near Pershore railway station by the 9th Earl of Coventry in about 1880, to provide a market for Vale of Evesham fruit growers in times of surplus. Although the Croome connection with jam-making had ceased, the building was leased by the Croome Estate Trust during the First World War to the Huddersfield Fruit Preserving Company as a pulping station. The First World War deeply affected Croome; there were many local casualties, although the house was not requisitioned for the war effort. This is possibly because it was the home of the Lord Lieutenant of the county, who needed a residence for his many official engagements. Croome Court was requisitioned during the Second World War by the Ministry of Works, and leased for a year to the Dutch Government as a possible refuge for Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands to escape the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. However, evidence shows that they stayed for two weeks at the most, perhaps because of the noise and fear created by the proximity of Defford Aerodrome. They later emigrated to Canada.
The Croome Estate Trust sold the Court in 1948, along with 38 acres (15 ha) of land, to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, and the mansion became St Joseph's Special School, which was run by nuns from 1950 until 1979. In 1979, the hall was taken over by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON, the Hare Krishna movement) which used it as its UK headquarters and a training college, called Chaitanya College. During their tenure they repainted the Dining Room. ISKCON left the estate in 1984 for financial reasons. It held a festival at the hall in 2011. From 1984 onwards, various owners tried to use the property as a training centre; apartments; a restaurant and conference centre; and a hotel and golf course, before once more becoming a private family home, with outbuildings converted to private houses.
The house was purchased by the Croome Heritage Trust, a registered charity, in October 2007, and it is now managed by the National Trust as a tourist attraction. It opened to the public in September 2009, at which point six of the rooms had been restored, costing £400,000, including the Saloon. It was estimated that another £4 million to £4.8 million would be needed to restore the entire building. Fundraising activities for the restoration included a 2011 raffle for a Morgan sports car organised by Lord and Lady Flight. After the restoration is complete, a 999-year lease on the building will be granted to the National Trust. An oral history project to record recollections about Croome was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. As of 2009, the service wing was empty and in need of substantial repair. The house was listed on 11 August 1952; it is currently Grade I listed.
The mansion is faced with Bath stone, limestone ashlar, and has both north and south facing fronts. It has a basement and two stories, with three stories in the end pavilions. A slate roof, with pyramid roofs over the corner towers, tops the building, along with three pair-linked chimneys along the axis of the house.
Both fronts have 11 bays, split into three central sets of three each, and one additional bay each side. The north face has a pedimented centre, with two balustraded staircases leading to a Roman Doric doorcase. The south face has a projecting Ionic tetrastyle portico and Venetian windows. It has a broad staircase, with Coade stone sphinxes on each side, leading to a south door topped with a cornice on consoles. The wings have modillion cornice and balustrade.
A two-story L-shaped service wing is attached to the east side of the mansion. It is made of red brick and stone, with slate roofs. It was designed by Capability Brown in 1751–1752. On the far side of the service wing, a wall connects it to a stable court.
The interior of the house was designed partially by Capability Brown, with plasterwork by G. Vassalli, and partially by Robert Adam, with plasterwork by Joseph Rose, Jr. It has a central spine corridor. A stone staircase, with iron balusters, is at the east end.
The entrance hall is on the north side of the building, and has four fluted Doric columns, along with moulded doorcases. To the east of the entrance hall is the dining room, which has a plaster ceiling and cornice, while to the west is a billiard room, featuring fielded panelling, a plaster cornice, and a rococo fireplace. The three rooms were probably decorated around 1758–1759 by Capability Brown. The dining room was vibrantly repainted by the Hare Krishnas in the 1970s-80s.
The central room on the south side is a saloon, probably by Brown and Vassalli. It has an elaborate ceiling, with three panels, deep coving, and a cornice, along with two Ionic fireplaces, and Palladian doorcases. King George III was entertained by George Coventry, the 6th Earl, in the house's Saloon. A drawing room is to the west of the saloon, and features rococo plasterwork and a marble fireplace.
To the east of the saloon is the Tapestry Room. This was designed in 1763–1771, based on a design by Robert Adam, and contained tapestries and furniture covers possibly designed by François Boucher and Maurice Jacques, and made by Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins. Around 1902 the ninth Earl sold the tapestries and seating to a Parisian dealer. The Samuel H. Kress Foundation purchased the ceiling, floor, mantlepiece, chair rails, doors and door surrounds in 1949; they were donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in 1958. In 1959, the Kress Foundation also helped the Metropolitan Museum acquire the chair and sofa frames, which they recovered using the original tapestry seats. A copy of the ceiling was installed in place of the original. As of 2016, the room is displayed as it would have looked after the tapestries had been sold, with a jug and ewer on display as the only original decoration of the room that remains in it. The adjacent library room is used to explain what happened to the tapestry room; the former library was designed by Adam, and was dismantled except for the marble fireplace.
At the west side of the building is a Long Gallery[10] which was designed by Robert Adam and installed between 1761 and 1766. It is the best preserved of the original interior (little of the rest has survived in situ). It has an octagonal panelled ceiling, and plaster reliefs of griffins. A half-hexagonal bay faces the garden. The room also contains a marble caryatid fireplace designed by J Wilton. As of 2016, modern sculptures are displayed in empty niches along the Long Gallery.
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Church of St Peter, Little Comberton
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Tips from the Community
Beautiful medieval bridge over river Avon. Incredibly well preserved given its age.
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Pleasant views of Malvern and the surrounding areas from up there. The folly is ugly as sin but then it IS a folly so... yeah. Not a particularly difficult climb to get up there from either direction.
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A worthy addition to the National Trust. Wonderful house, set in Capability Brown's first landscape park.
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The old bridge is picturesque, and its also a great place to while away an hour or two by the river.
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The folly itself actually looks like it really is an industrial tower housing mobile phone equipment, but the views are very good. Nearby is the Elephant Stone - it looks like an Elephant kneeing down. Not far from the Cotswold Stone drystone wall is the circular stone that marks the very top of Bredon Hill.
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Good parking, half a dozen spaces on Woollas Hill, near Deer Park centre. Views on way up to Folly are spectacular. Good to get the climb out the way early with gentle, long descent in to Broadway.
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Great church on the descent in Pershore direction. Beautiful mosaics inside
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Frequently Asked Questions
What historical sites can I explore around Hill Croome?
The area is rich in history. You can visit Croome Court, a significant Neo-Palladian mansion with landscaped parkland designed by Capability Brown. Also, explore Pershore Old Bridge, a historical crossing point dating back to the 1400s. Don't miss St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle, known for its architectural elements from the 11th century, or the 12th-century Church of St Peter, Little Comberton. Within the grounds of Croome Park, you'll also find St Mary Magdalene's Church, Croome D'Abitot, cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust, and the remains of RAF Defford, offering insights into its WWII role.
Are there any natural features or scenic viewpoints to enjoy?
Absolutely. Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill offers spectacular panoramic views across Worcestershire to the Malverns and the Cotswolds from its 981-foot summit. The landscaped parkland of Croome Park, designed by Capability Brown, provides commanding views over the Malvern Hills, featuring wildflower meadows, a serpentine lake, and various garden buildings. The Malvern Hills themselves, visible from Croome Park, are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
What outdoor activities can I do near Hill Croome?
Hill Croome is a great base for outdoor activities. You can find numerous routes for road cycling, general cycling, and mountain biking. For detailed routes, check out the guides for Road Cycling Routes around Hill Croome, Cycling around Hill Croome, and MTB Trails around Hill Croome. These guides offer routes of varying difficulties, including loops around Bredon Hill and towards Dunstall Castle.
Are there family-friendly attractions in the area?
Yes, several attractions are suitable for families. Croome Court and its extensive parkland offer space for children to explore, with garden buildings and historical insights. Pershore Old Bridge is a pleasant spot with a nearby picnic area, and the historical churches like St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle and Church of St Peter, Little Comberton provide interesting visits for all ages.
Where can I find walking routes near Hill Croome?
The region offers various walking opportunities. You can find circular walks starting from Pershore Old Bridge. The landscaped parkland of Croome Park provides numerous paths for leisurely strolls amidst beautiful scenery. For more challenging hikes, the trails around Bredon Hill offer rewarding views and historical interest.
What is Croome Court and its significance?
Croome Court is a mid-18th-century Neo-Palladian mansion surrounded by extensive landscaped parkland. It's significant as Lancelot 'Capability' Brown's first landscape design and major architectural project. The mansion and park were created for the 6th Earl of Coventry, with some interior rooms designed by Robert Adam. It is now managed by the National Trust and open to the public, showcasing its rich history and architectural beauty.
Are there any hidden gems or lesser-known spots worth visiting?
Beyond the main attractions, consider seeking out the Panorama Tower on Knight's Hill, a Grade I listed building offering exceptional views. Dunstall Castle, a folly with neo-classical and Gothic revival elements, is another intriguing site that was once part of the Croome Estate. The Moated Site at Manor Farm, Hill Croome, provides a glimpse into a medieval manorial site with its earthwork remains.
What are the opening hours for Croome Court and its parkland?
Croome Court and its parkland are managed by the National Trust. For the most up-to-date information on opening hours, admission prices, and any special events, it is recommended to check their official website directly. You can find more details about Croome Park on Visit The Malverns or Visit Gardens.
What kind of views can I expect from Bredon Hill?
From the summit of Bredon Hill, where Parsons Folly stands, you can expect truly spectacular panoramic views. These extend across the Worcestershire countryside, encompassing the Malvern Hills to the west and south into the rolling Cotswolds. It's a prime location for scenic photography, especially at sunset.
Can I find information about the Walled Gardens at Croome Court?
Yes, the Walled Gardens at Croome Court are a notable feature. They are part of the extensive landscaped parkland and are being reopened to the public seasonally, typically from April to September. These gardens offer a beautiful and historically rich area to explore within the estate.
What is the historical significance of Pershore Old Bridge?
Pershore Old Bridge holds significant historical importance as a key crossing point for traders between London and Worcester. Originally constructed in the 1400s, it has undergone numerous repairs and rebuilds over the centuries due to damage, including its destruction by King Charles I's army in 1644. Its varied architecture reflects its long and tumultuous history.
What do visitors enjoy most about the attractions around Hill Croome?
Visitors frequently praise the blend of historical significance and natural beauty. The commanding views from Bredon Hill and the extensive, well-maintained parkland of Croome Court are often highlighted. The historical depth of sites like Pershore Old Bridge and the charming character of churches like St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle also receive positive feedback, with many appreciating the peaceful atmosphere and photographic opportunities.
Most popular attractions around Hill Croome
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