Kidderminster

Kidderminster is a market town and civil parish in Worcestershire, located 20 miles (32 km) south-west of Birmingham and 12 miles (19 km) north of Worcester.

Population: 57,400

View of St Mary and All Saints' Church from a lock.

Understand

The earliest written form of the name Kidderminster was first documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Chideminstre, meaning 'Cydda or Cydela's minster or monastery'.

Kidderminster hosts a network of canals featuring locks.

Get in

Accessible via car, train and bus.

By train

1 Kidderminster station is served by a Birmingham Snow Hill to Worcester (both Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill) line.

Get around

Most areas are accessible by walking, however there are also buses.

See

• 1 Severn Valley Railway (Kidderminster Station), 1 Comberton Place, ☏ +44 1299 403816, contact@svrlive.com. 9AM-5PM. The Severn Valley Railway operates full-size, mainly steam-hauled passenger trains along the beautiful Severn Valley between Kidderminster, Bewdley and Bridgnorth. Stop off at The Engine House, the Visitor Centre at Highley, to discover the collection of steam locomotives, themed exhibitions, and shop, restaurant and outdoor play area. Country stations at Arley, Highley and Hampton Loade are well worth a visit. A train ride not enough? Then how about a Footplate Experience where you can drive a steamtrain.  
• 2 The Museum of Carpet, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, DY10 1AZ, ☏ +44 1562 69028, collections@museumofcarpet.org.uk. Kidderminster is well known for its manufacturing of carpets and this museum reflects that. (updated Oct 2015)
• 3 Hartlebury Castle, Hartlebury, DY11 7XZ, ☏ +44 1299 250416. Modernised mid-13th century as a fortified manor house and museum. (updated Oct 2016)
• 4 Harborough Hall, Birmingham Rd, Blakedown, DY10 3LG. This timber-frame, stucoed house dates back to around 1635. It once belonged to the family of William Shenstone the poet, is probably the successor of a house that goes back to Medieval times. 

Do

• 1 West Midlands Safari Park.. 200 acres (81 hectares) park with 165 species. You need to book a time for the drive through safari (updated Sep 2024)

Buy

• 1 The Swan Centre, 6 King Charles Square. Shopping centre. (updated Jul 2018)
• 2 Carpet Factory Outlets Kidderminster, Unit 8, Easter Park, Worcester Road, ☏ +44 1562 743354. (updated Jul 2018)

Eat

• 1 Tappeto Lounge, Riverside Walk, Exchange Street, ☏ +44 1562 748972. (updated Jul 2018)
• 2 Watermill, Park Lane, ☏ +44 1562 66713. (updated Jul 2018)

Drink

• 1 The Weavers At Park Lane, 40 Park Lane, DY11 6TG, ☏ +44 1562 742717, theweaversalehouse@yahoo.co.uk. M Tu 4-10PM, W Th noon-10PM, F Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-6PM. Formerly offices; this beautiful grade 2 listed building on the canal side is now open, offering 6 real ales and 8 ciders on pump. Last orders are 20 minutes prior to closing, prompt. Check the Facebook page for any upcoming events. Quality food and cobs. (updated Jun 2017)

Sleep

• 1 Bewdley Hill House Bed & Breakfast, 8 Bewdley Hill, DY11 6BS, ☏ +44 1562 60473. 
• 2 Gainsborough House Hotel, Bewdley Hill, DY11 6BS, ☏ +44 1562 820041. 
• 3 Premier Inn Kidderminster, Slingfield Mill, Weavers Wharf, ☏ +44 871 527 9350. (updated Jul 2018)
• Splurge at Brockencote Hall - see Bromsgrove, it's midway on A448.

Go next

• Bewdley
• Stourport-on-Severn
• Stourbridge
• Bromsgrove
• Birmingham

Routes through Kidderminster

Telford ← Bridgnorth ←	N  S	→ merges with
merges with ←	W  E	→ Bromsgrove → Redditch
Wolverhampton ← Stourbridge ←	N  S	→ Stourport-on-Severn → Worcester
Ludlow ← Bewdley ←	W  E	→ Halesowen → Birmingham