LIVE 24-SEVEN All Photography by Jon Simpson
At the centre of the city is of course its magnificent cathedral, perhaps its most famous attraction. Not only is it architecturally stunning and a Grade I listed building, it is also home of the Mappa Mundi, the largest surviving medieval map of the world – made some 800 years ago. If that wasn’t enough, here you’ll also find the biggest chained library in the world, dating from a time when books were considered so valuable they had to be chained, and is one of just around 12 such libraries that remain in this country today.
The city also has a reputation as a niche shopping destination, blending some high street names with a host of independents offering a wide choice of goods. For those looking to refresh their wardrobes, there is everything from vintage to designer and after a tough year, these small shops are keen to welcome back shoppers. You’ll also find shops selling gifts, designer jewellery and accessories, fragrances and furniture, health, gourmet and specialist foods, interior décor, homemade crafts, art, cameras and books, even a gun shop, the city really does have it all. Many of these are found in the so-called ‘Independent Quarter’, around the quaint cobbled Church Street and East Street.
Doubtless a day of shopping gives visitors an appetite and there are no shortage of wonderful eateries and watering holes in Hereford either. Whether your taste is for afternoon tea, fine dining, pub grub, modern British or continental, everything is catered for here. Together with its specialist food and drinks shops, and of course its celebrated cider, Hereford has become something of a mecca for foodies in recent years. Mention here must also be made of another of the city’s famous exports, Hereford beef. Widely regarded as a cut above the rest when it comes to beef, the Hereford cow is one of the UK’s oldest breeds and the meat it produces gleans its superb flavour and tenderness from grazing the verdant county pastures.
Hereford is not just eating, drinking and shopping though. Culture vultures and those looking for some outdoor adventure will not be disappointed either.
The city is home to the Courtyard Theatre and having reopened is offering a wide programme of both live drama and cinema, workshops and art displays.
For an insight into the city’s history, a visit to the Black and White House museum is a must. Housed in a timber framed, Jacobean building, the museum tells not only Hereford’s history dating back to the 17th century but the colourful and varied history of the house itself.
And there’s even a museum celebrating one of the county’s most enjoyed products – cider. Situated in the original Bulmer’s factory, the Museum of Cider hosts a collection of cider making paraphernalia as well as telling the story of cider making in the UK.
For those looking for more active pursuits, the River Wye which loops around the city, affords an assortment of options. There are lots of walking routes to be enjoyed or why not take to the water itself? Paddle boarding, canoeing and kayaking are all offered at various locations on the Wye and give the best vantage point to enjoy the idyllic rural aspect of the county.
Just outside of Hereford, the National Trust owned Weir Garden at Swainshill is a nature lover’s dream. Dating back to Roman times, today the garden is largely fashioned in the 1920s’ style and is a beautiful riverside garden which can be enjoyed from February to October. Home to a vast array of wildflowers, the gardens also claim to have over 70 different species of bird visiting too as well as the odd otter siting too.
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