Attractions and Places To See around Kemerton - Top 20
Best attractions and places to see around Kemerton offer a blend of historical landmarks, diverse natural features, and cultural sites. Situated in Worcestershire, with a portion extending into the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the region is characterized by its picturesque rural landscape. Visitors can explore ancient fortifications, historic architecture, and vibrant wildlife havens. The area provides opportunities to experience both natural beauty and rich heritage.
Best attractions and places to see around Kemerton
- The most popular attraction is Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill, a man-made monument that was built in the mid-18th century by the squire of Kemerton. This two-storey stone tower offers scenic views across Worcestershire to the Malverns and into the Cotswolds.
- Another must-see spot is Pershore Old Bridge, a historical site that served as a key crossing point for traders between London and Worcester. Originally built in the 1400s, this grand structure has undergone various repairs over centuries and is a popular picnic spot.
- Visitors also love St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle, a man-made monument with significant historical interest. This delightful church, dating from the late 11th century, is set in the picturesque village of Elmley Castle and features various architectural styles and monuments.
- Kemerton is known for its historical sites, natural landscapes, and architectural landmarks. The area offers a variety of attractions to see and explore, from ancient follies to historic churches and scenic viewpoints.
- The attractions around Kemerton are appreciated by the komoot community, with more than 160 upvotes and over 90 photos shared by visitors.
Last updated: July 16, 2026
Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill
Highlight • Monument
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.
Tip by
St Peter's Church, Winchcombe
Highlight • Monument
The church has plenty of intriguing features, including an altar cloth apparently embroidered by one of Henry VIII's wives: Catherine of Aragon. Leaving the church, explore the rest of Winchcombe if you have time; the town is steeped in history from the neolithic era onwards.
Tip by
Sign up now to discover places like this
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
Sign up for free
Pershore Old Bridge
Highlight • Historical Site
Tip by
St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle
Highlight • Monument
Tip by
Croome Court
Highlight • Historical Site
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.
Tip by
Sign up for free to discover even more attractions around Kemerton.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Start today with a free account
Your next adventure awaits.
Login or Signup
Tips from the Community
Beautiful medieval bridge over river Avon. Incredibly well preserved given its age.
0
0
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.
0
0
A worthy addition to the National Trust. Wonderful house, set in Capability Brown's first landscape park.
0
0
The old bridge is picturesque, and its also a great place to while away an hour or two by the river.
0
0
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.
0
0
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.
0
2
The gargoyles outside. Bullet holes in the wall outside. Twin stone coffins inside. Worth taking your time here.
0
0
Frequently Asked Questions
What historical landmarks can I explore in Kemerton?
Kemerton offers several significant historical landmarks. You can visit the medieval St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle, known for its character and historic interest. The village also features the ancient Pershore Old Bridge, a key crossing point for traders dating back to the 1400s. Additionally, Croome Court, a mid-18th-century Neo-Palladian mansion with extensive landscaped parkland, is nearby.
Where can I experience Kemerton's natural beauty and wildlife?
For natural beauty and wildlife, explore the Bredon Hill area, which offers scenic views across Worcestershire and into the Cotswolds. The Kemerton Lake Nature Reserve is a 46.5-acre wetland complex, a haven for diverse habitats including a 16-acre lake, reed beds, and woodland. It's a designated Local Wildlife Site, particularly known for its dragonflies, damselflies, and over 170 recorded bird species.
Are there any unique architectural follies or towers to see?
Yes, Kemerton is home to a couple of unique structures. Perched atop Bredon Hill is Parsons Folly, a two-storey stone tower built in the mid-18th century. Another interesting site is Bell's Castle, a 17th-century look-out tower developed in a Neo-Gothic style in the early 19th century, featuring three embattled towers.
What cultural sites offer insight into Kemerton's past?
Beyond specific landmarks, the village of Kemerton itself embodies rural English charm with its traditional stone houses and agrarian heritage. On Bredon Hill, you can find Kemerton Camp, an Iron Age hillfort, which is a significant prehistoric feature. The Church of St Nicholas, with its medieval origins and Victorian reconstruction, also serves as a focal point for community events and local history.
Are there good hiking opportunities around Kemerton?
Yes, the area around Kemerton offers various hiking opportunities. You can find easy hikes like the "Parsons' Folly on Bredon Hill – Warren Wood loop from Bredon's Norton" or the "Aldwick Wood loop from Kemerton." For more challenging options, consider moderate hikes such as the "Overbury & Bredon Hill loop via Warren Hill — The Cotswolds." You can explore more routes on the Hiking around Kemerton guide.
Can I find cycling routes near Kemerton's attractions?
Absolutely. There are several cycling routes available, catering to different distances. Examples include the "Queen Elizabeth Inn – Kemerton Coffee House loop from Ashchurch for Tewkesbury" (around 49 km) or the "Elmley Castle village – Kemerton Coffee House loop from Kemerton" (around 27 km). Discover more options on the Cycling around Kemerton guide.
Are there easy walks suitable for families?
Yes, there are several easy walks perfect for families. The "Aldwick Wood loop from Bredon's Norton" is a shorter, easy option, as is the "View of the Cotswolds loop from Overbury." Many public footpaths, including those around Kemerton Lake Nature Reserve, offer visual access to the site and bird-watching hides. Check the Easy hikes around Kemerton guide for more family-friendly routes.
Where can I find panoramic views of the surrounding countryside?
For panoramic views, head to Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill. From its summit, you can gaze out across Worcestershire to the Malverns and south into the rolling Cotswolds. The hill itself, particularly the northern part of the parish, offers scenic vistas.
What is the best time of year to visit Kemerton?
Kemerton offers charm year-round. For enjoying the natural beauty, especially the diverse habitats and wildlife at Kemerton Lake Nature Reserve, spring and summer are ideal. The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is also particularly pleasant during these warmer months. Historical sites and village charm can be appreciated in any season.
Are there any notable churches to visit in the area?
Beyond the local Church of St Nicholas, you can visit St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle, a delightful church with significant historical interest dating from the late 11th century. Another impressive option is St Peter's Church, Winchcombe, a 15th-century church known for its grand tower and 40 gargoyles.
What do visitors enjoy the most about Kemerton?
Visitors frequently appreciate the blend of historical significance and natural beauty. The scenic views from Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill are highly praised, as is the historical charm of places like Pershore Old Bridge. The tranquil atmosphere of the Kemerton Lake Nature Reserve and the picturesque village setting also contribute to a memorable experience.
Most popular routes around Kemerton
Most popular attractions around Kemerton
Get inspired with the komoot mobile app
Explore more
Still not found the Highlight you’re looking for? See guides of the top attractions in other regions:
