Guildhall, Worcester, UK, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

The Guildhall is Worcester's grand civic building on the High Street, finished in the early 18th century in red brick with a richly carved front. It has served as the city's town hall and a place of civic ceremony for around three centuries, and it is one of the best-looking Queen Anne style buildings in the West Midlands.

The story behind it

Worcester's earlier guildhall was replaced by the present building in the 1720s, when the city wanted a headquarters that matched its standing. The design is credited to a local architect, Thomas White, and the result is a confident, symmetrical front in the style of the reign of Queen Anne, with stone dressing against warm brick.

The front tells a political story. Worcester was a Royalist city during the Civil War and the last battle of that war was fought here in 1651, so it is no surprise that statues of the two Stuart kings, Charles I and Charles II, stand beside the entrance. A figure of Queen Anne sits higher up, a reminder of the monarch whose name is attached to the style.

What to look for

• The statues of Charles I and Charles II on either side of the doorway, which show where the city's loyalties lay during and after the Civil War.
• The figure of Queen Anne above the entrance, set into the upper part of the facade.
• The balance of the front: evenly spaced windows, pale stone detail and a strong central doorway, all typical of the period.
• The wrought iron railings and gates at the street edge, which frame the building well from across the High Street.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the exterior and a little longer if you go inside; check current opening hours and which rooms are open to visitors.
• Morning light falls well on the front, and the High Street is quieter earlier in the day, which helps if you want a clear photograph.
• Stand on the opposite side of the street to take in the full facade, then step closer for the carved detail around the door.
• Worcester Cathedral, the River Severn and the shopping streets around Friar Street and the Cornmarket are all a short walk away, so the Guildhall fits easily into a wider stroll.

Explore it on a quest

The Guildhall is easy to pass without a second look, which is why a walk with a story helps. Questo's self-guided quests lead you on foot from place to place, tell you about each stop as you arrive and set a puzzle in what is in front of you. Start any time, with no guide and no group to join. Browse the quests in Worcester, UK to find one that suits your day.