Is Worcester a Good Place to Live?

Worcester might not be as large as other cities like Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool and may not be as vibrant as London, Bristol or Glasgow, but it is definitely worth considering for people moving to the UK in the near future. Worcester city is located in Worcestershire, England with good employment rates and a good quality of life.

Is Worcester a good place to live? Worcester is an affluent European town surrounded by a beautiful countryside. This town has also been named as one of the safest and happiest places to live in the UK. There’s also a good work-life balance and this is thought to signal good life quality.

Whether you are moving to Worcester area because of work or just considering possible relocation bases in the UK, you’ve come to this blog post because you have some questions.

Are there neighbourhoods in Worcester that should be avoided?
How many schools are in the area?
How is the transport system?

Read on to get the answers.

In this article you will find out:

Worcester is generally a good place to relocate to, but just like other English towns, it has some good and bad neighbourhoods. The areas with the highest crime levels in the period between 2016 and 2019 are Tolladine, Rushwick and Astwood. On the other hand, the areas that have experienced the lowest crime levels from 2016-2019 are Spetchley, Upper Wolverton and WR2 6PY, Callow End, and Warndon.

Schools are in plenty and are generally good. The King’s School, Royal Grammar School, St. George’s Public Catholic Primary School, Pitmaston Primary School, Northwick Manor Primary School, St Clement’s CofE Primary School and Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School are some of the best schools in the area according to Schoolguide.co.uk.

Tertiary education is offered at the University of Worcester, Heart of Worchestershire College and Worcester Sixth Form College.

The M5 runs to the east of Worcester and is accessed via Junction 6 and Junction 7. This makes this city easily accessible by road to London, which is just 190 km away via the A44 motorway. A quicker travel to UK’s capital city is possible using the M5, M40 and M42 for a longer distance of 216km.

Worcester also has 2 railway stations; Worcester Foregate Street and the Worcester Shrub Hill. Commuters can also travel to and from the city centre on bus. The nearest major airport here is Birmingham Airport, which can be accessed by road or rail.

Social life in Worcester is very lively. There are many trendy bars, British traditional pubs and modern wine and cocktail bars in the city centre and other parts. The city also has good restaurants and eateries for serious foodies.

Is Worcester a good place to Work?

Worcester, UK enjoys a high level of employment and there are many great employers in and around the town. Popular jobs in the area include Office Administrator, Design Engineer, Teaching Assistant, Personal Assistant, Operations Manager and Accountant.

Education, Retail and Manufacturing are some of the biggest industries here. The most popular employers include Worcestershire County Council, National Health Service, Qinetiq PLC and Santuary Housing.

The European manufacturing plant of the worldwide Japanese Yamazaki Mazak Corporation is based in Worcester, and was established in 1980. Moreover, this city is also the base to what is claimed to the oldest newspaper in the globe known as “Berrow’s Worcester Journal”, which is still in publication.

Being a major retail centre, the city boasts of many shopping centres that have most major retail chains represented and plenty of independent stores and restaurants, especially in Friar Street and New Street.

Wages are not that high when compared to the national average but they are still very good. Average salary for a person working in Worcester, UK is £22,194 (April 2019).

There are plenty of job opportunities for people starting out in their careers. The unemployment rate for Worcester is 3.3% (end of 2018) which is slightly lower than the national rate of 4%. This is very healthy as 80.8% of the people here are in employment. Youth unemployment is very low, with most youths being able to find entry-levels position.

Is Worcester a good place to buy a House?

In April 2019, the average price for a property in Worcester, UK was £271,949. Flats in the area sold for an average price of £157,004 and terraced houses sold for an average of £197,682.

A single-bedroomed house goes for an average price of £155,495, a 3-bedroomed home sells for an average cost of £233,126 and a 5-bed property in Worcester goes for an average price of £387,083. There are also flats in the area with a 1-bed flat going for an average selling price of £129,141 and a 3-bedroom flat selling for an average of £385,000.

For those moving to Worcester and are looking for rental properties, a 1-bed house charges a rent of £450 per calendar month, a 3-bed home demands a rent of £842 per calendar month, and a 5-bedroome property charges a rent of £1,430 per calendar month. Renting a flat is also possible with a 1-bed flat renting for an average of £510 per calendar month and a 5-bed flat renting for an average price of £1,270 per calendar month.

Highest value streets in Worcester, UK are Crowle, Bromyard Road in Bringsty, Egg Lane in Claines, The Manors of Shelsley in Clifton-on-Teme and Alcester Road in Inkberrow. Average home values range from £839,506 to £1,118,835 in the mentioned streets.

Is Worcester a good place to Retire?

Moving to UK soon and looking for a good retirement spot? Worcester is worth considering. Steeped in history and cultural heritage, there is a wide array of beautiful buildings. The selection of shops in this city ranges from high-end favourites to special boutiques, alongside a wide choice of spots to eat, drink and cultural offerings.

This city is not short of exciting open spaces, with green parks and riverside walks in plenty. One particular advantage of choosing Worcester as a retirement place is the readily available retirement properties. For those who are willing to spend, Worcester offers some very desirable residences for seniors aged above 55 years with more than 3 bedrooms.

Many homes are offered at significant discounts to older buyers; therefore it is well worth considering Worcester for a retirement home.

A 5-bed detached retirement house in Worcester Park can sell for £495,500. In the same area, it is possible to find a 1-bed flat for £209,950. A 3-bedroomed detached house in Harlech Close goes for about £290,000. For those who prefer to rent, renting a flat in Foregate Street, Worcester is £570 per calendar month or £132 per calendar week.

Is Worcester a good place to Visit?

Worcester, UK is a city packed with plenty of exciting things to do and sites to explore, There are museums, galleries, historical monuments and family-friendly destinations for visitors and locals to see and enjoy.

The city is home to Worcester Cathedral, a centuries-old building that houses the tombs of King John and Prince Arthur. Visitors can also have a fun family day out at the Worcester Woods Country Park, which comprises of 2 nature reserves, a large open field, busy Countryside Centre, a café, and an adventure play area.

Another park that is also great is Gheluvelt Park in Barbourne. This is a beautiful park that is also the base of the popular splashpad – ideal for cooling off in summer. The Worcester show is hosted every year in this park.

Greyfriars House and Gardens, is a medieval attraction in Friar Street. The place is owned by National Trust and it is packed with fascinating curios like a collection of painted doorstops and functioning antique clocks made in Worcester.

Tudor House Museum is also based in Friar Street and it is run by volunteers from Worcester Heritage and Amenity Trust. The place receives over 15,000 visitors every year and the volunteers are very friendly and welcoming to children and families.

Another exciting museum in this city is the Museum of Royal Worcester. This is a ceramics museum situated in the former site of Royal Worcester porcelain factory in Seven Street and houses the biggest collection of Worcester porcelain worldwide.

The Guildhall is where the city council members of Worcester carry out their important business. This place dates back to 1721 and it used to be the justice seat for Worcester and formerly housed a prison.

Sixways Stadium is the base for the Worcester Warriors rugby club and it also hosts major entertainment performances. There’s also the Worcester Racecourse which runs a packed calendar.

Visitors can also head over to Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, which is housed in an eye-catching Victorian building in the heart of the city. The museum was established in 1833 by Worcestershire Natural History Society members. Some of the exhibitions there are Marilyn Monroe’s little black dress and Michael Jackson’s jacket.

For those planning to stay in the city for several days, Worcester has plenty of accommodation venues. Some of the best hotels and places to stay in the area are The Crown, The Cardinals Hat, Digils House Hotel, The Baiting House Guest House, The Lenchford Inn, The Manor Coach House Bed and Breakfast, Holland House Bed & Breakfast, Premier Inn Worcester City Centre Hotel, Premier Inn Worcester Hotel, and Boutique by Browns.