Attractions

Market House
	Standing on its 16 pillars in the heart of town, Ledbury's superb Market House is probably the best example of its kind in England. This grade 1 listed building, built in 1617, was originally used for the storage of grain, wool and hops. It's build has been attributed to the king's carpenter, John Abel. In the present day it hosts markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

St. Michael's and All Angels Church

St Michael's has been described as the premier parish church of Herefordshire. Dating back to 1140 the site of the church was originally Saxon and was mentioned in the Doomsday Book (1086).

As you walk up Church Lane you'll see the church's spire rising skywards.

Church Lane

The much filmed and photographed Church Lane is for many visitors their favourite Ledbury experience. With cobbles underfoot and flanked by overhanging medieval buildings it provides an atmospheric experience that takes you back to days long gone.

Leading from the Market House up the parish church the lane is home to two museums and a medieval painted room, a real ale pub, tea rooms and a homemade chocolate shop.

Painted Room, Church Lane

A mysterious building with frescoes painted on the walls by an unknown artisan from the C16th in imitation of wall-hangings that existed in the great mansions of the period.

A tourist guide in Tudor costume is present to give a talk about this most unusual and unique building.

Open 11.30am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday in March and 11.00am to 4.00pm (April to end October) Sundays 2-5pm (mid July to mid September) - Tel: 01531 632306

Butcher Row House Folk Museum, Church Lane

This small museum in Church Lane is a C16th house that originally stood in the middle of Ledbury's High Street. The museum houses reproduction helmets and breastplates as worn in the Battle of Ledbury (1645), Victorian costumes and various Victorian folk curiosities.

The museum is open daily from 11am to 5pm from the beginning of April to the end of September and from 11am to 3pm in October.

Admission is free.

Heritage Centre, Church Lane

Built circa 1480 Ledbury's C17th Boys Grammar School is now a local history museum with exhibits of Ledbury's famous poets John Masefield and Elizabeth Barrett-Browning as well as Ledbury's canal and railway past and a recent exhibit about the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark.

The centre is open from the beginning of April until the end of October, opening hours are 10.30am - 4.30pm daily.

St Katherine's & the Master's House

St Katherine's Hospital site, circa 1231, is a rare surviving example of a hospital complex with hall and chapel, master's house, almhouses and timber-framed barn.

Located off the High Street next to St Katherine's car park, the hall is often used for markets and sales, while the Master's House is home to Info in Herefordshire.

St Katherine's Chapel has a communion service at 10.30am each Friday. Otherwise it is open to the public on Heritage Open Days. Interested groups can request access to the chapel in advance by contacting its caretaker Peter Heaton.

Arts and Crafts top

Ledbury is home to some very talented and creative artists

who add beauty and sophistication to the town's living culture:

Strange Country

Conroy Maddox (1912-2005)

Surrealist painter born in Ledbury

Artistree is a collective of local artists.

For exhibitions of art in Ledbury take a look at Weavers Gallery
in Church Lane and the Shell House Gallery.

The Ledbury TIC at Ice Bytes exhibits the work of local artists.

Blacksmiths

From the functional to the beautiful the Ledbury area is rich in quality, artistic blacksmiths:

Andrew Findlay

Dave Preston

Alex Wilkins

Pottery

Eastnor Pottery - Pottery studio with courses and workshops

Mary Rose Young - Pottery and gallery at Lydney

Stuart Houghton - Handmade traditionally thrown pots

Wood Sculptor

John Moss

Courses

Abbott's Living Wood - Courses in green woodwork, pole-lathe turning and chairmaking.

Angie Hughes - Textile courses online and at various venues

Eastnor Pottery - Pottery sessions for individuals, families and groups.

Green Woodwork - Greenwood, chair-making & other courses.

Jenny Pearce - Willow Basketmaking Courses throughout the year.

Marie Roper - Textile maker and teacher.

Paul Priestley - Art courses.

Creative Breaks - Learn a new skill and explore your creativity in and around Herefordshire.

Craft Centres

Hop Pocket, Bishops Frome

Jinney Ring, near Bromyard

Harts Barn, Longhope

New Brewery Arts, Cirencester

The Fold, Bransford

Taurus Crafts, Lydney

Galleries

Apple Store Gallery, Hereford

Blue-Ginger Gallery, Cradley

Cowdy Gallery, Newent

Gallery 54, Ross-on-Wye

Hereford Museum & Art Gallery

Iapetus Gallery, Great Malvern

Lion Gallery, Leominster

Mistletoe House Tearoom & Gallery, Presteigne

Parkfields Gallery, Ross-on-Wye

Tiger Arts, Malvern Link

Timber Store Gallery, Canon Frome

Trumpet Corner, Trumpet Crossroads

Weavers Gallery, Church Lane, Ledbury

Wobage Makers Gallery, Upton Bishop

Shows

The Guild of Herefordshire Craftsmen have three fairs a year upstairs in Ledbury's Market House:

Easter Show -

Summer Show -

Christmas Show -

Access to Artists at h.Art Week: 8 - 16th September, 2012.

Worcestershire Arts Trail: 1st - 4th June, 2012

Festivals top

Leisure top

Shopping top

With very few high street chain stores but a diversity of independent shops Ledbury's high street offers a unique shopping experience that is admired by visitors far and wide.

As well as several gift shops, excellent cafes, antiques and bookshops Ledbury offers a handmade chocolate shop, a cartoonery, an apothecary, a radio controlled model helicopter shop, a jewellery designer and no less than three high street butchers, two delicatessens, a local bakers and an ice cream parlour/Internet cafe.

Markets

Ledbury also has markets under the Market House on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Saturday is the busier market day where you can buy local french bread, tasty cheeses, organic vegetables, garden plants and local arts and crafts. Max the fishmonger is there on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Ledbury Country Market takes place every Friday at St Katherine's Hall in the High Street from 8.30 to 12 noon.

Kempley Produce Market - on the second Saturday of every month.

Antiques & Collectables Flea Market takes place every Tuesday at St Katherine's Hall from March 6th to December 11th, 2012, (except Tuesday October 9th) and on Saturdays May 12th and September 1st.

A few times a year Ledbury High Street hosts Friday international markets:

French Market:

Italian Market:

Ledbury Car Boot Sale - Starting in the Spring every Sunday 1-4pm on the Ross Road.