Hot Spot: Worcester

Quiet, civilised and with an excellent selection of schools, this cathedral city is enjoying a boom, says Robert Liebman

Most large cities boast that they have something for everyone. Worcester is a small cathe- dral city that justifiably makes the same claim. "We attract many families relocating to this area who are looking for a lifestyle change," says Tim Gaston of Humberts. "One of the reasons is the good selection of private and public schools in Worcester and Malvern, eight miles away. Worcester also has plenty of shopping, the county cricket ground, Worcester racecourse and the Rugby Centre at Sixways."

For better and for worse, it also has the Severn River. "We had little flooding this year," insists Gaston. "The cricket ground and the playing fields at Kings School were flooded, but it was nothing like 2000, when the main bridge was inaccessible, and many towns were badly flooded." Gaston knows of people who commute to London, but Worcester's main centre of gravity is Birmingham. "Worcester has expanded rapidly in the last 10 years, and the growth of Birmingham has had a major impact on our market. The M5 provides excellent road access, and the train takes less than an hour."

It wouldn't be the done thing today, but in the First World War Reverend Studdert Kennedy – aka Woodbine Willie – made a name for himself in Worcester by giving out free cigarettes to soldiers. Edward Elgar made music here, Royal Worcester still makes china in the city, and credit reference agency Experian chose the city for its call centre. Employment is strong enough to support a healthy buy-to-let market.

Rapid expansion has led to stiff price rises but prices are still fairly modest compared with other parts of the country which are within commuting distance, says Alan Metcalfe of Connells. "For £260,000, you can buy a large modern five-bedroom house in Warndon Villages."

Warndon Villages and St Peter the Great are located outside the city centre and are Worcester's "two expansion areas", he says. "Warndon has more than 4,000 new houses, mainly built over the last 10 years. These villages have been carefully planned, linked with existing woods and with different residential villages separated by open space corridors, cycleways and play areas."

Worcester's popularity has been reflected in annual price increases of about 20 per cent. "The market is still pretty buoyant with prices rising steadily. First-time properties are scarce because they sell as soon as they come up for sale," he says.

THE LOW-DOWN

Getting there

Foregate Street Station serves Birmingham and London Paddington. The M5 skirts the city to the east and provides fast access to Birmingham (30 miles to the north), Cheltenham (25 miles), Gloucester (30 miles) and Bristol (63 miles) to the south.

Composer in residence

Elgar's Birthplace Museum is three miles from Worcester in Lower Broadheath. Royal Worcester has a visitors' centre offering factory tours, during which visitors can paint their own porcelain plates.

Fresh air

For active types, there are swimming pools and fitness centres in the city and surrounding areas of St John's, Perdiswell and Lower Wick. The cricket ground borders the river on the south, and the racecourse is on the north.

Time out

Serious diners are frequenting the Glasshouse and Browns restaurants in a city offering Mexican, Greek, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Italian and traditional English fare. Worcester has two multiscreen cinemas, a strong regional theatre with its own company at The Swan, and concerts and recitals at Huntingdon Hall and Worcester Cathedral. Malvern is also renowned for theatre and classical music as well as its Winter Gardens.

For starters

In Warndon Village and St Peter the Great, one-bed flats start from £75,000, rising to about £185,000 for four-bed detached houses. Prices in the city centre and surrounding villages tend to be higher. Connells are selling a one-bed maisonette for $78,950, several two-bed terraces for around £100,000, a three-bed period townhouse for £134,950, and homes with four and more bedrooms for more than £200,000.

Moving up

Allen Morris are selling a renovated six-bed home with garage for £365,000, and a large wing with a self-contained flat in the Grade II-listed Havrincourt for £450,000.

Moving out

Humberts is selling Wain House in Suckley (eight miles away), a period barn conversion, £245,000, and Mutlows Farm in Welland (11 miles), consisting of two detached cottages and adjoining annex on 2.75 acres, £670,000.

Rich pickings

A five-bed, five-year-old house in Vantage Point is selling for £420,000. Vantage Point is a development of four houses built on stilts overlooking the River Severn. The hillside location is safe from flooding – the stilts mostly maximise the view; agents are Knight Frank.

Slice of Victoriana

Battenhall Lodge consists of five one- and two-bed flats in a converted Victorian house two miles from Foregate Street station, from about £199,000. The developer is Antler Homes (0121 643 7787).

Estate agents

Allen Morris, 01905 612266; Bradford and Bingley, 01905 23344; Connells, 01905 611411; Humberts, 01905 611066; Knight Frank, 01905 723438.