Arts and Culture 

Herefordshire and beyond

Herefordshire is a county that’s crammed with art and culture. Any exploration of the artistic and cultural life must start with the jewel in the Hereford’s crown, The Courtyard which provides an extensive range of arts events and education.

Contemporary art and craft galleries can be found tucked in cobbled city lanes and in pretty black-and-white villages, often in heritage buildings. If you travel high in the hills you’ll find Canwood Gallery, with its exceptional sculpture park. Apples and Herefordshire go hand in hand, so a visit to the Museum of Cider is a must.

Mappa Mundi

Visit the Mappa Mundi in Hereford Catherdral, one of the oldest maps of the world.

Hereford Cathedral is home to the Hereford Mappa Mundi, one of the world’s unique medieval treasures. Measuring 1.59 x 1.34 metres (5’2” by 4’4”), the map is constructed on a single sheet of vellum (calf skin). Scholars believe it was made around the year 1300 and shows the history, geography and destiny of humanity as it was understood in Christian Europe in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries.

The inhabited part of the world as it was known then, roughly equivalent to Europe, Asia and North Africa, is mapped within a Christian framework. Jerusalem is in the centre, and east is at the top. East, where the sun rises, was where medieval Christians looked for the second coming of Christ. The British Isles is at the bottom on the left.

H Art

H-Art week, when many artists open their studios and galleries to the public.Since 2002 our county-wide art trial has taken place every year in the second week of September. h.Art has become part of Herefordshire’s rich cultural calendar, with a huge variety of art and art forms on show in Open Studios, Group Exhibitions and Gallery Events. With the vast majority offering FREE admission to visitors, h.Art promises a fun day out in one of England’s most beautiful counties.

Meet hundreds of individual artists, see an array of artwork across the county in the city and countryside, in fabulous locations such as manor houses, historic barns, farms, churches and beautiful gardens. h.Art is really special for art lovers, promising personal encounters with some of the UK’s finest artists and makers in the intimacy of their own homes and studios.

Hereford City & Cathedral

Hereford Cathedral is home to a community that has worked and worshipped together continuously for over 1,300 years.

The present building includes examples of architecture, stained glass and art from all periods which can be further explored with our knowledgeable guides and volunteers. There are also many opportunities for visitors to experience the music of the cathedral with a range of concerts and recitals taking place during the year. After a busy day, Evensong is a wonderful opportunity to listen to Hereford Cathedral Choir and find some peace and tranquillity.

The Chained Library at Hereford Cathedral

This is a unique and fascinating treasure in Britain’s rich heritage of library history; there were books at Hereford Cathedral long before there was a ‘library’ in the modern sense.

Black & White Village Trail

Each with its own character and allure, the villages all warrant a stroll. There are country pubs and homely tea rooms sprinkled along the route, as well as open gardens and stately homes.

Our cider makers deserve special mention. This is the land of apples, after all! Come in the spring to see the blossom or visit in the autumn to watch the cider being made. During the harvest you’ll follow trailers of apples along the roads – the scent on the air is divine, in fact, we should probably bottle it.

The route is signed throughout with brown and white tourist signs, and you can pick up a leaflet at Leominster Tourist Information. Please be prepared for, and patient with, farm vehicles, particularly on minor roads. The total distance is about 40 miles and with stops at the villages and places of interest along the way, the circuit will provide an enjoyable day’s excursion.