Upton-upon-Severn

It's a riverside market town worth visiting if you're exploring the Worcestershire side of the Cotswolds, positioned conveniently between Worcester and Tewkesbury.

The White Lion Hotel is impossible to miss—a 17th-century timber-framed building that anchors the main street and gives the place genuine character. Along the high street you'll find independent shops, cafes, and pubs, and there's a working harbor where small boats still operate, which means the town feels genuinely lived-in rather than purely tourist-focused.

The real appeal here is the setting. The Severn is genuinely impressive at this point—wide and dramatic—and the riverbank walks are excellent for watching the water and taking in the landscape. The town's strategic importance during the Civil War is still readable in its layout and older buildings. When summer comes around, the riverside gets busy with visitors taking the walks and enjoying the pubs that overlook the water.

You can explore Upton thoroughly in a couple of hours, making it perfect as a stop on a longer journey through the region. The surrounding countryside is rolling and green, as you'd expect from Worcestershire, and larger towns nearby have additional facilities and attractions if you need them.