Visit Upton upon Severn

Whether the shopper in Upton has specialist or more general needs they will be satisfied. Here the visitor will find the internationally known Map Shop, the distinguished Upton upon Severn Wines, a traditional sweet shop with large jars of sweets, a family butchers, a craft bakers, a delicatessen, The Highway (art) Gallery and a picture framers, as well as gift shops, hair stylists, a florist, a ladies' boutique, an ironmonger and two supermarkets. More unusually, in Backfields, there is The Pudding Shop, selling traditional steamed puddings "hand made in Upton". By following New Street for a short distance out of town one comes to Clives Fruit Farm, a fully stocked farm shop, but with much else to interest everyone, especially children and a little further up this road is Tiltridge Vineyard.

Those wishing to discover the history of Upton can visit The Heritage Centre in the Old Church tower, which is itself the oldest building in the town. It is known to many as The Pepperpot, a descriptive name originally coined as an insult. Opposite there is The Tudor House Museum with its large collection of artefacts and photographs. Both the volunteers in the Heritage Centre and the curator in the museum have a fund of knowledge of Upton, past and present. The Tourist Information Centre also has well informed staff and is fully stocked with booklets and leaflets about Upton.

A walk along the former tow path, which was formerly treeless as boats were drawn along the river, first by men and, from the 1820s, by heavy horses, takes the visitor past former warehouses alongside residences of distinguished appearance and on to the Upper Ham. This is nearly 60 hectares of ancient meadowland which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its rare plants and as the habitat of ground-nesting birds such as curlew and skylark - a good reason for keeping a dog on a lead. Here too one can see, in the distance, the targets for the 1000 yard rifle range which was in use from the 1860s until the 1940s. Alternatively, in the town the churches might be visited, the Parish Church at the far end of Old Street with its tall spire and many memorials, two by Eric Gill, the eighteenth century Baptist Church more towards the centre of the town and, in School Lane, the Catholic Church, designed by Charles Hansom. Also of note is the Memorial Hall, originally built in 1832 to house the market, but now put to many uses as well as being the home of the Town Council. A trip on the river on the MV Conway Castle or The Avonbelle is another possibility.

Pubs and Hotels, both by the river (The Swan, The Kings Head, The Star and The Plough) and in the town (The Anchor, The White Lion, The Talbot and The Muggery) provide places to rest and to refresh oneself with food and drink. The Anchor dates from the seventeenth century whilst The White Lion, once the principal coaching inn of the town, is the inn of Henry Fielding's "History of Tom Jones". Other restaurants (Pundits and Thrishna,) and three takeaways (Chinese, Pizzeria and Fish and Chips), offer a variety of menus. There are tearooms at The Bell House, Bridge House and the Boathouse.

The Town has become famous for its annual events; the Folk Festival in May, the Jazz Festival in June, the Blues Festival in July and the Upton (popular) Music Festival at the end of August.
Simon Wilkinson © 2011

For a full list of businesses see the Services Map

Tourist Information Centre, High Street, Tel: 594200.