Worcester, England

Worcester ( WUUST-ər) is a cathedral city in Worcestershire, England, of which it is the county town. It is 30 mi (48 km) south-west of Birmingham, 27 mi (43 km) north of Gloucester, 23 mi (37 km) north-east of Hereford, and 50.8 mi (81 km) north-west of Oxford. The city is situated on the River Severn, 1.5 mi (2.4 km) north of the confluence with the River Teme. The population was 103,872 in the 2021 census. The city has been a centre of education since the foundation of Worcester Cathedral in 680. It is home to The University of Worcester. It has been home to The King's School, Worcester since 1541, and The Royal Grammar School, Worcester traditionally since 685, reputedly making the school the sixth oldest school in the world. Worcester is famous for Worcestershire Sauce, traditionally made by Lea & Perrins, as well as for its former manufacturing of porcelain by Royal Worcester Porcelain, and its significant 19th century trade of glove making. It is home to Berrow's Worcester Journal, established in 1690, and claimed as the world's oldest newspaper in continuous and current publication. The composer Edward Elgar (1857–1934) grew up in the city and spent much of his life in nearby Malvern. Worcester was nicknamed 'The Faithful City' due to its status as a Royalist stronghold in the English Civil War, where it was host to the final battle of the war when Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army defeated the future Charles II's Royalists. It is the beginning of Charles II's escape route, now named the Monarch's Way; a 625 mi (1,006 km) public footpath following the route.