Hereford is a city in Herefordshire, England. It’s also a civil parish and county town. The city is located 16 miles from the border with Wales, 14 miles from Worcester and 23 miles from Gloucester. It has a population of over 58,000, making it the biggest settlement in the county.
It’s twinned with the towns Dillenburg (Germany) and Vierzon (France). Hereford overlooks the River Wye, which runs from England to Wales, and is Britain’s fifth longest river.
The name Hereford is a combination of the Anglo Saxon words “here” – meaning an army of soldiers – and “ford” – as in, a river crossing. It follows that the city was area where armed men crossed the River Wye.
Hereford received an early town charter in 1189 by Richard I of England, when it was dubbed Hereford of Wales.
Historically, Hereford has served as a county in Herefordshire. However, in 1974, the city was merged with Worcestershire to form part of the county of Herford and Worcester. The town has gone on to become a unity authority and is one of only eight civil parishes in England to hold a city status.
These days, Hereford is a key agricultural and rural trading hub. Local products include beer, leather, nickel alloys, poultry, chemicals, cattle and cider. The city is home to beautiful buildings, terrific cultural institutions and a wonderful selection of outdoor spaces. Popular attractions include Chase Distillery, Hereford Cathedral, The Weir Garden, Berrington Hall and the Cider Museum. Other sites worth seeing are the Waterworks Museum, Monkland Cheese Dairy and Brobury House.
The town is known for its music, and, each year, plays host to a fantastic event known as the Three Choirs Festival. It is also well regarded for its art, evidenced by the Hereford Art Week, which takes place every September.
Hereford railway station lies on the Welsh Line, and offers regular services to Birmingham, London, Manchester and Cardiff. A number of buses run through the town and connect the various areas within it. These include buses 39A, 71, 72, 74 and 75. The closest major airports to Hereford are Birmingham, Cardiff and Bristol.
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