Alighting at Great Malvern station can feel like a time warp. A Grade II-listed building dating back to 1862, the station retains much of its original Victorian design, and even has original Great Western Railway luggage trollies restored by a local enthusiast. It's a joy to behold. Be sure to pop into Lady Foley's Tearoom, an award-winning cafe on platform 1, for yet more vintage goodness.
The station is in the centre of town, where the Victorian theme continues with period architecture and gas lamps on the streets. Originally a spa town, Great Malvern got another boost when George Bernard Shaw and Edward Elgar curated theatre and music festivals here in the early 20th century. It became a popular cultural haunt, and today the theatre complex in the old Winter Gardens keeps up the tradition. Other highlights include the medieval Great Malvern Priory and Abbey Gateway, home to the Abbey Steps Shops, a hillside hot spot for antique and art dealers.