The Commandery Worcester: planning a visit

The Commandery is a historic building and museum in Worcester, with a site history that spans religious, domestic and working life. Most of the building dates from the late fifteenth century and has timber-framed construction.

The building stands on the site of an early medieval chapel. Tradition says Saint Wulfstan founded a hospital there around 1085, near an earlier Saxon chapel dedicated to Saint Gudwal. Later, the site served as a monastic hospital, a family home, a college for blind students and a printing works.

Today, the museum’s visitor facilities include Little Al’s Kitchen café with a garden, a gift shop, toilets, baby-changing facilities and two lifts. The café is beside the canal.

The Commandery is closely associated with the Battle of Worcester in 1651, the final battle of the English Civil War, when it served as a Royalist headquarters.

The building’s later chapters add to that story. The Wylde family lived there from the mid-1500s until 1764. Worcester College for Blind Sons of Gentlemen leased the building from 1866 to 1887, and the Littleburys moved their printing business there in 1888. Medieval wall paintings were found by a decorator in 1935.

For more local context, browse this guide to museums in Worcester. It’s also easy to make The Commandery part of a wider city day; see this walkable Worcester itinerary for another way to plan your time.

The Commandery is about a 10-minute walk from Boutique By Browns. Set off on foot and use the address, Sidbury, Worcester, WR1 2HU, to find the museum; the available details give a walking time but do not specify a turn-by-turn route.

If you’re planning a day around Worcester’s historic sights, you can include the museum in a city-centre walk. For a broader route, use the one-day Worcester guide to plan the rest of your stops.

The Commandery normally opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 10am to 3pm. It is open from February to December and closed throughout January. Last entry is one hour before closing.

Day admission costs £10 for adults, £5 for children aged 5–16 and nothing for children under 5. A family day ticket for up to two adults and three children costs £25, while a National Art Pass ticket costs £8.95.

Annual season tickets are listed at £18.95 for an adult, £13.95 for a child and £43 for a family of up to two adults and three children.

Worcester residents who show proof of paying Worcester City Council tax can buy an annual ticket for £8.95 per adult or £23 for a family of up to two adults and three children.

Day tickets can be booked online. The other listed admission options, including resident discounts and season passes, are available when visiting rather than online. A one-hour tour led by the interpretation team can be booked for £85 per group.

The building and café have level-access entrances, and the venue lists two lifts and an accessible toilet. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome inside; other dogs are not allowed in the building, though dogs are welcome at Little Al’s Kitchen beside the canal.

Blue Badge parking is available at King Street, with full parking information provided by Worcester City Council.

Little Al’s Kitchen normally opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Opening times, admission prices and access arrangements can change, so check The Commandery’s official site before you go.