Visit the happiest place in the UK!

Voted the UK’s happiest city in a report by Unbroken Britain, Worcester’s the place to go if the cold snap’s getting you down. Ditch the doom and gloom this January and hop on board a GWR train to this beautiful city where you can enjoy five cheerful and fun activities that are sure to brighten up your day. Start your journey at Worcester Foregate Street station.

Go for a stroll

Stretch those legs with a big walk across Worcester Racecourse, heading in the direction of Gheluvelt Park, which straddles Barbourne Brook. The racecourse makes for a particularly picturesque walk during the winter months, when outside the racing and festival seasons, which kick off in May.

Make your way past the empty grandstand and across the lush green Pitchcroft beside the River Severn, exiting at Waterworks Road. Cross the road to Gheluvelt Park, which has an outdoor gym area, tennis courts, a bandstand and lots of wildlife, including a pond full of ducks – it’s the perfect place to while away a few hours in the afternoon.

Take a boat trip

A glorious 45-minute boat journey along the River Severn with Worcester Boat Trips is just the kind of thing that makes the city the happiest place in the country. Departing on the hour between 11am and 4pm daily, you can enjoy the sights of Worcester from the comfort of a seat as you learn all about the city’s fascinating history. At night-time, Worcester Boat Trips’ vessel, The Earl, transforms into a fun music venue.

Devour an afternoon tea

The Greyfriars’ House and Garden is a beautiful medieval, timbered merchant’s house on Worcester’s iconic Friar Street. Rescued from demolition, it is now a National Trust property, which reopens for the season on Tuesday 12 February. On site you’ll find the Old Oak Café, which serves sumptuous slices of homemade cake, cream teas and a selection of beverages.

Enjoy a night of live music

For the budding musicians among you, the Marrs Bar is a must-visit live music venue. Every Wednesday night is jam night, which means you can simply turn up and play, or alternatively, listen to others as they take to the stage. From rock to indie, folk to blues, there’s a night of entertainment throughout the week perfect for all kinds of music lovers. marrsbar.co.uk

Visit the library

The Hive isn’t just any old library. It took 10 years for this incredible building to come to fruition and it is now the first library in Europe to house both a university and public lending book collection. With over 250,000 books in its care, the Hive is on a phenomenal scale and is worth visiting if only to see its architectural brilliance.