Introduction
The cathedral city of Hereford is situated 16 miles East of the Welsh border and is one of the most beautiful and typical English towns in the country. The population is between 50 - 60,000 so it's not huge but it's big enough to spend a couple of days of your UK trip.The name "Hereford" is believed to have originated from the Anglo Saxon words "here" (which means army) and "ford" (river crossing). It's entirely believable that this is the correct origin as Hereford is a strategic location for crossing the river Wye.
Whilst the town isn't huge there are a number of attractions that shouldn't be missed when visiting. The Cathedral being the most obvious, was built in 1079 and has over recent years undergone extensive renovations. The Cathedral also houses the Mappa Mundi, a medieval (13th century) map of the world, and the Chained Library - two attractions that are well worth a visit.
As a largely agriculture based economy Hereford is also the home to some of the UKs finest food & drink brands that must be sampled before leaving. Bulmers Cider is the probably the best known, followed by Tyrrells crisps and Herefordshire beef.
Hereford is easy to reach from both Welsh and English main stations. The line from Cardiff, Swansea and Birmingham are all just a few hours from Hereford Station.
