Royal Worcester has been producing fine porcelain since 1751, making it the oldest continuously operating porcelain manufacturer in Britain. The Museum of Royal Worcester, housed in the original factory buildings on Severn Street, holds the world's largest collection of the company's work — over 20,000 pieces spanning three and a half centuries of production.
The collection ranges from delicate 18th-century tea services made for aristocratic tables to the famous Victorian figurines and the fruit-painted dessert services that became a Royal Worcester signature. There is a particularly good display of the pieces produced for royalty, and the museum explains how the distinctive styles evolved in response to fashion, competition from European manufacturers, and changing tastes. Factory tours show the production process; the painting room, where decorators hand-paint the intricate fruit and flower designs, is genuinely impressive to watch.
The factory outlet shop is attached; seconds and older lines are available at reduced prices. The museum is south of the cathedral, a short walk along Severn Street.