Local authority district in Worcestershire, England
| Coordinates: | 52.17, -2.41 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | SO 72 52 |
Malvern Hills is a largely rural local authority district in Worcestershire centred on the distinctive ridge of the Malvern Hills AONB. The hills themselves-with high points such as Worcestershire Beacon-are ancient, with Iron Age earthworks like British Camp, and a famous network of natural springs that gave rise to the Victorian spa town of Great Malvern and the bottled "Malvern water". The landscape is steep, wooded and highly visible across the border into Herefordshire, making it a popular spot for walkers and nature lovers.
The district’s economy mixes tourism and agriculture with a surprising high‑technology and small‑scale manufacturing presence around the town of Malvern, plus events and exhibitions at the Three Counties Showground. Socially it combines an affluent commuter and retirement population with longstanding local communities, and benefits from active conservation through bodies set up to protect the hills; it also retains a lively cultural link to composers such as Elgar and a steady calendar of local festivals and arts activity. Good road and rail links put it within easy reach of Worcester and Birmingham, which helps sustain a diverse local economy.