There are two grade II* buildings in Clifton upon Teme: the parish church of St Kenelm, [2] and Woodmanton Farmhouse.

[6] The village is an excellent example of an Anglo-Saxon settlement overlooking the River Teme, situated on the ancient salt route that led from Droitwich to Leominster.

The earliest surviving mention of the village is in the Latin charter of King Athelstan, granting it to the monks of St. Peter's Monastery in Worcester in 934 AD when it was referred to as Clistun ultra Tame.

During the time of the wars with the Welsh, the manor of Clifton became established and was granted Royal Borough status by Edward III of England in 1377, allowing it to hold a weekly market on Thursdays and an annual four-day fair.

The original manor house, built around 1200 on the site of the present Lion Inn, eventually came to be used as a hostelry for travellers en route between Worcester and Tenbury Wells.