Lying within a giant loop of the River Severn and guarded by its castle, Shrewsbury has been called England’s finest Tudor town, and is certainly one of the top places to visit in Shropshire. Black and white buildings are everywhere, as are the ancient “shuts” or passageways which connect them. There are no less than 660 listed buildings in the town.
Shrewsbury Museum houses a collection of artefacts from the nearby Roman city of Wroxeter (open to the public), now considered by many historians to be the true site of Arthur’s Camelot. Shrewsbury has a superb abbey and the town has excellent shopping facilities and good parking. You will find a huge variety of shops in Shrewsbury – as well as all the usual high street names, there is an amazing range of unique independent retailers.
Shrewsbury most famous son was a Charles Darwin and there are many exhibitions and events devoted to his works on evolution. You may also choose to relax in beautiful Quarry Park, where the famous Shrewsbury Flower Show is held, or take a boat trip on the River Severn.
The ancient town of Ludlow is within easy reach of Bishops Castle, and at one stage boosted more Michelin stars than London! The Market town and its castle sit on the steep banks of the River Teme and the streets of the medieval walled town slope downward to the water’s edge. This is perhaps one of Britain’s best-preserved medieval towns and The Bull Ring in the town centre was once the site of bull baiting events in the Middle Ages. With nearly 500 listed buildings including some fine examples of medieval and Tudor-style half-timbered buildings Ludlow paints a striking picture and is well worth a day’s exploring.
It was here, in the dramatic gorge of the River Severn, that Ironmaster Abraham Derby first perfected the art of smelting iron with coke. The area is the site of ten extraordinary “hands-on” museums telling the story of the industrial revolution and it is now designated a World Heritage Site. Blists Hill is an entire Victorian town recreated here complete with “spit and sawdust” pub, Victorian sweet shops and a working foundry. The Coalport China Museum is also located here. A whole day out!
Snowdonia National Park in Wales is within easy reach for a day-trip, so cross over the border into Wales and explore the beautiful little towns like Betws-y-coed, or tackle one of the high mountains. Highly recommended are Snowdon, Tryfan or Moel Siabod.
Often described as one of Britain’s most unspoilt towns, Montgomery is well worth a visit, with its mix of timber framed buildings and grand Georgian and Victorian houses. Montgomery grew up around the hill-top castle in the early 13th century. Tea and cake in the Castle Kitchen is always a good decision after a stroll around the town, and don’t forget to make a trip to Bunners, one of the best traditional hardware stores in the land!
Welshpool is within easy striking distance. Set in rolling borderland, Welshpool’s major attraction to the visitor is the 13th Century Powis Castle.
You can also visit the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway – a narrow gauge steam train operating throughout the summer months. It was originally built to take local people to market with their sheep and cattle. It runs on an 8 mile journey from Raven Square and operates between Easter and early October.
