Places to visit in Shropshire

Start your list of things to do in Shropshire at Market Drayton, in the north of the county. Incredibly, this quintessential market town has held its namesake market since the 13th century. Take a walk around the town exploring its independent shops and locally-focused museum, and take a picturesque wander on the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal. If you fancy a long walk, you’ll find Tyrley Flight around an hour’s stroll from the town, with five pretty locks and brightly coloured bobbing narrowboats. 

Next, take a short drive north-west, to explore another of Shropshire’s best towns to visit, Whitchurch. This historic market town was built on a Roman site and is full of independent shops and restaurants: pop into The Pie Hole for a home-made gourmet pie, and shop for gifts and sustainable beauty products at eco-friendly store Refill Your Boots. 

Heading south-west towards Oswestry, stop at Ellesmere, another top thing to do in North Shropshire. Known as Shropshire’s Lake District, Ellesmere is surrounded by nine lakes – or meres – which are perfect for wandering around, relaxing beside, or enjoying a picnic. Stretch your legs on the Ellesmere Sculpture Trail, and treat yourself to tea and cake in the historic Boathouse. 

From Ellesmere, it’s a short hop to Oswestry on the Welsh border. This market town is full of pubs and restaurants and even has its own heritage train, the Cambrian Heritage Railway. Beside the railway’s Weston Wharf station you’ll find Stonehouse brewery and distillery, where you can buy small-batch gin, whisky and vodka made in its copper still called Matilda. Take a short trip on a steam train or walk to Old Oswestry, the Iron Age hillfort, for beautiful views. 

Finally, it’s time to relax in style. Head to the grand Hawkstone Hall Hotel & Gardens, an 18th-century mansion set in 35 hectares (88 acres) of grounds, for an evening of fine -dining in one of Shropshire’s most lavish restaurants – The Saloon. After a supper of pan-fried scallops, venison loin and a gourmet cheeseboard, you can retreat to one of its luxurious rooms. From butler service to free-standing bathtubs overlooking the estate, it’s like staying in a real-life Downton Abbey.  

Head to Shropshire’s top shopping spot, Shrewsbury. This medieval market town is one of Shropshire’s biggest attractions, stuffed with shops and eateries tucked down its crooked streets. Surrounded by the River Severn, it has more than its fair share of historical sites, including the birthplace of Charles Darwin, and you can take a walk around the town on the Darwin Shrewsbury Trail. 

Visit Shrewsbury Castle and discover its 1,000 years of history. A popular thing to do is climb its walls for spectacular views of the town – and look out for seasonal events such as sketching sessions, historical talks and arts fairs. Then, head into the free Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery and see the town’s history, from Roman tombstones to Tudor treasures. 

The best way to see the sights of the pretty town, and one of its most popular attractions, is via a boat trip on the river. Float along the River Severn with Sabrina boat tours, which offers hour-long trips along the willow-shaded waterway, spotting Shrewsbury Castle, the Quantum Leap sculpture and Shrewsbury’s statue of Hercules along the way. Keep your eyes peeled for cormorants, herons and maybe even a kingfisher. 

Leaving modern-day Shrewsbury behind for a moment, travel back in time at another of Shropshire’s attractions, Wroxeter – or Viroconium Cornoviorum. No, we can’t pronounce it either. You’ll be speechless at the sight of one of the largest cities in Roman Britain, including a reconstructed town house, a museum and giant outdoor games, including Roman-themed snakes and ladders.  

Finally, just outside of the town in the village of Upton Magna, you’ll find one of the best restaurants in Shrewsbury. At The Hafren – the fine-dining restaurant of the acclaimed Haughmond pub – you can enjoy finely crafted food from local producers, such as chalk stream trout, pastrami and burgers made with local Longhorn beef. If you fancy staying over, note that the pub’s breakfast is award-winning!  

Day three is devoted to Shropshire’s most popular thing to do – a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ironbridge. This world-famous tourist location, widely considered the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, is home to 10 museums. But first, of course, you must see the famous bridge itself, which was built in 1779. 

Next, visit Ironbridge Valley of Invention’s popular museums. Join a ceramic workshop at the Coalbrookdale China Museum; visit the Blists Hill Victorian Town to experience what life was like in 1900 or tour the Jackfield Tile Museum, a heaven for interior design fans. At Jackfield you can join tile-painting and ceramics-making classes, while Blists Hill offers hands-on Victorian blacksmithing and printmaking experiences, and a chance to meet its resident shire horses – George, Casey, Bernie and co.  

Just south-west of Ironbridge, you’ll come to the tiny town of Much Wenlock. Slightly off the beaten track, it’s worth adding to your list of things to do, because of its fascinating Olympic connection (the Wenlock Olympian Games began here in 1850). You can learn more in the Much Wenlock Museum, and buy everything from local honeycomb to small-batch spirits at the bustling markets (on various days) – held in the Buttermarket, Corn Exchange and The Square. 

Continuing south-east, you’ll arrive in Bridgnorth, where you can rest your legs by climbing on board the heritage railway attraction, the Severn Valley Railway. Take a scenic journey through Shropshire and Worcestershire, from a short return journey to a longer day out. Highlights include hopping off for riverside walks at Bewdley, a pint of real ale at the historic King & Castle pub in Kidderminster, and posing in Britain’s longest laburnum arch at Arley Arboretum. Fun fact: Arley Station featured in Netflix’s Enola Holmes film (2020).  

Finally, check into Eaton Manor Country Estate, where you’ll find multiple luxury holiday cottages, set in 200 hectares (500 acres) of glorious countryside. They range in size, with The Manor House and Toad Hall sleeping up to 14 – and all are dog-friendly, too. Perfect for those looking for the more peaceful attractions the county has to offer. A local dairy with a milk vending machine and farm shop are close by, for home-grown supplies. 

A 10-minute drive from Eaton Manor brings you to Church Stretton. This small market town sits in an idyllic spot in the heart of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape. There are plenty of great restaurants and cafes in which to enjoy brunch, such as Berry’s Coffee House, which uses organic and free-range produce from local suppliers. And it’s never too early for an ice cream, especially when it’s a Shropshire-made chocolate scoop from Berry’s. 

One of the best things to do in Shropshire is a walk in the countryside and this is the ideal place to do it. Explore the two local nature reserves by the town, covering 80 hectares (200 acres). The woodland walk has been described as the ‘most tranquil place in Britain’. There are short or long walks for all levels, and easy-access routes for pushchairs and wheelchair users. 

Next, visit Stokesay Castle, the medieval manor house with a fairy-tale tower giving fabulous views over the hills. Explore the unchanged great hall and admire the characters carved into the timbers of the gatehouse – while the walled garden and moat walk are full of green-fingered inspo (don’t leave without a whiff of those sweet-scented old English roses). Constructed at the end of the 13th century, the manor house is now run by English Heritage; it’s one of Shropshire’s top things to do. 

You couldn’t come to Shropshire and not visit its medieval town of Ludlow, which tops the list of foodie things to do in Shropshire. Some of the many attractions in Ludlow include exploring its historic streets and 11th-century Ludlow Castle. With more than 400 listed buildings, this is a gorgeous spot for walks (and Instagram photoshoots!) – while the market stalls feature local delicacies, vintage clothing, bric-a-brac and more (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays).  

Ludlow’s most famous attraction is its food and drink. So finish the getaway with a gourmet flourish by heading to one of its fabulous eateries, from the Michelin Bib Gourmand-rated Charlton Arms, to Mortimers fine-dining restaurant. At the latter, you’ll find the likes of Gressingham duck, Shropshire lamb and super-fresh veggies grown on local farms – the best of British, all on one plate.