8 Immersive experiences to try in Shropshire

1. Shrewsbury Prison Break

Are you up for the challenge? You’ve seen the films, you’ve seen the TV series. Now it’s time to put yourself to the test and see if you have what it takes to break out of a real prison in the world’s largest escape game! It’s an opportunity to test your wits and skills

The Prison Break event takes place in the expansive four acre grounds of Shrewsbury Prison. It is packed full of challenges, puzzles, hidden clues, helpful prisoners and hindering officers. How will you overcome these challenges to achieve freedom and escape?

As you’re inducted into prison life, you will confess your crimes and be processed into the prison – ‘you no longer have a name just a number’. From here, you will receive your standard issue orange jumpsuits and be escorted to the main wing before being placed into your prison cell.

Now the game begins! You have to escape your cell and figure out how to get off the landing in a bid to prove your innocence.

1st & 3rd Weekend every month

Shrewsbury Prison

2. Escape Island at Alderford Lake

If the idea of an escape room is a little scary, why not try out Escape Island at Alderford Lake!

You’ll voyage across the lake to uncover mysteries on the island to find your way back to shore. A totally outdoor experience, only for the brave-hearted!

Review ‘Having escaped many rooms across the country and abroad, it was refreshing to tackle something different. Boarding a boat and being driven across the lake to one of the several escape islands was a fun and interesting start to the game. It was so refreshing to be outdoors looking for clues and working out the many puzzles to complete the game. As usual, the game master is watching and able to give clues if needed, by 2-way radio. Once completed, you are picked up and returned to shore and the game headquarters. There were 4 of us in our group and we all thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.’

Commence on 1^st April and run till 3^rd September.

Alderford Lake

3. RAF Cosford

Get ready for take-off!

Take off to the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands and enjoy a great day out for all the family. Admission is free, simply book your arrival time online and then it’s chocks away as you explore the Museum’s vast collection of aircraft, vehicles, artefacts, and the fascinating story of the RAF!

You’ll find flying entertainment for the whole family in Flight Zone. Experiences on offer include flying with the Red Arrows in the amazing 4D theatre, combining motion picture with physical effects. Pop on your VR goggles and transport yourself into the cockpit of a real Spitfire and take a flight in 360°! Or feel the speed and agility of the Eurofighter Typhoon onboard the Flight Simulator, with a pilot’s eye view from the cockpit. Glide through the skies on the ParadropVR. This immersive paragliding flight combines sensational VR content with a thrilling range of motion, transporting users into a virtual world of airborne adventures.

Throughout 2023, visitors to the RAF Museum Midlands can expect to see some exciting events including Pilot Training during the Easter break, an out of this world Jet and Space Week in October, and the chance to enrol in Elf Cadet Training in December.

RAF Cosford

 4. The Cambrian Railway driver experience days

Fulfill a dream to drive a train at the Cambrian Heritage Railways! It’s an individual ‘ Hands On ‘ driving experience, with one of their experienced crews within the Station Area at Weston Wharf, doing some small shunt moves, and then several return runs on the line to Coney Green Crossing in Oswestry. Each return trip is approximately 3 miles in length. The experience includes light refreshments, a small goodie bag of souvenirs and even a personalised certificate!

Cambrian Heritage Railways

5. Sabrina Boat

All hands on deck! Here’s your chance to sail the Severn at the helm of Sabrina Boat! This 1.5 hour driving experience will give you the incredible experience of manning a 28-tonne boat, with the support of an experienced Skipper of course! You’ll tour the Sabrina including its engine and equipment, and even walk away with a certificate!

Sabrina Boat

6. The Shropshire Distillery

Why not spend the day as a gin distiller with Shropshire Distillery? You’ll take charge of a mini copper still, and delve into the world of botanicals from their ever-growing botanical wall. By the end of your day, you’ll have designed and distilled your very own bottle of gin!

The whole experience includes:

• A Welcome drink
• Meet and greet with the distiller, Emma
• Your own workstation, equipped with mini copper still
• Botanical talk and work station introduction
• Guidance and tutoring from our Distiller, Emma
• Choose your botanicals, distil, bottle and seal your 70cl Gin creation ready to take home!
• Each enjoy 4 different signature serve G & Ts from The Shropshire Gin Collection
• Finish with a G&T made with your Gin
• Sample expressions of available Shropshire Distillery Limited Edition releases
• 10% discount voucher for use on the day
• Option to keep your recipe on file for reordering at a later date

Available as either a single or a shared experience.

The Shropshire Distillery

7. Little Brampton Barn Cookery School

Be delighted by the flavours of Spain with this afternoon-into-evening cookery experience! During the afternoon and into the evening, you will be preparing a three-course meal of traditional tapas, then either a vegetable paella or an authentic Spanish Chickpea and Spinach stew, rounded off with a delicious dessert such as Crema Catalana or rich chocolate mousse.

Working in pairs, you will watch a demonstration of each dish and then recreate the Spanish inspired menu for yourselves, eating each course together washed down with some authentic Spanish drinks.

Price includes all food, drink and cookery instruction. Exact menu items may change from course to course. The course is designed for working in pairs and there will be a maximum of four pairs on each session.

Little Brampton Barn Cookery Classes

8. Hoo Zoo

Animal Keeper for the day!

So, you’ve seen every episode of Meerkat Manor and want to get up close and personal with these curious little creatures, with Hoo Zoo you can join the zookeepers inside a secure enclosure to meet the meerkats for a truly unique animal experience. Not only will you be able to meet them but also hand feed them! Hoo Zookeepers will be there throughout to guide you through the experience and answer any questions you may have.

Why try out zookeeping for the day? Also available at Hoo Zoo is a half-day experience as a zookeeper. This encounter gives you the chance to meet a huge variety of animals including lemurs, meerkats, reptiles, hedgehogs, and servals.

Time to add zookeeper to the CV!

Zookeeper day experience

For even more exciting experiences in Shropshire, visit our activities page here