Shrewsbury is Shropshire’s county town and is perfectly placed in the centre of our rural county. Shrewsbury’s town centre is almost an island, encircled by a meandering loop of the River Severn. Within its loop are distinctive churches, Shrewsbury Castle, beautiful timber-framed houses and a sweeping riverside parkland known as the Quarry or Quarry Park.
The town rises from the river and will entice you in with intriguingly named streets such as Wyle Cop, Pride Hill and Dogpole.
It is rumoured that Shrewsbury’s Wyle Cop has the longest uninterrupted run of independent shops anywhere – can you count them?
As you would expect for a county town, Shrewsbury is an exciting Shropshire shopping destination. Large stores sit side by side with independent shops and our indoor market is renowned throughout the county and beyond. If you love independent boutiques, giftshops and galleries, prepare to be delighted. Our vibrant, exciting indoor Market Hall, packed with quirky shops and exciting food stalls, has been voted Britain’s Favourite Market.
Find out more about Shrewsbury here
Shrewsbury is home to 660 listed buildings and most famous for being the birthplace of Charles Darwin. His statue sits outside Shrewsbury Library, the building that was once his school. The Abbey has been welcoming pilgrims since the eleventh century and it sits just outside the loop of the Severn – Brother Cadfael fans will recognise it as the setting for Ellis Peters’ books about a medieval monk. The stunning Tudor buildings all around the town will tell you more of our history and explain our claim to being Original Shrewsbury!
When you’re done shopping and sightseeing, Shrewsbury’s sleek bars, cosy pubs and highly regarded restaurants are waiting to revive you with excellent food and drink.
Outside of Shrewsbury and into central Shropshire you’ll find inspiring places to explore, such as a splendid Georgian hall, full of stories and intrigue. Attingham Park’s vast grounds incorporate a deer park and a field turned into a children’s adventure playground. In this central region of Shropshire, you’ll also find the impressive ruins of the fourth largest city in Roman Britain, at Wroxeter or Uriconium as it would have been known.
Following the River Severn will reward you with more glimpses of rural Shropshire. Climb the hill at Nesscliffe and watch for signs of a once well-known highwayman or just enjoy the delightful views from the top. St. Peter’s church at Melverley, right on the river bank, is a tiny timber framed church which has been a place of worship for at least 1000 years.
Happy exploring in Shrewsbury and central Shropshire …