Before I moved from the South East, the border towns of Shrewsbury, Chester, Ludlow were just names on a map. If this is the case for you it needs putting right. All three are worth visiting and here I am going try and tempt you to consider Shrewsbury.
So is it worth it?
YES. It's a charming ... Read review
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Advantages: A picturesque historic town. Easy to get to Disadvantages: It's on a hill - not the easiest town for people in wheelchairs
...was a word made for Shrewsbury and it is a lovely place to wander around at a leisurely pace. Ideal for a weekend break, it is also a great place to start from if discovering Mid Wales and the South Shropshire Hills. I give details of how to get to Shrewsbury below ('how to find it').
The centre of Shrewsbury, thanks to the river, has been largely protected from the character assassination that many towns have had to endure. Sure it ... ...
As Shrewsbury is an affluent town in a largely affluent county there are also plenty of shops that will enhance any window shopping experience. There are shops selling designer clothes (for ladies - The Dresser or Carol Grants, men - Pockets), trendy clothes (never visited any myself!), delicatessants (try Appleyard's - a foodies heaven), art galleries (Callaghan's - beautiful but very expensive art; Bear Steps Gallery - local and ... more
Before I moved from the South East, the border towns of Shrewsbury, Chester, Ludlow were just names on a map. If this is the case for you it needs putting right. All three are worth visiting and here I am going try and tempt you to consider Shrewsbury.
So is it worth it?
YES. It's a charming market town nestled on a hill and virtually surrounded by the River Severn. Picturesque was a word made for Shrewsbury and it is a lovely place to wander around at a leisurely pace. Ideal for a weekend break, it is also a great place to start from if discovering Mid Wales and the South Shropshire Hills. I give details of how to get to Shrewsbury below ('how to find it').
The centre of Shrewsbury, thanks to the river, has been largely protected from the character assassination that many towns have had to endure. Sure it has its malls with the names you'll all recognise, but it also has small alleyways (some called shuts as they were closed at night), abundant old black and white houses, medieval streets, independent shops and, of course, the river.
It is (within the river horseshoe) a small compact town that is best seen on foot, and that is the best way of getting around. I always park to the west of the town, in the Frankwell car park, as it is cheap and gives easy access to the town centre. The downside is that you have to cross a bouncy bridge and you enter from the Riverside Shopping Centre, a rather tatty and unattractive first view.
Wherever you start from, if shopping is your thing the place to head for is Pride Hill, a pedestrianised street that, along with its two shopping malls - the Darwin Centre and Pride Hill (which both lead out to the Riverside Shopping Centre), has many of the favourite household names. If you visit after early 2007 all three centres will have been merged, improved and enlarged, and be known as Castle Gate (a result of a PR company led competition - one of 4 uninspiring choices!), and the council are considering giving Pride Hill a face lift which should improve the mainstream shopping experience.
As Shrewsbury is an affluent town in a largely affluent county there are also plenty of shops that will enhance any window shopping experience. There are shops selling designer clothes (for ladies - The Dresser or Carol Grants, men - Pockets), trendy clothes (never visited any myself!), delicatessants (try Appleyard's - a foodies heaven), art galleries (Callaghan's - beautiful but very expensive art; Bear Steps Gallery - local and affordable), organic food shops, wine merchants (Tanners - award winning), antiques, haberdasheries…the list goes on and even includes a specialist chocolate shop (make for the Chocolate Gourmet). Much of the independent choices can be found in Butchers Row, Wyle Cop, Grope Lane, St. Alkmunds Place, Dogpole and Mardol streets (great names aren't they).
There are more shops in and around the Market Square, which is dominated by the Old Market Hall. Built in 1596 it now houses a film and digital media centre and is the backdrop to some occasional and rather average market stalls.
After all that shopping food and drink might be on your mind. There are plenty of pubs to choose from, many of them with a good range of beers and comfortable atmospheres. If you like a smoke free environment try the Three Fishes Inn in Fish Street, one of the oldest streets in Shrewsbury (and worth a visit in its own right).
For food, I recommend the Armoury down near the river on Victoria Avenue (good pub food in comfortable surroundings); the Bellstone Hotel on Barker Street (brasserie with wide choice) is good for lunches; Franks Café Bar on the Welsh Bridge (great atmosphere at night) and Draper's Hall, St, Mary's Street (quality food set in an old medieval building). There are many more to choose from that cover a range of international cuisines, and the Shrewsbury Guide link below is a good place to start. The only place I would recommend you avoid is the Boathouse Pub (on the outside of the river horseshoe opposite the Quarry Park, via the Porthill pedestrian bridge) a great location ruined, in my experience, by appalling food and poor service.
Should you want to walk off lunch then a great place to head is the aforementioned Quarry Park, a large (29 acres) riverside park that includes formal gardens (the Dingle - made famous by Percy Thrower) and a fitness centre - if walking isn't enough.
Events are also held in the park, including the annual Shrewsbury flower show (£14pp for adults, 2005), which according to Guinness World Records the world's longest running horticultural show. It is held over 2 days in August and has a huge range of flowers, vegetables, garden designs, entertainment (this year's included horse jumping, quad bike tricks and Katherine Jenkins singing - all in the pouring rain) and to cap it all fireworks.
The park also hosts various events. Jools Holland and guests performed this year (2005) - a wonderful evening with picnic and wine followed by spectacular fireworks. Will Young also performed (on another night - I didn't get to that one).
If music or theatre is of interest then the Shrewsbury Music Hall has a wide range of performances, including drama, gigs and on Sunday evening's comedy nights. For film, there is a cinema which is walkable from the centre on Old Potts Way (outside the horseshoe) for mainstream films or for more 'arty' films the Old Market Hall mentioned above. A new theatre is currently being built next to the Frankwell car park which should increase cultural options.
It could be you are after some late night dancing and there are a number of clubs - Diva for over 25's, Liquid, Flairs, Ministry, The Butterworth with lots of events - though my night clubbing days are now just a distant memory so I can't comment on the quality.
There are of course a few places to visit that don't include shops or alcohol for those trying to avoid temptation.
Castles can be found all along the English / Welsh border, and Shrewsbury is no exception. With parts dating from the 11th Century it has had many alterations and additions and now houses the collections of the Shropshire Regimental Museum - so if military history is for you the castle is a must see. Views aren't too bad either. Being an old town there are a number of medieval churches; The Abbey (which survived Henry VIII's destructive phase), St. Mary's (the best example of an original medieval church), St. Alkmund's Church, and the rebuilt St. Chad's, all of which are worth a quick visit.
If you want to take things really slowly you can take boat trips on the river - they leave from the Victoria Quay, next to the Welsh Bridge or alternatively head back to your hotel room and sleep.
Places to Stay include B&B's from around £20pp upto Hotels for £175 per room. Most fall somewhere in between £40 and £100. The best hotel is the Prince Rupert, the former home of Prince Rupert, James I's grandson. Parts of the hotel are very old, so rooms vary in size but it has a certain charm and service is good.
If you have exhausted the town itself, nearby (not all inclusive) there are the National Trust properties of Attingham Park and Powis Castle, Acton Burnell Castle (English Heritage), Llangollen Canal and Weston Park (where they hold the annual V festival).
How to find it. Shrewsbury is situated on the English / Welsh border and is approximately 70 miles west of Birmingham. It is easily accessible by car with dual carriage way (A5) / motorway (M54) from the M6. It will also soon be easier to find as the local council has managed to persuade the Highways Agency to place Shrewsbury on the M54 sign on the M6 (Did that make sense?). Trains come from all directions and it is in easy reach of Birmingham, Chester, Liverpool and Manchester. Coach is also an option with National Express
If you drive, park and ride locations are signed from all main directions (cost £1), though I recommend that anyone heading from the North, West or South heads for the Frankwell car park which is on the Welsh side of town, just before the unsurprisingly named Welsh Bridge. Only £2.50 for all day parking is a rare bargain. If coming from the East a good parking choice is Shrewsbury Football club's ground (make sure they are playing away from home!) which is just before the English Bridge.
Park and Ride Parking: Oxon (West) - Off A458 Welshpool Road, Meole Brace (South) Off A5112 Hereford Road, Harlescott (North East) - Off A5112 Whitchurch Road
Bits and pieces of Other If you need to do food shopping there is a Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons in the town. The Tourist Information Centre is located within the Music Hall which is on the Market Square The Welsh Bridges and English bridges are the only way into the centre of the town (unless you count a single lane toll bridge) and they date from the 18th century. Previous names for Shrewsbury: Pengwern (Briton), Scrobbes-brig (Saxon), Salopesberia (Norman) You can gaze up at the Statue of 'Clive of India' in Market Square or that of Charles Darwin at the town library. Other famous locals include Wilfred Owen, Percy Thrower, Mary Webb and the fictional Brother Cadfael.
Not so good Castle Street, High Street and Mardol would be better pedestrianised. It's on a hill and there are cobbled streets which isn't so good for wheelchairs.
Useful web links Coaches: www.nationalexpress.com/home/hp.cfm Trains: www.seat61.com/ Shrewsbury: www.visitshrewsbury.com/ Shropshire: www.shropshiretourism.info/ Accommodation: www.shropshiretourism.info/accommodationsearch.cfm Food info: www.shrewsburyguide.info/shrewsbury_food.html The Old Market Hall: www.oldmarkethall.co.uk/ The Music Hall: www.musichall.co.uk
Advantages: Historical town, loads of little shops, cafes, bars, pubs, restaurants Disadvantages: Hills, cobbles - accessibity problems
...in the River Severn. Shrewsbury has been my home for over 15 years now and I'd like to show you that there's more to Shrewsbury than its river. I hope that you will agree with me that it is a very special place.
Shrewsbury is a genuine historic market town with markets having been held here for centuries. The heart of the town, The Square, has been a market place since the 1300s. It was also the site of the town's ducking stool and pond.
Some associate ... ...shapes except straight shapes."
Shrewsbury is full of black and white timber buildings and intriguing haunted alleys with curious names such as Grope Lane and Butcher Row. Visiting these winding streets and narrow alleys you will find one of the best collections of independent shops in the country. Wyle Cop alone boasts of 90 different shops, cafes, hotels and pubs, the majority of which are independently owned. Tanners Wine Merchants an award winning ...
inycon2 16.11.2007 (15.11.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Shrewsbury in General
Advantages: Great shops, great food, great atmosphere, a great place to come! Disadvantages: none the town is fantastic!
...the town's name. The name Shrewsbury is the centre of an ongoing debate amongst the residents here. Half of us pronounce it Shro-sbury, whereas the other half say Shreew-sbury. This board proves which is correct. Back in the days when Shrewsbury was a medieval centre of activity its name was translated as town by the swamp. It sounded like: schroggersburg lol what a funny name! This then evolved to be pronounced Shro-sbury!(this is all from memory ... ...desgin!
The shopping in Shrewsbury is amazing. The two main centres : The Darwin and The Pride Hill Centre contain all the well known stores, like Topshop, New Look, Next, Marks and Spencer and many more. We also have some really unique and special shops on Wyle Cop. My favourite is Oberon, a great jewellery shop containing beautiful earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets and brooches. They make wonderful presents as each item looks unique and wonderful. ...
groovy2000 26.10.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Shrewsbury in General
Advantages: fabulous location & scenery Disadvantages: public transprot other than height of shopping tmes
Shrewsbury - my town of birth and home town for 32 years - is a fabulous place to come and visit , no matter what your age , tastes or interests are. With buildings and "scenery" ranging from the castle and dozens of timber framed tudor buildings through to wide open hills and hillocks just begging to be wandered over.
Shopping , I am reliable informed by my wife , is excellent with a fantastic blend of national chain stores and small local boutiques ... ...are planning a visit to shrewsbury to do some christmas shoping in the next two months or so - then try late nights on Wednesdays from November 15th - and experience the fantastic christmas illuminations - they make shopping a great experience.
Well served by rail links and bus services (at fairly ok intervals) - you should not find it too difficult to get here - but the public transport lacks greatly when it comes to late evening getaways fom Shrewsbury ...
bucktay 27.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Shrewsbury in General
Advantages: historical, friendly people, close to nature Disadvantages: expensive, busy, difficult to get too
...heartstrings pull once more.
Shrewsbury is only about 60 miles due west of Birmingham more or less on the Welsh border. It isn't a city, more of an oldie worldie quaint little town stuck in a 300 year old time warp.
It was relatively easy to get to the town by car although there is no direct motorway link, but the scenic A & B road route is well worth the effort.
Not really remembering much about the place from my youth I couldn't recall what ... ...on any High Street.
Shrewsbury is very popular with the tourists, especially St Chads Church, the Abbey & nearby Castle. It can get a little crowded at peak times inspite of all the traffic calming measures. there is plenty to do if you want a laidback afternoon, but there isn't much if you have a car full of kids bored out of their tiny minds.
It was good returning home, although I couldn't get a sense of "being". But at least the town has been ...
Sonatine 15.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Shrewsbury in General
Advantages: Nice relaxed town, good shopping Disadvantages: Rail link could be better
Shrewsbury is a great place to stay, whether for young or old. There are a wide range of bars to suit all tastes although the nightclubs can be a bit of a lottery. The main shopping centres, Pride Hill and the Charles Darwin Centre are very good, with the usual range of highstreet shops and a few others. As far as getting here, then it can be a bit difficult by train, with a lot of trains requiring changes at Crewe, Wolverhampton or Birmingham, and ... ...is very pleasant. Just outside Shrewsbury there are some very pretty villages, like Condover, some great walking territory and the Welsh mountains within easy reach, not to mention some great golf courses (Shrewsbury GC, Church Stretton and Llanamynarch are three within easy distance of Shrewsbury). It is also a gateway to Wales, and the Welsh mountains, and there are a lot of outdoor pursuits just outside Shrewsbury that are worth pursuing. ...
Morgenhund 10.08.2000 (11.12.2000)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Shrewsbury in General
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
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Advantages: Compact county town Disadvantages: Tends to flood
Unlike much of the towns in Shropshire, Shrewsbury is blessed with a decent public transport system.
The train stations links to North, South and Mid Wales, the North of England and the Midlands.
And the bus service within the town is as good as most other towns in the UK. Services are regular and prompt, ingeneral.
Bus stands in the centre of Shrewsbury have very modern electronic information screens which aim to kee bus users up-to-date with problems on the route, etc.
There is also a widely used and popular park and ride scheme which serves the town quite well.
Bus links to surrounding towns are passable. Though for trips to -say- Ludlow, Wellington and Telford, the traveller is best off using the fast and frequent train service, rather than waiting for a bus service. For some reason bus links to other towns are not as ...
