Don't pass through Shropshire without a look (All Other Attractions in Shropshire)

Member Name: Flindy

Product:	All Other Attractions in Shropshire
Date:	03/03/01 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Countryside, good shops, interesting historical places

Disadvantages: A day is not enough to see it all!

If you are travelling in Shropshire, there are many places to visit, too many to write about in one go. But here are a few of the places you could look at. Shropshire is mainly a rural area, and there is plenty of open space and pretty countryside if you want to get away from it all.

On the other hand, if it is shopping you love, Shrewsbury is a wonderful town to spend a day, with it's ancient timbered buildings well preserved it embraces the old and the new comfortably. It has a good range of shops, and eating (and drinking) places, you can even dine on a riverboat! Take a look at St Mary's church, it is not used as a regular place of worship now, but it is beautiful, and it's spire can be seen miles away. There is the Norman Castle to walk around too. Every August Shrewsbury hosts the annual Flower Show, and it has become a regular trip for people from far afield. Be warned, Shrewsbury is not a flat town, and to see it all involves walking up some steep pathways. You will probably have to resort to parking on one of the multi storey car parks, and there is also a one way system in operation in the town. Or alternatively, use the park and ride scheme, I have found this very useful.

Another very interesting place is Ironbridge, as you probably know the worlds first iron bridge is here, built in 1779 by Abraham Darby. It gets busy in the summer, and as there is only one road through Ironbridge you will sometimes find yourself dodging the tourists as you drive through. But I would be horrified to think you would drive through without looking around!!! The best place to park is at Dale End Car Park, or The Wharfage Car Park, you do not have far to walk back up to the bridge, as it is only a small place. Small but oh so interesting, it is full of little pathways upwards, and along each little pathway or road, are cottages and little houses (some very small) some with terraced gardens, some with hardly any garden at all. There are some mo
re noble houses, built for some of the Masters during the Industrial Revolution, some of these are now Guest Houses, and offer a fascinating base for a weekend break next to the River Severn. Also in Ironbridge, there are a few little shops, and the Merrythought Teddy Bear factory, with it's own shop next door, avoid if you are on a budget! Also The Ironbridge Gorge Museum, which is on the Wharfage, and the Blists Hill Museum (in the form of a Victorian Town)just outside of Ironbridge. Then there is Coalbrookdale, with it's old Forge and interesting history, it is adjoined to Ironbridge.

A little way downstream is Coalport, with the China Museum, and some nice riverside pubs to stop at for a drink or even a meal. There is a pub called The Boat which often gets flooded when the river bursts it's banks there, if you go on a Thursday night you will be able to listen to an assortment of folks playing Irish music, and very talented they are too! It is a very small pub, and sometimes it's standing room only, but in summer you can sit in the garden and watch the river. There are several other pubs on the river banks, so you won't go thirsty! The reason a lot of the buildings are small scale in this area is due to the fact that the whole place is in a gorge, and development is limited by the constraints of nature (thank goodness).

Back through Ironbridge again, and across the river is Much Wenlock, where every summer it holds a Charter Day, when the townsfolk dress in period clothes and hold a period market. Wenlock Abbey is worth seeing, and so is the whole of the town, again, timbered buildings and full of character and history.

The Long Mynd at Church Stretton, a good place for walking or a picnic, you can park at the bottom of the Mynd, in Carding Mill Valley, and sit by the stream, there is space here for children to get rid of their excess energy! Or if you have nerves of steel, you can drive over The Long Mynd, its a
bit of a drop on one side, but we have driven up there and parked at the top, the views are stunning!

Lastly, I will mention Telford, a new town (well relatively new) where the parking is free! There is an Ice Rink, International Centre, Cinema, Bowling Alley, Bingo, large Shopping Centre, Hotels, Railway Station, Town Park, Cherry Gardens, Lake, Pubs and Clubs (phew). It is a very nice, modern place, very near to places like Ironbridge and Much Wenlock. Well worth a visit, but I must warn you, if you are going to Telford there are lots of roundabouts :-)

That is all I will subject you to for the moment, but there are lots more places in Shropshire worthy of a visit!

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