Shrewsbury Tourist Information

Shrewsbury Castle, Shrewsbury, orignally a wooden fortification built by the Anglo-Saxons, the standstone castle was built by Roger de Montgomery in around 1070.  Apart from the gateway very little of this Norman castle has survived.  In the late-18th century Thomas Telford remodelled the interior of the castle as a private house. In 1924 the castle was presented to Corporation of Shrewsbury. The castle was restored to its Edwardian condition and opened to the public in 1926.
Open 18 Feb-31 Mar: Wed-Sat 10:00-16:00; 1 Apr-29 May: Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00: 30 May-3 Oct: Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00 , Sun & Mon 10:00-16:00 Tel: 01743 358516.  Free admission to castle grounds.

Shropshire Regimental Museum Trust, Shrewsbury Castle, Shrewsbury, items on display from the four Shropshire regiments, from the 18th century to the present day including regimental colours, exotic uniforms and badges, medals (including 3 Victoria Crosses), and weapons from swords to the machine gun.

Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, Rowley's House, Barker Street, in two adjoining buildings: a 16th/17th century timber-framed former warehouse and a 1618 brick mansion owned by the merchant William Rowley.  Displays on geology, archaeology, natural history, local history, costume and Fine and Decorative Arts.  Changing temporary exhibitions. Open: Tue-Sat; 10:00-16:00, Sun and Bank Holidays 10:00 -16:00. July-Sept also open on Mon, 10:00-16:00.  Tel: 01743 361196.

River King Boat Trips, Victoria Quay, Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury, 'The River King' cruises the loop of the River Severn that almost encircles the town of Shrewsbury. Along the banks of the river are boathouses, ancient pastures, gardens and a 29 acre park known as The Quarry. 

Shrewsbury Abbey, the Bendictine Abbey of St Peter and St Paul was founded in 1083 by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury, and was built on the site of a wooden Saxon church.The home parish of the war poet Wilfred Owen, killed in 1918, aged 25, and in 1993 a sculpture by Paul de Monchaux was placed in the Abbey grounds to mark the centenary of Owen's birth. Famous as the home of the fictional monk Brother Cadfael and attracts visitors from all over the world.  Outside the west door is a herb garden in the shape of a cross, opened in 1987 by Edith Pargeter, better know as Ellis Peters, the creator of Brother Cadfael.
Open: daily 10:00-16:30 Tel: 01743 232723 

Haughmond Abbey, NE of Shrewsbury off B5062, an extensive Augustian monastery founded around 1100 AD. In the 18th century the ruined abbey was incorporated into the garden of Sundorne House, built in the 1740s and demolished in 1955.  Features include a fine Norman doorway in the chapter house, well-preserved lodgings and kitchens and some sculpture. Open: Apr-Sept: 10:00-17:00; Apr-May closed Tues & Wed; Jun-Aug open daily;Sept closed Tues&Wed Tel: 01743 709661 

Wroxeter Roman City, 4 miles east of Shrewsbury, the semi-excavated site of the Roman city of Viroconium (or Uriconium).  The city of 6,000 people was the 4th largest in Roman Britain.  The 200 acre site includes a dividing wall with a gateway and communual baths. Visitor Centre. 
Open: Nov-Feb: daily 10:00-18:00; Mar-May: daily 10:00-17:.00;  Jun-Aug: daily 10:00-18:.00;  Sept-Oct: daily 10:00-17:.00; Closed 24-26 Dec & 1 Jan. Tel:  01743 761330 

Wroxeter Roman Vineyard, 4 miles east of Shrewsbury, standing alongside the site of the Roman city, the vineyard contains the remains of a man-made embankment that encircled the city. One of the world's most northerly winemakers, producing red, white and sparkling wines. Tours, lavender fields, wildflower meadows, herbarium, Rufain Flock of rare breed sheep. Farm shop. Open: Mon-Sat 10:00 -17:00, Sun 11:00-17:00 .  Closed 25 Dec.Tel: 01743 761888

Corbet Wood Countryside Heritage Site, west of A49 between Shrewsbury and Wem, on the slopes of the Grinshill sandstone ridge with views over south Shropshire and the Welsh Borders.  For centuries this area was the centre of a quarrying industry and Grinshill has a maze of quarried rock-faces. The rock edges are of geological importance and the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Tel: 01691 6244448.

Haughmond Hill, just off B5062 east of Shrewsbury, rising to 500 feet (152 m), this rocky outcrop has views across Shropshire. Red sandstone has been quarried here for centuries and Shrewsbury Castle, Shrewsbury Abbey and many local churches were built from this stone.  There is still a quarry here, the rest of the hill is covered by woodland - a great place for walks and apart from the views, there are some historical sites to explore including the remains of Haughmond Castle, an 18th century folly, a Saxon enclosure, and the remains of the 12th century Abbey of Haughmond. Car park.

Snailbeach Lead Mines, at Minsterley, south off the A488, 3 miles south of Pontesbury, the best preserved lead mine in the country, was first worked by the Romans but its heyday came between the late-18th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Snailbeach was considered to be one of Britain's most important lead mines.  As well as lead ore (galena), it also produced smaller quantities of barytes, calcite, flourspar, silver and zinc.  By 1911 the lead ore was exhausted but barytes continued to be extracted until 1955, when the mine closed.  The buildings are spread out on many levels around the site and are linked by a circular path - the going can be muddy. Guided tours, surface or underground, for a fee, can be arranged. Tel: 01743 791360

Hope Valley Nature Reserve, along west side of A488, 3 miles south of Minsterley, in the 1960s the ancient oak woodland in this valley was felled to make way for a conifer plantation. The oak stumps did not die and in 1981 the Shropshire Wildlife Trust recognised the wood's potential and purchased 17 ha of land. Now in late spring the wood is full of bluebells, with early purple orchids and yellow archangel also reappearing.  Blocks of conifers have been left as they are home to goldcrests and tree-creepers and provide good nesting sites. Paths through the wood and views over to the Stiperstones.

Poles Coppice, half a mile south of Pontesbury on minor road, an area of ancient oak woodland, with disused quarry workings, has colonies of orchids and ancient woodland plants. Circular walks provide views across Pontesbury and the Rea Valley. Public rights of way lead from here to the Stiperstones and Earls Hill.  

Where To Stay in Shrewsbury

Days Out in and around Shrewsbury