Shrewsbury lies in a loop of the River Severn and retains much of its medieval street layout. There are many historic buildings including the medieval Castle, the Old Market Hall, many Tudor half-timbered houses, several churches and a Catholic Cathedral. Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury and a statue of him sits outside his childhood school, now the Library. Quarry Park (¾ mile from station) is a pleasant recreational space leading down to the river, it contains the picturesque Dingle flower garden with ornamental beds and water features.
Shrewsbury Bus Station is ¼ mile from the Rail Station and Shrewsbury PlusBus tickets cover local bus travel, including to Atcham for Attingham Park (see below) but NOT to Wroxeter Roman City.
TI Museum & Art Gallery, Market Street, tel. 01743 258888.
Shrewsbury Castle was built from red sandstone in about 1070 to defend the town. It now houses the Shropshire
Regimental Museum, including pictures, uniforms, medals and weapons from the 18th century to the present day.
Open Mar-Nov, MTWFS 1030-1600.
www.soldiersofshropshire.co.uk
The Victorian prison buildings were decommissioned in 2013 and are now open as a tourist attraction. Tours show
what life was like for prisoners, officers and visitors. Restaurant.
Open Daily 1000-1700.
www.shrewsburyprison.com
Housed in the old Music Hall, the Museum & Art Gallery covers the history of Shrewsbury.
Highlights include Roman tombstones and the Shropshire mammoth. Exhibitions and events programme.
Open Apr-Sep, M-S 1000-1700, Sun 1100-1600. Oct-Mar, TWThFSSu 1000-1600.
www.shropshiremuseums.org.uk
Shrewsbury's last remaining watchtower, built in the 14th century.
Admission is only by pre-booked tours.
Open see website for dates and booking arrangements.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/town-walls-tower
Shrewsbury Abbey was founded in 1083 as a Benedictine monastery and grew to be one of the most important
abbeys in England. Much of the Abbey was destroyed in the 16th century but the nave survives as a parish church.
Admission free, donations welcomed.
Open Daily 1000-1600 (1500 Nov-Mar).
www.shrewsburyabbey.com
The Cut Visitor Centre is the headquarters of Shropshire Wildlife Trust. The historic building has a small
but varied wildlife garden. Wild play area for children. Picnic area and refreshments. Admission free.
Open M-F 1000-1230, 1330-1600.
www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
The Pumping Station building dates from about 1900 and was built to house two huge steam-driven beam engines
used to pump sewage.
Open see website for open days and events.
www.colehampumpingstation.co.uk
Attingham Park is an 18th century mansion and estate which were owned by one family for more than 160 years.
The impressive Mansion of classical design with Italian influence sits at the heart of a grand Repton landscape. Walled kitchen
garden and orchard. Pleasure Grounds. Play areas. Extensive parkland with waymarked walks. Café.
Open Walled Garden & Park Daily all year 0900-1700. Mansion see website.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/attingham-park
Bus 96/96A from Bus Station (¼ mile from Rail Station) to entrance at Atcham (watch for NT sign),
17 minutes journey, then ¾ mile walk through grounds. M-S only, 2-hourly.
Operated by Select.
This bus journey is covered by a Shrewsbury PlusBus ticket.
Wroxeter (known as 'Viriconium') was the fourth largest city in Roman Britain but today the ruins stand in open fields.
Audio tour of site. Museum with finds from the site including weapons, fashion accessories and medical instruments. Reconstructed Roman townhouse
with painted rooms and replica furniture.
Open Apr-Oct, Daily 1000-1700. Nov-Mar, SSu 1000-1600.
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Bus 96/96A from Bus Station (¼ mile from Rail Station) to crossroads by entrance (no marked stop).
19 minutes journey. M-S only, 2-hourly.
Operated by Select.
The impressive ruins of a Cistercian abbey including its 12th century church and vaulted chapter house with a tiled floor.
Admission free.
Open Daily 1000-1700 (1600 Nov-Mar).
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Bus 96/96A from Bus Station (¼ mile from Rail Station) to Bridge Farm (no marked stop),
shortly after Buildwas village - watch for the Abbey sign where the bus turns right and then immediately left.
40 minutes journey. M-S only, 2-hourly.
Operated by Select.
To reach the Abbey cross the River Severn and walk ¼ mile along the road.
Buses also operate from Telford Central and the Abbey is 1¾ miles from
Ironbridge Museum of the Gorge by walking along the Severn Way.
See Telford Central for details of the many attractions in Ironbridge Gorge.
Bus 96/96A from Bus Station (¼ mile from Rail Station) to Ironbridge Museum of the Gorge
Car Park, 45 minutes journey. M-S only, 2-hourly.
Operated by Select.
For most vistors the best station for visiting Ironbridge Gorge will be Telford Central
as the buses are more frequent and the bus journey shorter.
