Shrewsbury (England)

Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, which is a large and rural county in what is known as the Welsh Marches. The border with Wales is only 9 miles away and there is considerable Welsh influence in the county. As Shrewsbury is the largest town anywhere near most parts of Mid Wales, you may hear Welsh spoken in the streets by some shoppers and daytrippers from over the border. The town even has a Welsh name and many other towns in Shropshire have Welsh names as well as their English ones.
The correct pronunciation of the town's English name is subject to considerable debate, with some advocating "Shrooze-bury", and others preferring "Shroze-bury".
The population of the town is now just over 70,000. It is not the largest town in Shropshire - that is Telford.

By train

There are frequent trains from London Euston to Birmingham where there are connections to Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury railway station is a large, imposing, Victorian building, opened in 1848. It is located on Castle Gates, right next to the castle, just north of the town centre, within easy walking distance of the town centre, shops and many of the town's attractions. Shrewsbury acts as an interchange for many rail lines, including the beautiful Heart of Wales line and Cambrian Coastal line and Shrewsbury is easily reached by rail from most of England and Wales. There are frequent services to Manchester, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Crewe, and other services to Chester, Wrexham Aberystwyth, Swansea, Pwllheli, and Cardiff.
The famous Heart of Wales Line runs between Shrewsbury and the sea-side city of Swansea, passing through some of Wales' most spectacular scenery and picturesque towns during its three hour and forty minute journey.

By car

Access via the M54 from the West Midlands conurbation, then the A5 from Telford. Parking in the town is notoriously difficult, therefore Park & Ride schemes operate National Park and Ride Directory, which enable the visitor to park outside the town in a large car park, and take a bus costing £1 per person (children under 16 are free; students 50p), into the town centre. The park & ride bus goes all round the town centre, and has stops outside most attractions, shops, etc. Park & Ride car parks are located at Meole Brace (to the south of the town), Harlescott (to the north), and Oxon (Shelton) (to the east).

By bus

Shrewsbury is on the route of the London - Aberystwyth and the London - Wrexham coach services (operated by National Express).
There are various local bus services, mainly linking Shrewsbury with other towns and villages in Shropshire and the surrounding area.

Park and Ride services from Oxon, Harlescott and Meole Brace to the town centre and back (Monday-Saturday) (free parking at Oxon, Harlescott and Meole Brace). Other bus services go from the in the town centre to places in town and further out in the county.
Cabs available at the train station on Castle Gates. Otherwise there are numerous taxi companies.
Roads inside the town centre are to be avoided if travelling by car. Please park outside the town centre in the many car parks available - St Julian's Friars, Abbey Foregate, Frankwell, etc.

• Shrewsbury Castle and Shropshire Regimental Museum

  address: Castle Gate
  Shrewsbury Castle was built in the eleventh century. The castle now belongs to Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, and houses the Shropshire Regimental Museum, and an exhibition about the history of the castle. The grounds are also pleasant to walk in and explore. Also site for outdoor drama productions and other events in the summer.

• Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery

  phone: +44 1743 258885
  address: The Music Hall, Market St
  Municipal art gallery and museum. The museum charts the development of Shrewsbury as a city from pre-historic times to the modern day in an interesting series of exhibitions.

• Roman Catholic CathedralTown Walls: Pugin church - notable for its fine stained glass by Margaret Rope.

• St Chad's Church

  phone: +44 1743 365478
  Anglican church dating from 1792, has a unique circular nave.

• St Mary's Church

  phone: +44 1743 357006
  Stained glass windows dating from 14th-19th century.

• The Quarry Park

• Bear Steps' buildings

• St Alkmund's Church

  address: St Alkmund's Square, SY1 1UH
  1,100-year-old church in a enviable location. Offers a wide programme of events throughout the year. Nearby Fish Street and the former church of St Julian are worth a look.

• Haughmond Abbey

  phone: +44 1743 709661
  address: Upton Magna, Uffington, SY4 4RW

• Wroxeter Roman City

  phone: +44 1743 761330
  address: Wroxeter Roman City, Wroxeter, SY5 6PH
  At one stage, Viroconium Cornoviorum was the fourth-largest city in Roman Britain. The main attractions today are the remains of the bath house and a tall section of free-standing wall, as well as reconstructed town house, an impressive piece of experimental archaeology using only methods and materials available to Roman Britons.

• Rowley's House

  address: Barker Street
  This seventeenth-century house on Barker Street houses was the municipal art gallery and museum, is now used by the University.

• Old Market Hall

  phone: +44 1743 281281
  address: The Square, SY1 1LH
  Films usually show at approx 14:30, 17:30 and 20:00 daily. Originally opened in 1596 as a market hall in the centre of Shrewsbury, this Elizabethan building is now a performing arts venue showing touring or amateur dramatics productions. There is also an arts cinema showing foreign-language and artistic films of considerable variety. There is also a cafe-bar and digital arts exhibition. £5 for films (£3.50 for students, over-60s and disabled people. Free for Digital Arts exhibitions and cafe-bar).

Shrewsbury is home to Shrewsbury School, a public school , where Sir Philip Sydney, Charles Darwin, Michael Palin, John Peel, Nick Hancock and Michael Heseltine were educated. It is on a large commanding site ("Kingsland") just south of the town centre overlooking the loop of the Severn. The school was once located in the town centre, in the buildings that are now the main county library on Castle Street. Opposite it on the other side of the river is Shrewsbury High School, a private girls day school. However the majority of the town's resident children attend one of the town's seven comprehensive schools.
The University Centre Shrewsbury offers a small range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses, accredited by the University of Chester. International students are welcomed from around the world.

• Shrewsbury Fairtrade Shop

  phone: +44 1743 352048
  address: 8 St Johns Hill, SY1 1JD
  Sells a variety of craft and gift items from around the world, cards, Fairtrade food & drink.

• Darwin Shopping Centre

  address: SY1 2BW

• Pride Hill Shopping Centre

• Riverside Mall

• Sundorne Retail Park

  address: Arlington Way, SY1 4YA

• Meole Brace Retail Park

  address: Hereford Rd, SY3 9NB

• Shrewsbury biscuitsThe town's own delicacy. The Shropshire tourist site recommends the Baked for You brand which apparently can be found in retail outlets and local farmer's markets.

Budget

• Shrewsbury Hotel

  address: Bridge Place

• Hole in the Wall

  phone: +44 1743 271847
  address: 1 Shoplatch

• Coach and Horses

  phone: +44 1743 365661
  address: Swan Hill

• Montgomery's Tower

  phone: +44 1743 239080
  address: Claremont Bank

• Dinkys Dinahs

  phone: +44 1743 850070
  address: Layby A458
  classic basic road side cafe for your bacon sandwich.

Mid-range

• ASK Italian

  phone: +44 1494 912631
  address: 17 High St

• Golden Cross

  phone: +44 1743 362507
  address: 14 Princess St

• Pizza Express

  phone: +44 1743 354647
  address: 55 Mardol

Splurge

• Drapers Hall

  phone: +44 1743 344679
  address: 10 St Mary's Pl

• Renaissance

  phone: +44 1743 354289
  address: 29A Princess St

• Peach Tree

  phone: +44 1743 355055
  address: 18-21 Abbey Foregate

• The Armoury

  phone: +44 1743 340525
  address: Victoria Quay

As a historic town Shrewsbury is well-endowed with traditional pubs serving various beers including real ales, many of which are Shropshire-brewed.

• The Golden Cross Hotel

  phone: +44 1743 362507
  address: 14 Princess St, SY1 1LP

• Dun Cow

  address: Abbey Foregate

• Lion Hotel

  address: Wyle Cop

• Cromwells

  address: Dogpole

• Loggerheads

  address: Church Street
  Particularly rustic boozer with creaking wooden panels, various rooms and corridors and little to remind you of the 21st century. Also sells a good range of real ales.

• Three Fishes

  address: Fish Street

• King's Head

  address: Mardol

• Mardol

  address: Belle Vue

Cafés

• Café barIn Old Market Hall - a nice cafe and free wifi in the centre of town.

• The Shrewsbury Hotel

  phone: +44 1743 236203
  address: Bridge St, SY1 1PU
  Wetherspoons hotel.

• Prince Rupert Hotel

  phone: +44 1743 499955
  address: Butcher Row, SY1 1UQ

• Lion Hotel

  phone: +44 1743 353107
  address: Wyle Cop, SY1 1UY

• Lord Hill Hotel

  phone: +44 1743 232601
  address: Abbey Foregate, SY2 6AX

• Premier Inn (North - Harmer Hill)

  phone: +44 871 527 8974
  address: Wem Rd, SY4 3DS

• Premier Inn (Centre)

  phone: +44 871 527 9402
  address: Smithfield Rd, SY1 1PG

• Shrewsbury Library

  address: Castle Gates
  The Shrewsbury Library, which is in a historic building close to the castle, offers free internet access with registration.

Shrewsbury is comparatively safe relative to towns of a similar size; there is rarely a noticeable police presence in the town. Friday/Saturday evenings in the town centre are typical of any modern British town; night life activity is focused in the Claremont St/Bridge St and Raven Meadows area. Visitors should exercise caution when visiting The Quarry area at night.

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

• Telford
• Oswestry
• Wem
• Welshpool