5th September 2024
* ad – the following is a paid partnership with Original Shrewsbury, sharing things you can do on your next trip to this gorgeous town in Shropshire. This blog is an honest reflection of my thoughts & experience visiting.
What are the things to do in Shrewsbury? A question I asked myself a month or so ago, after hearing from the wonderful Original Shrewsbury . They were inviting my mum & I to visit, and showcase what their charming town has to offer… At the end of this you’ll find our jam-packed itinerary with all we did, and before that some information about our highlights!
Geographically Shrewsbury is located in a loop of the River Severn, with a castle at the very highest point on top of the hill. This is definitely a place best seen on foot – just be prepared for a few hills and allow yourself time to get distracted by cute shops, vegan snacks, striking art, and wonky buildings.
The Boat Trip
Admiring the sights from the Sabrina Boat
Something that really helped us get our bearings was the Sabrina Boat River Tour of Shrewsbury. This tour follows the loop of the river and is named after Sabrina the fabled Goddess of the River Severn. Our journey was captained by a very knowledgeable man full of information about this charming Town! We did this early on our second afternoon (of 3) about halfway through our trip. However I would really recommend doing this when you arrive if you’re able to as it was great to see the town from the water and get a feel of the the layout.
Trips go out every day, on the hour between 11-4, and take 45 minutes! They also serve drinks and snacks on board, it was such a lovely activity, and so very affordable too, at just £11.50 for adults, £10.50 for concessions, and £6 for children over 3 (and free under 3). They do family tickets aswell + the boat can be hired for parties!
Wyle Cop
Trying on a vintage floaty skirt in the lovely vintage boutique shop: Greta Rae
There’s a road that runs through the town up to the high street called Wyle Cop, where there is an abundance of independent and ethical shops to peruse. Infact Wyle Cop has the rumoured longest row of uninterrupted independent shops. We walked from the very bottom, starting at the bridge that we drove over, before checking out some of the shops! We particularly loved: Oberon, Snoop, Greta Rae, The Wardrobe.
The Architecture & History
Enjoying a wander through Shrewsbury Square in the centre of town
The town is overflowing with incredible, architecturally unique buildings – with buildings from the Tudor and Georgian times! Places of particular note for us, were: Shrewsbury Square, St Julian’s, Shrewsbury School, Shrewsbury Station, St Alkmund’s Square, St Chad’s, Shrewsbury Castle, Laura’s Tower.. And if you’re a movie fan, you can find Ebenezer Scrooge’s “grave” (as in the *actual* movie prop from ‘A Christmas Carol’) in St Chad’s graveyard!
We also loved visiting the Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery for some history of the town and beautiful art alongside it. And learning a bit about Charles Darwin, too! Yes – the father of Evolution was born and grew up in Shrewsbury, with various areas dedicated to him and his work, find out more here.
The Market
The Award Winning Shrewsbury Market is housed a large Brutalist building in the middle of town. The market inside is brimming with interesting shops, and colourful corners – with food, drink, music, clothes, games, antiques, and art… we loved spending a few hours wandering around inside.
The Vegan Food
Whilst in town we had several delicious vegan meals, it was an unexpected vegan foodie heaven, with plenty of options to choose from, the places we tried are tagged in the post above, or linked below in the itinerary.
The Castle
Our very last stop when in town was the Castle – and admiring the view from Laura’s Tower. It was a really nice way to end a gorgeous 48 hours with Mum exploring somewhere new! If you’re travelling by train you may want to head here first as it’s quite near the station and at the top of the hill, so from there getting to your accommodation or elsewhere in the town will be all down hill!
Shrewsbury is full of so much charm – with unique buildings, independent shops, beautifully preserved history, and friendly people – there really are so many things to do in Shrewsbury. It really is a special & unique town to explore.
And finally thoughts from mum about this lovely town:
I just loved visiting Shrewsbury, the interesting art, shops & market stalls, the great veggie & vegan food and drink, all in a small unique historic town, so easy to walk around (even if you’re in your 70s – like me). I’m looking forward to a return visit to see & enjoy more!
Hope this has shown you there really are SO MANY things to do in Shrewsbury. I’m sure on your visit you’ll love it as much as us.
Below is our itinerary which was put together with guidance from the fabulous Original Shrewsbury team. Our itinerary really optimised the limited time we had there, and really we could easily have done at least another day to visit some more spots we had hoped to get to/have been recommended since.
Our Itinerary:
DAY 1
Explore Wyle Cop – this road has the rumoured longest row of uninterrupted row of independent shops in the UK, and is the perfect road to support independent British businesses.
Address: Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, SY1 1UT
Nooch – an all vegan, independently run, plant-based restaurant with a delicious daily changing menu using seasonal ingredients. We visited on a Sunday so had a delicious roast.
Address: 73 Wyle Cop (Barracks Passage), Shrewsbury SY1 1UX
Gelatistry – ice cream shop with a selection of vegan options, which can be enjoyed on a table outside, or on a bench by the river, just a short walk from the shop. We enjoyed dessert here our first evening.
Address: 1 St Julians Cres, Shrewsbury SY1 1UD
Darwin’s Townhouse – we checked into our accommodation after dinner. This boutique bed & breakfast (LINK: https://originalshrewsbury.co.uk/business-directory/darwins-townhouse) was sweet, with a welcoming vibe. Although this is not where Darwin lived there is lots of interior design & art, as a nod to, and celebrating the famous naturalist and geologist.
Address: 37 St Julian’s Friars, Shrewsbury SY1 1XL
Blind Tiger – for an evening cocktail nightcap and game of cards. The bar has a range of games for customers to play + various drink discounts throughout the week.
Address: 17A Hill’s Ln, Shrewsbury SY1 1QU
DAY 2
Hopefully Made / CSons – for vegan food to be energised for a busy day – these are located next to each other, both with a range of tasty plant-based options.
Address: 8, 9-10 Milk St, Shrewsbury SY1 1SZ
The Quarry Park & The Dingle – a lovely big park where the Shrewsbury Flower Show is hosted each year. The Dingle is one for the flower lovers’, featuring colourful seasonal flowerbeds, ornamental grass areas, rockeries, shrub bed areas and various water features.
Address: The Quarry, Shrewsbury SY1 1RN
Sabrina Boat Trip – 45-minute boat trip around the River Severn to admire the town from the water.
Address: Victoria House Victoria Quay, Victoria Ave, Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury SY1 1HH
No61 Art – a gorgeous, welcoming shop that feels like a treasure trove. Inside they showcase quality handmade items and the creative people who make them
Address: 61 Mardol, Shrewsbury SY1 1PP
Kanu Poke – a wonderfully colourful lunch spot for rich & flavoursome bowls of tasty vegan, gluten free, and nut free food (& cocktails if you’re so inclined)
Address: 5 Roushill, Shrewsbury SY1 1PQ
Explore St Mary’s Church / St Alkmunds Square – there were so many lanes, and passages in this area with historical buildings and cobbled street.
Address: 6 St Alkmonds Square, Shrewsbury SY1 1UL
House of the Rising Sun – for a cocktail before dinner, tasty and interesting options available in this fun bar!
Address: 18 Butcher Row, Shrewsbury SY1 1UW
Itadakizen Dinner – this all-vegan Japanese restaurant felt like having dinner in a friends front room. Very relaxed and soothing atmosphere.
Address: 7-10 Fish St, Shrewsbury SY1 1UR
DAY 3
Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery – always love a local town museum for the history of the area, this was a really nice vibe with the museum x art crossover!
Address: The Sq, Shrewsbury SY1 1LH
Market Hall & Little Shop of Joy – the 3x award winning market is a must see if you’re in town. There’s certainly a reason why it’s won so many awards, we could’ve got lost in here for hours!
Address: Claremont St, Shrewsbury SY1 1HQ
St Chad’s – hunt for Scrooge’s grave + look inside the round church building
Address: 1 St Chad’s Terrace, Shrewsbury. SY1 1JL
Okra – our last lunch was in this casual all-vegan cafe, with a small but mighty menu of homemade food. They even make their own kimchi + the malt shakes are delicious!
Address: 41 High St, Shrewsbury SY1 1ST
The Castle / Laura’s Tower – the perfect final stop before getting on the road home. We admired the historical buildings, colourful gardens, and looked over the town and countryside from the view point at Laura’s Tower.
Address: Castle St, Shrewsbury SY1 2AT