Returning to our series of inspirational ‘scenes’, from lush gardens to quaint village streets we have decided to develop the Scene of The Day series this year with Pretty Places. The Pretty Places series will look at pretty English towns and villages, and hopefully give some travel inspiration to those of us who love to visit picturesque places with beautiful architecture and traditional landscapes. As well as well-trodden locations we will also cover hamlets and homes off the beaten track. 

In this first edition of Pretty Places to visit we’re looking at Shrewsbury – a historic town in the West Midlands of England. Located in the county of Shropshire, Shrewsbury is a classic fortified town with walls and turrets found around the perimeter of much of the old town. The market town has a medieval history with many buildings dating back to the 11th century including the castle and the abbey along with over 600 other listed buildings of historic interest.

Shrewsbury is a, largely, unspoilt centre of British history dating back to roughly 800 AD. Despite this wealth of history it is small enough to explore on foot with plenty of beautiful buildings, quaint cafes and riverside scenes. The town has one main railway station which is conveniently located in the centre of the action right next Shrewsbury Castle overlooking the River Severn. From there a winding tour of the town can be had on foot taking in cobblestone squares surrounded by crooked timber frame house and proud Georgian structures.

If you plan to visit Shrewsbury by car, it would be best advised to park your vehicle at the multi-storey car park serving the shopping centre and walking through the town’s winding side streets to Castle street, which is lined with pretty independent shops and boutiques and historically rich squares jutting off from the main road.

The ambling walk, striding past a statue of the town’s most famous resident (Charles Darwin), the numerous churches, the old market hall and down the higgledy-piggledy rows of townhouses eventually leads you to The Dingle. The Dingle is the town’s central public space, made up with acres of mowed lawns, tree-lined paths and a beautifully cared-for botanical garden weaved around a central lake. At the base of the park is the river severn where rowing teams from Shrewsbury school, which stands majestically on the other side of the river, can be seen practicing throughout the year. Leisure boats can also be taken on the river, which is lined with cycle paths and restaurants.

The town is a perfect place to spend a spring or summer’s day with plenty of outdoor spaces for lounging, admiring the landscapes or taking part in any number of events such as fairs, flower shows and outdoor markets. But it is also one of those beautiful towns that is still a treat to visit even in the pouring rain. It is also well located in the county for day trips to the quaint town of Ironbridge, the national trust’s Powis Castle, and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; the Shropshire Hills. 

The closest international airport is Birmingham with transfers and car hire available at the airport. Find out more about Shrewsbury and it’s many tourist attractions at the visitor website here.

For extra inspiration, you can also check out the ‘travel’ tag for further ideas.

images: scene therapy