Ludlow Shropshire The Loveliest Little Town
The beautiful county of Shropshire on the Welsh borders is a place of gentle hills and rivers and rich in history. There are more than 32 castles and stately mansions peppering the verdant countryside. It is home to a number of interesting museums too. The Iron bridge Gorge museum and RAF Cosford are just two of many fascinating attractions you can discover as is Ludlow.
Indeed, the famous Severn Valley railway, and the Town of Blists Hill (a marvel of Victoriana) plus the nearby Roman town of Viroconium add more to the intriguing blend of this very special County. Many years ago the legendary author Charles Dickens of A Christmas Carol fame often would visit the area and favoured the County Town of Shrewsbury in particular where, it is claimed, he would read to eager fans from his most well known work, aptly around the Christmas season.
Amazingly enough, although one would not say that Ludlow is a large town, it actually boasts over five hundred historical listed buildings, which are the typical black and white Tudor period half timbered type!
A grand old church, St. Lawrences with its lovely arcane glass windows, rises benignly above the town in stately grandeur. The ashes of the well known poet AE Houseman are interred in the graveyard nearby.
In Ludlow castle itself, visitors can enjoy occasional food fairs and purchase gifts and mementos. Around the castle walls and huddled together in the town square are numerous inns and eating houses as well as various types of shops. The town is walled and most of the ancient walls still stand, but only one of the original seven gates remains.
The river Teme spanned by its medieval Ludford Bridge (a listed ancient monument) flows gently through, and so does the traffic thanks to the main A49, which links to the main M5 and M6 motorways (freeways). The county town of Shrewsbury is close to hand as is Hereford. Trains from Cardiff, London, Liverpool and Crewe have fast train links.
Whether you are seeking a short weekend trip or a longer holiday the County of Shropshire and more particularly the town of Ludlow is a wise choice. It is also very well positioned being close to the border for forays into the country of Wales, which is less than twelve miles away.
