7 Best Sights in Shrewsbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and the Heart of England

Built in 1785 by George Steuart (architect of St. Chad's Church in Shrewsbury) for the first Lord Berwick, this elegant stone mansion has a three-story portico, with a pediment carried on four tall columns. The building overlooks a sweep of parkland worth exploring, part of which is home to around 300 deer. Inside the house are painted ceilings and delicate plasterwork, a fine picture gallery designed by John Nash (1752–1835), and 19th-century Neapolitan furniture. Many events take place here, and the café and shop are excellent. The mansion is 5 miles east of the center of Shrewsbury.

An industrial relic that lay empty for years, this old flax mill turned malting floor has been restored and transformed into a lively, interactive attraction where visitors can learn about the history of the building and its 19th-century heyday, when it employed up to 800 locals, through the Industrial Revolution, its reinvention as a malting floor in the early 20th century, and its rebirth. Floor malting is a traditional, now less-used malting process during which wet grain is put on the floor to germinate. The building itself is remarkable; it's known as the "grandfather of skyscrapers" because it was the world's first multistory iron-framed building, soaring five stories high, no mean feat in 1797. For an extra price per tour, you can book a behind-the-scenes or tower tour. The excellent café on-site can be visited without paying admission and often hosts music and events, adding to the general buzz of the site. Parking is limited, but the site is quite accessible by other means, listed on the website.

On a hilltop west of the town center, this church designed by George Steuart, the architect of Attingham Park, is one of England’s most distinctive ecclesiastical buildings. Completed in 1792, the round Georgian church is surmounted by a tower that is in turn square, octagonal, and circular, as well as topped by a dome. When built, it provoked riots among townsfolk averse to its radical style. The interior has a fine Venetian east window and a brass Arts and Crafts pulpit. Check the website for information about free weekly concerts Friday at 12:30 pm.

Founded in 1083, Shrewsbury Abbey later became a powerful Benedictine monastery. The abbey church, today a parish church, has survived many ups and downs and retains a 14th-century west window above a Norman doorway. A 1993 addition is a memorial outside the abbey to World War I poet Wilfred Owen, who was born nearby. To reach the abbey from the town center, cross the river by the English Bridge.

Guarding the northern approaches to the town, the sandstone castle rises over the River Severn. Originally Norman, it gradually fell into disrepair after the Civil War and was later rebuilt and partially redesigned by Thomas Telford, the Scottish engineer who designed many notable buildings and bridges in the early 19th century. Military history buffs will enjoy the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum within the castle, although there’s enough history about the area and its people thrown in to satisfy even the casually interested. The numerous benches in the gardens are good for a quiet sit-down, and Castle Gates House by the entrance is one of Shrewsbury's many impressive medieval buildings.

Located in Shrewsbury's old Music Hall, this museum chronicles the history of the area from prehistoric times to the present day. One gallery tells the story of Roman occupation, with fascinating finds such as a unique silver mirror from nearby Wroxeter. Another gallery focuses on the town's boom years of the 19th century, including a display on the life of Shrewsbury’s most famous son, Charles Darwin. (Make sure you look out for his statue outside the library, near the castle.) The fine art collection contains mostly painting and prints of the region.

If you head southeast of Shrewsbury on the B4380 for around 5 miles, you can see, rising on the left, the Wrekin, a  distinctive wooded, conical, 1,335-foot-high hill formed out of volcanic activity. It may have been the inspiration for Middle Earth in the Lord of the Rings books, as at various times J. R. R. Tolkien lived reasonably close. The walk to the summit, which has panoramic views, is about 5 miles (best reached via the A5 as you head east out of town). A few miles farther on, on the B4380, you enter the wooded gorge of the River Severn. Part of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape (areas important for biodiversity), this is walking country, and you can find maps and guides on the official website.