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

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.