3 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.