Top 5 Places to Visit in Shropshire and the West Midlands

Planning on staying in the area for an extra day or two after the conference? Here are 5 things not to miss if you’re in the region.

1. Shrewsbury

Packed full of medieval buildings, winding alleys and a lovely castle, Shrewsbury is not to be missed! Just half an hour away by car, and linked to Telford by trains and buses it’s easy to add this gem to your visit.

Find out more here: www.lonelyplanet.com/england/the-marches/shrewsbury

(Image source: velodenz CC BY-NC-ND 2.0,www.flickr.com/photos/velo_denz/7915374300)

2. Pontcysllte Aqueduct

Located on the border between England and Wales this is the closest World Heritage Site to Ironbridge Gorge, and a similarly incredible feat of engineering. The Aqueduct was built by Thomas Telford and William Jessop and was finished in 1805. You can cross it on foot or on a canal boat!

Find out more here: www.pontcysyllte-aqueduct.co.uk

3. Attingham Park

Located a 20 minute drive from Ironbridge Gorge, Attingham Park is a giant 18^th century mansion and estate managed by the National Trust. It has acres of parkland and lovely gardens as well as the house itself. Well worth a visit if you are interested in grand stately homes.

Find out more here: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/attingham-park

4. Wroxeter Roman City

Fancy something a little older than the Industrial Revolution? Shropshire is also home to such much older archaeological remains, including the Roman City at Wroxeter. It is looked after by English Heritage and you can see the remains of the Bath House and a reconstructed Roman Villa.

Find out more here: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wroxeter-roman-city

(Image source: Etrusia UK CC BY-ND 2.0, https://www.flickr.com/photos/e_phots/2389612462)

5. Birmingham

Finally, you can’t leave the region without visiting one of the greatest cities of Britain’s Industrial Revolution – Birmingham. Famed for its huge network of canals and historic buildings, it is also a vibrant modern city packed with great places to visit and explore.

Find out more here: www.lonelyplanet.com/england/the-midlands/birmingham

 

By Coralie Acheson

Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage