Shropshire gems?

[Fredflinstoneswife]

Heading to Shropshire next month with hubby and my two children, one 3 year old and a one year old...

Would love to know what sites/places/things to do are must-dos?!

We love antique shops, independent shops and charity shops, a bit of the outdoors and anything that the children will enjoy.

Also wondering if there is a waterpark worth going to in Shropshire or anywhere close?

Also, we love quaint towns and villages, and woodlands.

Shropshire is a large county - where are you near? Shrewsbury is lovely, as is Ludlow. There are lots of little places to visit nearby and also surrounding areas.

We went to Shropshire two years running. Gorgeous. Ludlow amazing. Lived bridge north. Carding mill valley a lovely place to walk. Stokesy Castle also good place to visit. If you are in the north, we also liked a little village called Ellesmere.

Loved bridgenorth

We'll be about 15mins north of shrewsbury. But happy to travel about a bit

I love Bridgnorth too. We used to potter there fairly often when ours were young. You can get the cliff railway which the kids might like. The two churches are both worth looking at and it’s just generally so pretty.
The area around Church Stretton is lovely and great for walks. Worth going to Shrewsbury, really nice city. Basically Shropshire is ace.

Visit Attingham park. It's a lovely national trust house. Ludlow is beautiful and the ludlow farm shop is awesome!
Come into Shrewsbury, we have a huge range of independent retailers, lots of lovely cafes and places to eat, plus the quarry by the river with the dingle in the centre.

Plassey retail village is a nice day out. It’s got lovely independent shops, a giant adventure playground and lovely views from the tea garden.
Park Hall Countryside Experience has loads to do including watching the milking, lamb feeding, pony grooming and carriage rides. Also has a indoor play arena with toy tractors and lots of bouncy castles, plus a tearoom.
Shropshire Sculpture Park at the Ironwork centre is worth a visit. It also has a children's area with climbing frames, slides and tunnels.
There are some gorgeous walks at Weston Park. It’s got a playground, miniature railway, deer park and hedge maze.

Alderford lake, just outside Whitchurch, has paddle boarding, swimming and a large inflatable obstacle course. Also has a lovely cafe.
There are some really nice pubs over this way, too - The White Lion at Ash, The Swan at Marbury and The Combermere Arms.

Church Stretton and surrounding area definitely needs a visit. Carding Mill Valley is lovely.

Shrewsbury is the perfect town (not at all biased 😉) you can currently see Salvador Dali sculptures in the town too!
The Quarry is lovely and a trip on Sabrina on the Severn is a must.

As a pp said Attingham Park is fab.

Ironbridge as a town in lovely to mooch around but there’s also the museums. Enginuity and Blists Hill were fab when mine were little so not sure now but definitely worth checking out.

I get so excited when I hear of people visiting our county! I love to show it off, it’s the best place in the world. I hope you love it op.

Park Hall Farm and RAF Cosford are both great

I love Hawkstone Park, although your kids may be a little young. But everyone loves a grotto, surely? https://www.hawkstoneparkfollies.co.uk/

There is a water park in Shrewsbury at the park and one at Telford Town Park

I love Llangollen canal, the pontyscyllte and Chirk aqueducts are amazing, definitely worth a visit and Llangollen itself although over the border in Wales is beautiful. Chirk is on the border and also has a great Castle.

Where exactly are you staying? Sounds like you'll be near the British Ironworks?

Ironbridge Gorge World heritage site ( & Blists Hill Victorian Town) are the only reason I go to Shropshire. But I am a heritage geek.
Ludlow has a great rep for medieval buildings and very very good restaurants.
Shrewsbury isn't as interesting as it thinks it is (lived there once) but its got some quaint buildings.
Countryside is pretty
And I'm sure there's a steam railway kids love those.

All great suggestions. I would have said the same as the Welsh borders are lovely. Llangollen is cute and Shrewsbury is great.

There used to be a lido near Bridgnorth, the closest indoor waterpark is waterworld in Stoke I think.
There's some cute little antique stores next door to Shropshire country brides on the way to carding Mill valley at church stretton, it's a popular walking spot and has a small waterfall but may be a difficult walk with 2 small children.
I fly light aircraft at Shropshire Aero Club North of Shrewsbury it has a nice little cafe and you can watch planes take off most days

Stiperstones- my favourite place to walk - a fun walk too and the views are outstanding .

Thanks for these suggestions.. its great to get insider info 😁😁

I'm wondering.. would church Stretton take a full day by itself or could it be combined with carding Mill Valley?

The Cliff Railway is closed for repairs at the moment, most likely for quite some time. But Bridgnorth is lovely anyway - my boys love the Severn Valley Railway.

I think the lido someone referred to is the outdoor pool at Highley - really nice this week but worth calling in advance to check availability.

@Fredflinstoneswife definitely could also do Carding Mill Valley as well - most of the towns except Shrewsbury/Telford are lovely but smallish and there's only so much mooching little kids will tolerate! We also visited the Shropshire Hills discovery centre for the first time recently and the wildflower meadows are gorgeous at the moment.

We will be staying at Wem, God willing.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

I'm wondering would it be worth going to Hawkestone follies, I've read a lot of ppl rate it highly, and we will be very close to it. But is it doable with toddler and a baby?!

The whole 4 mile circular walk is not pushchair friendly (lots of steps) but I’ve done it with a 2 year old in a back carrier. I think there is an easier out-and-back route to the big grotto. Have a look here: https://www.hawkstoneparkfollies.co.uk/plan-your-visit/walks-and-trails

Can anyone tell me if we should bother with the West midlands safari park or not? I'm undecided. It's a good hr 10mins from where we will be staying.. but it seems to be one of the few things in the area that I can use my tesco clubcard vouchers on.. unless I've missed something? We have a 3 Yr old and 1 Yr old