About Shropshire

Shropshire in the West Midlands is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire (north), Staffordshire (East), Worcestershire (south-east) and Herfordshire (south).  The five main towns are the county town of Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry, Bridgnorth and Ludlow.

The Shropshire Hills area of outstanding natural beauty lies to the south, covering about a quarter of the county, and Ironbridge Gorge (with its famous bridge) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the area around Coalbrookdale is seen as one of the birthplaces of the industrial revolution.

During the medieval period the county was central to the Welsh marches and many of the castles built across it to defend against the Welsh still stand today (the border with Wales remaining fluid until the 14th century).

The River Severn runs through the county exiting into Worcestershire, and 41 miles of navigable canals (including the Shropshire Union) are managed by the Canal and River Trust.  There are also two major water supply aqueducts (supplying Birmingham and Liverpool).

The county is well-served by road and rail with train lines in the West Midlands, Wales and to London Euston (Shrewsbury being the main rail hub).  Telford and Shrewsbury are the main retail centres.

There are plenty of things to do in Shropshire with great walking (perhaps on the Long Mynd or Offa’s Dyke), numerous historical sites to visit (Roman, medieval and more modern industrial), and heritage rail and waterways to travel on.  The county offers also offers both town and country living.