While I was doing my work exchange at a livery stable in Shropshire, I visited the nearby town of Ludlow. Ludlow is a quaint market town, close to the border with Wales, and is a delightful town to explore. These are some of my favourite things to do in Ludlow and the surrounding area.
Where is Ludlow?
While there is a Ludlow in Vermont in the USA, the Ludlow I’m talking about is in the county of Shropshire in England. Shropshire is in the west of England and borders Wales – Ludlow is about 30 miles south of Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, and a similar distance north of Hereford.
Ludlow is just off the A49 which runs between Shrewsbury and Hereford and is also connected by train to both towns. With a change in Shrewsbury, Ludlow makes a great day trip by train or car from Birmingham and other cities in the Midlands.
What is Ludlow Famous For?
The English poet John Betjeman famously described Ludlow as “the loveliest town in England“. Ludlow has nearly 500 listed buildings and many are very well preserved half-timbered or Georgian style. There are plenty of things to do in Ludlow but these days, Ludlow is probably most famous for its Castle and markets, and excellent local produce. It is also well-located for exploring the Shropshire Hills.
Historically, Ludlow was known as the Capital of the Marches, as The Council of Wales and the Marches was administered from Ludlow Castle after it was set up in 1472. As Ludlow is so close to the Welsh border, it was an ideal place to manage the newly conquered Wales. This article has more information about the history of The Welsh Marches.
Is Ludlow Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! Ludlow is definitely worth visiting and I enjoyed spending an afternoon exploring Ludlow. There are plenty of other things to do nearby the town if you are spending a night or two here.
If you’re staying elsewhere in Shropshire then a day trip to Ludlow combined with a visit to the lovely Stokesay Castle or a walk in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a great way to spend the day.
The Best Things to do in Ludlow
You can see most if not all of the attractions in Ludlow in half a day, as the old town is compact and easily walkable.
Visit Ludlow Castle
Ludlow Castle is one of the finest medieval ruins in England. It was originally built as a Norman fortress to protect the border from the unconquered Welsh, the castle was later extended to become a fortified Royal Palace.
It was one of the first stone castles to be built in England and has played an important part in English and Welsh history over the years. Ludlow Castel was abandoned in 1689 and is now owned by the Earl of Powis, who opened it up to tourists as a way to preserve the castle and prevent its further ruin.
Tickets for the castle cost £8 per adult, although there are various events throughout the year such as the Ludlow Food Festival or Medieval Christmas Market which include entry to the castle with your ticket. You can also take a walk around the outside of the castle to see some of the ruins if you don’t want to pay the entry fee.
Pre-booking isn’t required, although check the opening times here to make sure the castle isn’t closed for any special events. There is also a café on the Castle grounds, as well as hotel rooms and a wedding venue.
Climb St Laurence’s Church Tower
This 12th-century church watches over Ludlow and is easily spotted from wherever you are in the town. The site has been a place of worship since the Normans founded Ludlow in the late 11th century, and in its current form is the largest parish church in Shropshire.
The church is a beautiful building, with quite spectacular stained glass windows, a large square-shaped bell tower and medieval choir stalls decorated with intricate misericords – wooden carvings of angels and scenes of local life.
We were welcomed by enthusiastic and friendly volunteers who showed us how to download the St Laurence Church app, which has augmented reality animations at several key points around the church. Sadly, I couldn’t get the app to work on my phone, but it is free to download so give it a try!
The climb up 201 steps up to the bell tower roof is via a narrow spiral staircase, at the top, you will be rewarded with panoramic views. This was my favourite activity in Ludlow and you can see for miles around from each of the 4 sides of the tower, across the Shropshire Hills and beyond. It’s £5 per adult to climb the tower, with discounts for children up to 15 years old, and family groups.
Admire The Historical Buildings
One of my favourite things about Ludlow is the variety of historic buildings. While you can see these buildings all over the old town, these are some of my favourites to look out for:
The Feathers Hotel is one of the largest and most striking buildings in Ludlow, a Grade I listed half-timbered building which was originally built in 1619.
Broad Gate at the bottom of Broad Street is the last remaining medieval gatehouse in the town wall. Originally the wall was built to protect Ludlow from Welsh attacks, and there were 7 gatehouses. Broad Gate at one time also served as the town jail but is now a private home.
The Buttercross was built as a market hall in the mid-1700s and is now home to the Ludlow Museum, a small museum charting the history of Ludlow which is open on Friday-Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Entry costs £1 per adult, 50p for children.
Ludlow Historical Research Group also run walking tours of Ludlow which cover the history and architecture of Ludlow, more information is available on their website here.
Shop at Ludlow Market
Ludlow’s traditional market takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in the town square on Castle Street. You can’t miss the blue and white-striped stalls which are filled with fresh fruit and veg, flowers, cheeses, crafts and all sorts of other goodies.
There is also an antique fair on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month and a Local Producers Market on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, as well as seasonal markets at various times during the year, including a Christmas Market.
Aside from the market stalls, Ludlow also has lots of independent shops to explore in the town. If you are interested in antiques you will find several antique shops to peruse, as well as book shops, clothes shops, gift shops and more.
Eat Delicious Food and Drink
Despite its small size, Ludlow packs a punch when it comes to food and drink. As well as the regular market stalls, there are various delis, cafes and shops where you can buy tasty local products.
Favourites include The Chocolate Gourmet, Harp Lane Deli, The Mousetrap Cheese Shop and the Ludlow Brewing Company which offers tours of their brewery as well as plenty of craft beers to choose from. I also had a nice piece of cake from the Castle Café, and a delicious chicken shawarma wrap from CSONS café by the river.
Also, Ludlow Food Festival takes place in September, in 2021 it will be from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th September. The festival is hosted in the grounds of Ludlow Castle and has over 180 local food and drink producers selling their wares as well as free talks, demonstrations and tastings included in the £12 day ticket price.
Enjoy the Riverside
Ludlow is on the River Teme, which provides a natural defence for the castle and town on the west side. The river also powered several mills and several weirs were built to control the flow of water. Head towards Dinham Bridge where CSONS café occupies part of the old mill building.
Around the back of the café, you can find the weir, and there are places to paddle in the river. We had lunch here and walked along the river to Ludford Bridge and back into town.
The river is a haven for wildlife and it is home to various fish and bird species as well as mammals including otters, although you’d be very lucky to spot one! You may well see dippers and kingfishers hunting in the river, and salmon or trout making their way upstream.
Walk Through Whitcliffe Common Nature Reserve
On the other side of the river is Whitcliffe Common Nature Reserve, the remnants of a medieval common where the burgess of Ludlow had the right to graze livestock and quarry stone. There are several paths through the reserve, and you can walk to Mortimer Forest from here.
Things to do near Ludlow
Stokesay Castle
Stokesay is a 15-minute drive outside the town of Ludlow and is well worth a visit while you are in the area. Strictly speaking, Stokesay isn’t a castle at all, it is really a fortified manor house built in the late 13th century by Laurence of Ludlow, a successful wool merchant.
Stokesay Castle is managed by English Heritage, so English Heritage members get free entry and parking. For non-members, the current entry price is £9 per adult, with discounts offered for children, seniors, students and family tickets. If you’re visiting from abroad and plan to visit several English Heritage properties then you should consider buying an Overseas Visitor Pass.
There is an excellent audio guide included with your entry ticket, which leads you around the castle highlighting items of historical interest. The Great Hall There are wonderful views from the top of the South Tower
Mortimer Forest
South-west of Ludlow is Mortimer Forest, a National Forest managed by Forestry England. It’s a lovely place to walk, with footpaths through the various on various trails. Parking is available at Vinnalls Car Park, Black Pool Car Park, or Whitcliffe Car Park, which is only about 30 minutes’ walk from Ludlow Castle if you prefer to walk from Ludlow.
Ludlow Racecourse & Golf Club
If you fancy a day at the races, Ludlow Racecourse is just north of the town, sharing grounds with Ludlow Golf Club. The race season runs from October through the winter, get full details on the website here.
Much Wenlock Priory
Much Wenlock is around 30 minutes drive from Ludlow and is a quaint chocolate box village. Much Wenlock Priory is the main draw here though, where you can visit the remains of a medieval priory with a 13th-century church and carved Norman chapter house.
Much Wenlock Priory is also managed by the English Heritage so, again, entry and parking are free for English Heritage members, or entry tickets cost £6.90 per adult. There is an audio guide included here too, and we brought a picnic to enjoy in the lovely grounds.
Walking in the Shropshire Hills
Ludlow is on the doorstep of the Shropshire Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are some spectacular walks to enjoy in the area, as well as plenty of bike trails if you prefer two-wheeled adventures!
The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre is a good place to start and get your bearings, and they have route maps available as well as an exhibition about the region and a replica of a mammoth skeleton.
Other Places to Visit in Shropshire
If you weren’t sure whether to come here I hope I’ve convinced you to visit Ludlow! While you are in the region, Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire and is a popular destination in Shropshire, as is Ironbridge. There are plenty of other things to do in the area, you certainly won’t be bored here!
If you have any more tips about Ludlow please do let me know, I’d love to know what you got up to here!