Located is south Shropshire, Ludlow is a dreamland of cobbled streets, timbered buildings and Georgian terraces. Everywhere you look you’re confronted with swoon-worthy views. There are so many things to do in Ludlow, a day is hardly enough. With a ruined castle, medieval street plan, and church dubbed the ‘cathedral of the marshes’, it’s possibly the closest you’ll get to fairytale Camelot.
John Betjeman – English poet, writer, and broadcaster – described Ludlow as “probably the loveliest town in England”. Get here early and you can have it all to yourself. In order to cover all the things to do in Ludlow, you’ll want to arrive in good time. This way you can get to Ludlow Castle for opening and avoid the queues that build up for the towers.
Take a look at my 11 things to do in Ludlow below.
Ludlow History
Ludlow owes its success to its hilltop location. Located on a steep cliff facing Wales, the River Terne sweeps round its base making the site both defensible and prime trading ground. Robert de Lacy built a castle here in 1086 to defend the border and quash the natives. A century later, the town was laid out on a planned grid of streets. This medieval street pattern survives today.
In 1233 Ludlow’s town walls were built with four main gates and three postern gates. Only Broadgate survives today. Such fortifications not only provided a defence against enemies but kept locals in-check and enabled market tolls to be collected. Following the conquest of Wales in 1277, Ludlow effectively became the administrative capital of Wales. With its importance confirmed, many industries set up shop here and established inns.
Ludlow was a place ‘to be seen’ in the 18th Century. A fashionable social centre, the nobility built fine Georgian houses along its main streets, giving the town a sense of gentility. The arrival of the railway in 1853 only confirmed Ludlow’s success, opening its reach to new markets. Established industries at this time included wool, cloth and glove making.
However, the end was nigh for Ludlow. As the 20th century drew on, improved transportation meant other towns were better situated for larger markets and resources like coal. With little cause to expand or adapt, Ludlow’s town centre changed little. Even today, it survives as it was then. Now regarded as one of the finest towns in England, let’s hope this look is here to stay.
11 Things to do in Ludlow
- Take a Ludlow Walking Tour
- Peruse Ludlow Shops
- Visit Ludlow Castle
- Shop Ludlow Market
- Tour St Laurence Church
- Explore Ludlow Museum
- Visit Berrington Hall
- Explore Stokesay Castle
- Roam Whitcliffe Common
- Relax on Millennium Green
- Ludlow Assembly Rooms
1. Take a Ludlow Walking Tour
Ludlow is blessed with many fine streets, with fine Georgian townhouses jostling beside wonky timbered inns. A good wander is one of the top things to do in Ludlow. Early in the 12th century, the town was laid out on a planned grid of streets, with wide main streets criss-crossed by narrow side streets. This street pattern survives today. For those who prefer to be guided round, the Ludlow Historical Society runs guided walking tours of Ludlow on certain days of the week. If you can’t make one of these, not to worry. You can easily navigate yourself around the town’s principal streets. Many of the old houses also have blue plaques, giving insight into their histories.
The finest streets in Ludlow are to be found leading off the town centre. Behind Corve Street you’ll find the town’s main pay and display car park (Galdeford). From here you can walk up Corve Street where you’ll find the iconic Feather’s Hotel. Taking a right, you pass through the town centre, along the high street with the iconic Buttercross to reach the castle. From here, we can take a left down Dinham and follow the route back round, passing Mill Street and Broad Street – Ludlow’s finest streets.
Architecture Historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner described Broad Street as “one of the most memorable streets in England”. Both are lined with beautiful Georgian townhouses, with little lanes running off and between them. At the bottom of Broad Street is Broadgate (Ludlow’s sole surviving medieval gate). You can see more of the remaining town wall by walking from Broadgate along Silk Mill Lane back towards Mill Street.
Adult – Free | Concession – Free | Children – Free
2. Peruse the Shops
The biggest town for some 20 miles around, Ludlow remains the hub of south Shropshire. Renowned for the breadth and diversity of its independent shops, you can pick up anything here. You could literally spend a day in Ludlow just shopping.
Surprisingly, the town lacks the shops typical for a pretty market town. For example, there is no Waitrose – though regulars like Orvis and Joules are here. You shan’t want for such chain stores however as there’s little they can provide that Ludlow’s independents can’t. Plus, when you choose an independent, your pennies often go straight back into the community.
Adult – Various | Concession – Various | Children – Various
3. Visit Ludlow Castle
You simply cannot spend a day in Ludlow without visiting its castle – around which the town was built. Constructed in 1085 to keep the Welsh at bay, Ludlow Castle is essentially a Norman fortress with medieval and Tudor additions. Once a Royal Palace, former inmates include the famous ‘Princes in the Tower’ and Prince Arthur – Henry VIII’s brother.
The castle is most famous for being the Headquarters of the ‘Council of the Marches’ – the body that administered most of Wales until the 18th century. Following the Council’s abolishment in 1689, the castle fell into disrepair. Today it is a majestic ruin. Open to the public, it’s a lovely place to wander round and soak up history. A view from one of its two towers is worth a visit alone. With regular tours and event days it’s worth checking ahead.
Adult – £8.00 | Concession – £7.00 | Children – £3.50
4. Shop Ludlow Market
Coming out of the castle, you enter onto Castle Square – a suitably historic location for the town’s market. Historically, Ludlow’s success was made from its market. One has been trading on this very site since the 1100s. With three market days a week and an additional one in summer, things don’t seem to have changed. Ludlow Market is as strong as ever.
Ludlow’s market is full of fresh produce. It’s the best place to get up close and personal with the producers of this rural county. Whether it’s Shropshire Red or Fidget Pie, you’ll find it here. What I love seeing however is the range of crafts and wares on offer. Even when the market isn’t trading, Castle Square is Ludlow’s hub, with just a couple of big-name stores, and many independents like a bookshop and a bakery, in between a few pubs and eateries – definitely worth a perusal.
Adult – Various | Concession – Various | Children – Various
5. Tour St Laurence’s Church
After a good poke around the Castle, taking in the views, make your way to St Laurence’s church. In his book on England’s Thousand Best Churches, Simon Jenkins gives the church five stars meaning it’s pretty special. There are free guided tours of the church (usually held on Saturdays).
Dubbed the ‘Cathedral of the Marshes’, St Laurence’s is the jewel in Ludlow’s crown. Perched on top of its hill and viewed from miles around, the church was built in 1199 off wealth from the wool trade. Successive alterations were made in the years following, climaxing with its perpendicular tower in the 15th century.
The most striking feature of the church – for which it is renowned – is its set of misericords. Located under the seats in the chancel, they were carved by medieval craftsmen and depict the most wonderfully random scenes, such as a pub landlady with the devil and a mermaid holding a mirror with a dolphin. You could spend hours gazing at them. The stained glass windows are also worth checking out.
Adult – Free | Concession – Free | Children – Free
6. Explore Ludlow Museum
Leaving the Church, you come back onto Castle Square. Take a left and you’ll come across Ludlow Museum. Ludlow Museum is only small so perfectly manageable on a busy day. There’s something charming about a town museum run by volunteers. It speaks volumes of civic pride. A good look around the museum is one of the top things to do in Ludlow.
Located in the historical Buttercross – a Georgian town hall, Ludlow Museum is a local history museum. Marking the centre of Ludlow, you can read about the town’s history in the very spot where it happened. Small but well formed, the museum provides a snapshot of Ludlow with lovely town views. Exhibits range from medieval paraphernalia to a telephone with recorded recollections of old Ludlow. The museum is open Friday-Sunday and with just a small admission charge it is well worth the visit.
Adult – £1.00 | Concession – £1.00 | Children – £0.50
7. Vist Berrington Hall
Just 15 minutes south of Ludlow, on the route to Hereford is the spectacular Berrington Hall – a Georgian mansion of Neoclassical design. The house, somewhat oddly for its type, is built in brown sandstone, most likely quarried on Shuttocks Hill. Standing elegant in the Shropshire countryside, the house looks out upon ‘Capability’ Brown’s final garden and landscape.
Built in 1778-81 by Henry Holland, the mansion is in fact a villa with a grand Ionic portico. Inside, you can take in sumptuous interiors, straight out of a Jane Austen Novel. The highlight is the staircase hall – a masterpiece of light, space and colour, along with the Biaggio Rebecca ceilings. You can also explore the family rooms and on certain days, see how the servants moved around the house unseen by the family and guests.
Adult – £8.00 | Concession – £8.00 | Children – £4.00
8. Explore Stokesay Castle
Take a detour from Ludlow toward the Shropshire Hills and you’ll come across Stokesay Castle – just 15 minutes drive away. Stokesay Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval fortified manor houses in England. Managed by English Heritage, it was commissioned by Laurence of Ludlow. Almost everything visible at Stokesay today was built in the 1280s. The only later addition is the yellow gatehouse (1640)
The castle has survived so well due to suffering only partial damage during the Civil War, allowing the family to carry on living here for generations. Highlights for me include the lofty great hall with views out to the Shropshire countryside and the Solar, where there’s an incredible 17th-century carved mantlepiece. The charming gatehouse also has numerous carvings including one of Adam and Eve.
Adult – £9.90 | Concession – £9.00 | Children – £6.00
9. Roam Whitcliffe Common
By far the best place to catch a view of Ludlow is Whitcliffe Common – you could spend a day in Ludlow, roaming the landscape. Whitcliffe Common is the remnant of a medieval common which was once more than three times its size. Here the burgesses of Ludlow acquired rights to graze livestock, gather hay and quarry building stone. The 53-acre common is threaded with walking trails and stone steps, and has benches where you can catch your breath and soak up the scenery.
Leaving the town, cross Dinham Bridge to reach the common. Take one of the footpaths and ascend up the common till you reach the car park on Whitcliffe Road. The views are incredible. Back down by the water, you can stroll along the Bread Walk which will take you past ferns, rugged cliffs and a waterfall. (The walk’s name comes from workers on the route being paid with bread to prevent them spending their wages in pubs on the way home!).
Adult – Free | Concession – Free | Children – Free
10. Relax on Millennium Green
On the journey to and from Whitcliffe Common, you pass Millennium Green – another spot with fine views. Sitting just beneath the castle ruins, the green is a gentle open space beside the river, on the town side of Dinham Bridge. It’s a popular spot to relax with children playing in the river. There’s a lovely looking cafe here called The Mill on the Green.
The cafe is on the site of a medieval corn mill, which became the Ludlow Electric Light Company in the early 1900s. The company unfortunately closed but its hydroelectric water wheel continues to function and provides most of the energy for the cafe.
Adult – Free | Concession – Free | Children – Free
11. Ludlow Assembly Rooms
As the clock approaches five o’clock, Ludlow takes on a new character. Top of the evening entertainments in Ludlow is the Ludlow Assembly Rooms, just off Castle Square (where the market is held). Built in 1840s, the Assembly Rooms once held the great and good of Georgian England. Today it is a champion for rural arts, with regular live entertainment events. It also doubles as a cinema and community centre. A real social hub and affordably priced, it’s the perfect place to spend an evening and support the local community.
Adult – Free | Concession – Free | Children – Free
Best Small Towns in England by Train
Ludlow features in my list of Best Small Towns in England by Train. Make sure to take a look in order to discover more towns like Ludlow nearby. The West Midlands is full of beautiful places, deliciously rural with interesting histories.