Ludlow (England)

Ludlow is a town of 10,000 people (2011) in Shropshire. It is a typical English market town with a castle. The historic centre of Ludlow has largely escaped development that would otherwise alter its medieval, Tudor and Georgian character. Ludlow has nearly 500 listed buildings, including examples of medieval and Tudor-style half-timbered buildings.

Understand

The oldest part of Ludlow is the medieval walled town, founded in the late 11th century after the Norman conquest of England. It is centred on a small hill which lies on the eastern bank of a bend of the River Teme. Situated on this hill are Ludlow Castle and the parish church, St Laurence's, the largest in the county. From there the streets slope downward to the rivers Corve and Teme, to the north and south respectively. The town is in a sheltered spot beneath Mortimer Forest and the Clee Hills, which are clearly visible from the town.

Get in

By car

The town is situated on the A49 road, which bypasses the town. To get to it from the east (for example from Birmingham) you can take the A4117 from Bewdley.

By train

There are trains to 🌍 Ludlow station from nearby Shrewsbury and Hereford, as well as from further afield including Manchester and Cardiff.

By bike

National Cycle Network route 44 runs over Dinham and Ludford Bridges (via Camp and Silkmill Lanes in-between) en route from Bromfield to Pipe Aston. It is known as the Six Castles Cycleway, with Ludlow Castle as one of the six.

On foot

The Mortimer Trail, a long-distance footpath, runs from Ludlow to Kington, Herefordshire.

Get around

Ludlow is quite small, and its centre consists of medieval streets, so getting around by foot is suggested, although to visit many of the surrounding areas of beauty and villages, a car will be necessary, as public transport in rural England is generally sporadic.

The town centre is situated on a small hill, but once you're there it's largely flat ground. Parking fees apply every day at these car parks and also on-street in the centre. Parking is free between 6PM and 8AM, and on bank/public holidays.

There is a small car park in the town centre itself, at Castle Street.

  • Castle Street car park, Castle St, SY8 1AT. M-Sa: 1 hour £0.50, 2 hours £1.10, 4 hours £2.40; Su: 1 hour £0.30, 2 hours £0.60, 4 hours £1.20. (updated Jan 2018)

Otherwise there are two larger car parks a short walk away at Upper Galdeford (by the Co-op supermarket) and Lower Galdeford (the old Smithfield).

  • Upper Galdeford Zone A car park, Upper Galdeford, SY8 1QB. M-Sa: 1 hour £0.50, 2 hours £1.10, 4 hours £2.40, 10 hours £4.80; Su: 1 hour £0.30, 2 hours £0.60, 4 hours £1.20, 10 hours £2.40. (updated Jan 2018)
  • Smithfield car park, Lower Galdeford, SY8 1RN. M-Sa: 1 hour £0.40, 2 hours £1, 10 hours £2; Su: 1 hour £0.20, 2 hours £0.50, 10 hours £1. (updated Jan 2018)

See
  • You can see many fine examples of historical architecture in Ludlow, from its grand St Laurence's church to a magnificently restored late medieval house on Castle Square, open to the public.
  • 🌍 Ludlow Castle, Castle Square, SY8 1AY, ☏ +44 1584 874465, fax: +44 1584 874465, . Daily 10AM-4PM. As is typical of medieval English castles, dating from as early as the Norman invasion of 1066, it has had a rich and interesting history, particularly being involved with the Wars of the Roses and Tudor royalty. Adult £5, child £2.50, senior/student £4.50. 
  • 🌍 St Laurence's Church, College Street, SY8 1AN (tucked away from the main streets, can be reached by walking round either side of the Church Inn, behind the Buttercross), ☏ +44 1584 872073. Shropshire's largest parish church and described as the 'cathedral of the Marches'. You can climb the tower for £3. Otherwise entry is free. 
  • 🌍 Stokesay Castle, Nr Craven Arms, SY7 9AH, ☏ +44 1588 672544. Beautiful 13th-century fortified manor house, run by English Heritage. Excellent audio tour in English, French and German. Adult £6.20, child £3.70, concession £5.60. 

Do
  • 🌍 Ludlow Museum (The Buttercross), SY8 1AW (Top of Broad Street). The town's main museum, since 2016 located inside the historic Buttercross building in the heart of the town. (updated Oct 2016)
  • 🌍 Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 1 Mill St, SY8 1AY, ☏ +44 1584 873229. Hosts films and various plays, workshops and performances. (updated Nov 2017)
  • 🌍 Teme Leisure, Bromfield Rd, SY8 1DR, ☏ +44 1584 874620. The town's leisure centre with a gym and swimming pool. (updated Dec 2017)
  • Overlooked by the castle and the church, the River Teme in Ludlow is also nice to see. In the summer, you can hire boats and row along the river, under the shade of some trees.

Events
  • Ludlow Festival. Runs each year in June and July and has a wide programme of events, including a Shakespeare play performed in the castle grounds. (updated Dec 2017)
  • Ludlow Medieval Christmas Fayre, Ludlow Castle. Savour the sights and sounds of a medieval fayre in the glorious setting of Ludlow Castle 

Buy

Ludlow has a number of small independent food shops, including traditional butchers and bakers, and more specialist shops selling up-market, unusual or health foodstuffs. A wide list of shops and businesses in Ludlow is available here.

  • 🌍 Castle Bookshop, 5 Castle St, SY8 1AS, ☏ +44 1584 872562. The independent bookshop on Castle Square comes highly recommended, although it is small. (updated Dec 2016)
  • 🌍 Bodenhams, 1-2 Broad St, SY8 1NG, ☏ +44 1584 872786, . A well-regarded, family-run clothes shop situated at the top of Broad Street, and has been operating since 1860 making it one of the oldest clothes shops in Britain. (updated Dec 2016)
  • 🌍 Chocolate Gourmet, 16 Castle St, SY8 1AT, ☏ +44 1584 879332. M-F 10:30AM-5PM, Sa 10:30AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-4PM. The town's independent chocolatier. (updated Jan 2018)

Ludlow is well-known for its market within the Castle Square.

  • 🌍 Ludlow Market, Castle Square, SY8 1AX. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. A market that hosts stalls with local produce, books and bric-a-brac; depending on the day. There are additional specialist markets held on some Thursdays and Sundays. (updated Dec 2016)

Ludlow also has its own food centre, specialising in locally grown organic produce.

Ludlow also has Tesco and Aldi supermarkets in the town centre.

Eat
  • 🌍 Clive Arms, Bromfield, Ludlow SY8 2JR, ☏ +44 1584 856565. Meals W-Sa 5:30-9PM, Su noon-3PM. 18th-century farmhouse, now a restaurant with good dining, also has 17 rooms. B&B double £100. (updated Aug 2020)
  • 🌍 Ludlow Kitchen, Bromfield, SY8 2JR, ☏ +44 1584 856020. M-F 7AM-4:30PM, Sa Su 7AM-5PM. (updated Jan 2018)
  • 🌍 Kin Kitchen, 5 Old Street, Ludlow SY8 1NW, ☏ +44 1584 879888, . Tu-F 9:30AM-4:30PM, Sa 9:30AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. A family-run cafe offering a good range of locally-sourced food in a historic building in the heart of Ludlow. (updated Aug 2022)

Drink

Just like places to eat, Ludlow has many pubs.

  • 🌍 Church Inn, The Buttercross, SY8 1AW (Located right by St Laurence's church), ☏ +44 1584 872174. A long-time entry in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Serves food. 
  • 🌍 The Queens, 113 Lower Galdeford, SY8 1RU (From the town centre, head along Tower Street and it is on the right), ☏ +44 1584 879177. Beer garden. Good food. 
  • 🌍 Rose and Crown, 8 Church Street, Ludlow, SY8 1AP (Can be accessed either via a passage off Church Street or by following Quality Square round to its rear), ☏ +44 1584 875726. Large pub in the heart of the town which caters for both diners and drinkers. Owned by the Shropshire brewing company Joule's. Small outdoor seating area to the rear. (updated Mar 2017)

Ludlow also has its own brewery, which is open to the public during the day, located close to the town's railway station and Tesco supermarket, off Corve Street.

Sleep
The Ludlow tourist board offers a fairly comprehensive list of places to stay
  • 🌍 Travelodge, Foldgate Ln, SY8 1LS, ☏ +44 8719 846347. (updated Dec 2017)
  • 🌍 The Bringewood, Burrington, SY8 2HT, ☏ +44 1568 770033, . Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Renovated Victorian farm buildings (est. 2006) in 250 acres of beautiful English countryside. 11 ensuite rooms with modern touches blended in with the traditional building. With 2 lounge areas to relax and enjoy the views or the large wood burning stove to keep you warm during the winter. Restaurant offers high quality meals From £75. 
  • Ludlow Castle. Ludlow Castle offers self-catering apartments. Complimentary tickets for entry are provided. (updated Jan 2018)
  • 🌍 Old Downton Lodge, Downton on the Rock SY8 2HU (6 miles west of town), ☏ +44 1568 771826. Upscale country hotel in converted farmstead. No children under 12. B&B double £160. (updated Jun 2020)
  • 🌍 Timberstone, Lackstone Lane, Clee Stanton SY8 3EL, ☏ +44 1584 823519. Charming welcoming B&B with just four rooms, comfy and stylish. B&B double £100. (updated Jun 2020)
  • 🌍 The Old Rectory, Wheathill WV16 6QT, ☏ +44 1746 787209. Small B&B in Georgian country rectory, can serve dinner by arrangement. Open Feb-mid Dec. B&B double £140. (updated Jul 2020)
  • 🌍 Charlton Arms Hotel, Ludford Bridge, Ludlow SY8 1PJ, ☏ +44 1584 872813. Pleasant pub with nine rooms by the river bridge. B&B double £110. (updated Aug 2020)
  • 🌍 Kin Rooms, Flats 1-4, 5 Old Street, Ludlow SY8 1NW, ☏ +44 1584 565895, . 4 well-presented self-catering apartments right in the centre of Ludlow, in a historic Grade 2 listed building above Kin Kitchen - a popular local cafe. Guests enjoy evening use of a well-kept, quiet garden. £110. (updated Aug 2022)

Connect

As of May 2022, Ludlow has 4G from all UK carriers, and you might get 5G from Three.

Go next

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

  • Around the Ludlow area are many places of great natural beauty, and the hills of Shropshire are great for walkers or cyclists. Try the Wyre Forest which has walks for people of different abilities, and sculptures on the paths to stop it from getting boring. You could also try walking around Clee Hill, which has great views of Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and beyond.
  • Ironbridge is a great place for a day out (The Tar Tunnel is recommended.)
  • Visit nearby Craven Arms to go to the Shropshire Hills discovery centre or Acton Scott historic working farm. Both are great for children.
  • A number of larger towns with many things to do in them are within driving distance of Ludlow - Shrewsbury, Worcester, Birmingham, to name a few.


Routes through Ludlow
Shrewsbury ← Church Stretton ←  N  S  → Leominster → Hereford
ENDS AT WOOFFERTON ←  W  E  → Kidderminster → Birmingham



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