Shropshire Tourism Gets a Boost With a Place on ABTA’s Travel Destinations to Watch List

Shropshire’s historic market towns and villages, breathtaking rolling countryside and majestic craggy outcrops make it a prime tourism spot in Britain – helping it achieve success as a tourism destination. Shropshire was recently honored by being placed on ABTA’s list of travel destinations to watch.

The Wrekin, an Iron Age fort summit that offers breathtaking views, and Long Mynd, an ancient heath and moorland plateau are among those included in this list, alongside Aruba, Mauritius, Extremadura (Spanish region) and Vietnam.

Roman City of Wroxeter

Wroxeter Roman City (formerly Viriconium Cornoviorum), established as a legionary fortress during the first century AD, soon grew into one of the largest Roman British cities – at its peak around 5,000 people lived here at once! Today you can explore its remnants; visit an intact bathhouse or explore reconstructed town houses from this once larger-than-Pompeii city.

As you stroll the ruins, learn how a city this size functioned and its inhabitants’ daily lives. An audio tour reveals some of the site’s most intriguing finds – like how those living in Wroxeter worked or their health and beauty practices, some of which may seem quite strange!

After Roman rule ended in the 7th Century, its remains gradually transformed back to farmland; archaeologists only became aware that there had once been a town here upon discovering an intact section of Old Work Wall which has since revealed much about life in what was Roman Britain’s fourth-largest city.

Reconstructing the life and atmosphere of Wroxeter from 2000 years ago using only tools and materials available to Romans provides visitors with an unforgettable experience of Roman life in Wroxeter. Furthermore, its newly renovated museum provides family friendly activities, new objects, and vivid historical characters to bring the story of its city alive.

At the center of the village lies an ancient church built from Roman stone blocks re-used from their city’s walls; some of its oldest parts can be seen here as well; these include its entrance piers and lower section made from Roman re-used Roman stone blocks for its tower. Devoted to Saint Andrew, this church also contains a Saxon font which was made out of one capital from an original Roman column!

Visit Shropshire’s remarkable historical landmark at this wonderful destination and make memories that last. Open all year long, come explore this remarkable historical location!

Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site

Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site features several museums which highlight the significant history of industrialisation in rural Shropshire. It’s both a popular tourist spot and center for education.

The Gorge is home to one of the first cast iron bridges ever constructed in history, which spans the River Severn and stands as an emblem of its industrial revolution. Additionally, many factories and mills operate here which produce unique products like pottery and porcelainware, tiles and metalwork.

At present, the Severn Gorge is an idyllic scenic spot, with the River Severn flowing past densely-forested banks. However, in its past life the area was bustling with activity: mines and quarries began extracting coal, iron ore, limestone and clay mining from 1500 onwards; blast furnaces and foundries appeared around 1750; the area rapidly developed; its World Heritage Site provides insight into this period of history through ten museums that provide an understanding of this fascinating era of development.

These sites include surviving remains of mines, pit mounds and spoil heaps; foundries, workshops, factory buildings, warehouses, iron masters’ and workers’ housing; as well as extensive archaeological monuments and records related to people, processes and products associated with making Ironbridge Gorge so significant.

At the border between Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire lies a World Heritage Site covering most of the river Severn from its source near Ironbridge to Coalbrookdale with the adjacent ridges Hay and Jackfield. The boundary for this World Heritage Site is set by local and national legislation and overseen by a Management Board; daily management activities within it are handled by Telford & Wrekin Council working in cooperation with various organisations, agencies, and owners of properties within its borders.

Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust cares for 10 museums and 36 monuments within its World Heritage Site, welcoming over 500,000 visitors each year. Their work in this regard was recognized at both the British Travel Awards (Best UK Visitor Experience award) and Art Fund Prize for Museums & Galleries Final in 2010.

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings

Historic England purchased and restored this derelict ruin until 2005 when they acquired it and launched a major restoration project involving specialists, partners, funders and volunteers to bring it back to life – now offering visitor experiences, workshops events and tours of Maltings historic buildings.

Mather & Co, an internationally-recognized exhibition design consultancy, provided exhibit design and content development. Additionally, this new space contains an independent cafe, shops and offices for visitors to experience.

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings was an astounding feat of engineering when it opened in 1797; it was the first building to use an internal frame made up of columns, beams, and tie rods designed by architect Charles Bage to be fireproof while providing sufficient structural strength for multiple storeys – setting an important precedent that ultimately lead to modern skyscrapers that are so recognizable today.

Over its lifetime, the mill employed thousands of workers from low-income backgrounds. Children were an especially vital component of its workforce in early 19th century; children living at Apprentice House became indentured workers. Unfortunately, as linen became less in demand nearing its decline towards the end of its timeframe and this mill closed permanently in 1987.

The Flaxmill was first Grade II listed in 1955, before upgrading to Grade I status in 2017. This designation highlights its special architectural and historical interest and consideration by the planning system. As one of the country’s premier industrial heritage sites, The Flaxmill serves as a reminder of Shropshire’s position at the forefront of innovation, trade, and technology during an earlier era. Visitors are free to visit every day of the year – learn more or book a tour online today.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust

Shropshire, an idyllic county brimming with natural beauty, is an absolute pleasure for naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts. With hill forts, river valleys, gorges, heaths and moors adorning its rolling landscape – not to mention an abundant historical legacy including Ironbridge Gorge’s role in initiating the Industrial Revolution and JRR Tolkien basing Middle-earth on his 20th century homeland – Shropshire offers something to delight all visitors to its county of unbrimmed wild beauty!

Shropshire Wildlife Trust (SWT) is an integral part of wildlife conservation in Shropshire. Their headquarters, The Cut Visitor Centre on Abbey Foregate in Shrewsbury, serve as their hub of activities. Here their staff and volunteers tirelessly promote nature through events and activities which allow residents to discover local species while teaching residents how best to make use of local ecosystems.

SWT manages 37 local nature reserves and maintains an expansive network of accessible footpaths. Their over 3,000 members support this vital work through donations and volunteerism; additionally they partner with businesses, charitable trusts, and other organizations to provide habitat management and conservation expertise.

Shropshire is easily accessible by both road and rail, with the A49 providing quick links between Shropshire and England’s West Midlands and England, and rail connecting it further afield. There are flights into Birmingham, Manchester and London available too; several national parks can also be reached within an hour’s drive of Shropshire for outdoor enthusiasts or families seeking adventure.

Moving around Shropshire is easy with a range of transport options, from self-drive car rental to public transport – 19 railway stations can be found throughout the county, and most towns provide bus service. Accommodation choices in Shropshire range from luxury country house hotels and bed and breakfasts to guest houses and glamping sites, converted railway carriages offering stunning countryside views and converted railway carriages with beautiful interior design features like inbuilt TV screens. There’s something here for every taste – restaurants and pubs feature locally sourced produce as well as real ale production which has grown tremendously over recent years compared with what was once available before!