Living in Shrewsbury
COUNTY: Shropshire
Fringing the Welsh borders and pocked with rugged hills, Shropshire is an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), with rolling farmland, woods and river valleys. Described by the Victorians as 'little Switzerland', this county offers up some of the UK's most scenic and varied landscapes which, combined, with excellent schooling, heritage market towns, slumbering villages and good connectivity makes for an alluring place to call home, wherever you settle in the county.
WHERE IS IT?
9 miles (14 km) east of the Welsh border, Shrewsbury serves as the commercial centre for Shropshire and mid-Wales. The town is situated on the River Severn, 150 miles (240 km) north-west of London, about 14 miles (23 km) west of Telford and 43 miles (69 km) west of Birmingham.
AT A GLANCE
Shrewsbury is a thriving market town with an unspoilt Medieval streetplan, handsome housing, listed buildings, a great social calendar and excellent schools, offering beautiful walks in the Shropshire Hills and where people move to put down roots after visiting.
SHREWSBURY - WHAT TO EXPECT
Birthplace of naturalist Charles Darwin, the spirited and smart county town of Shrewsbury - often cited as one of England's finest medieval towns - sits within a curl of the River Severn set amidst the glorious, verdant folds of Shropshire countryside.
Nine miles from the Welsh border and ringfenced by sweeping, rural views, it topped the Sunday Times's coveted list of 'Best Places to Live' in 2020. Its romantic 15th century, half-timbered, crooked Tudor houses and historic coaching inns huddle together in cobbled alleys, bringing to life streetscapes that are postcards from British history, with a smattering of 'new' providing 21st century trimmings.
Elegant, charming, exceptionally good looking and gently dynamic, it's a charming place to call home - walkable, personable and where residents are genuinely proud of their hometown - offering an excellent quality of life and brimful of river-fronting pitstops, restaurants, green spaces, historic architecture, independent shops and a cathedral.
Decent commute times - an hour from Manchester and Birmingham - widens the net for big city employment opportunities, adding to the kerb appeal of this award-winning market town that should be on post-pandemic work-life balance bucket lists.
Shrewsbury hosts a variety of events throughout the year, such as the Shrewsbury Flower Show, the longest-running flower show in the world and the Regatta. The town is a 'Purple Flag' town - an independent award first granted to the town centre in 2016, celebrating its reputation as a vibrant, safe and well-managed nightlife destination.
THE PROPERTY MARKET
There are many fine Georgian terraces alongside excellent examples of 17th, 18th and 19th century architecture.
UNEXPECTED APPEAL
Shrewsbury Market Hall is a thriving indoor market and is fast gaining a reputation as one of the best markets around.
Home to more than 70 independent businesses, traditional market stalls selling fresh farm produce stand alongside cosmopolitan cafes, award-winning artisan producers, vintage and antique sellers and a host of quality craft and gift stalls.
YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE WITH
At the heart of Shrewsbury lies The Quarry, 29 acres of parkland that provides the perfect place to relax, enjoy walks, picnic and fish along the banks of the River Severn.
The Dingle garden is situated in the centre of The Quarry and was created by the late Percy Thrower (one of Britain's best-known gardeners). It is a delightful sunken garden landscaped with alpine borders, brilliant bedding plants, shrubbery and charming water features.
EDUCATION
Shrewsbury is noted for its exceptional schools both within the state and private schooling in the area, including St Winefrides Independent School, Prestfelde, Shrewsbury High School and Shrewsbury School.
Primary/Junior Schools
• Coleham Primary School 01743 362668
• St Winefride’s School 01743 369883
• St George’s Junior School 01743 357133
• Belvidere Primary School 01743 365211
• Meole Brace Church of England School and Nursery 01743 351027
• Radbrook Primary School 01743 232895
• St. Giles Church of England Primary School 01743 356579
• Prestfelde School 01743 245400
Secondary schools
• Shrewsbury School 01743 280500
• Belvidere School 01743 235073
• Adcote School 01939 260202
• Ellesmere College 01691 622321
• Moreton Hall School 01691 773671
• Packwood Haugh School 01939 260217
PLACES OF INTEREST
• The Quarry
• Attinghjam Park
• Hawkstone Park Follies
• Battlefield Falconry Centre
• Market Hall Shrewsbury
• Haughmond Hill
• Stiperstones Nature Reserve
• Theatre Severn
• St. Chads Church
• Shrewsbury Abbey
• Shrewsbury Castle
• The Charles Darwin Walk
• Town Walls Tower
• Old Market Hall
• The British Ironwork Centre
TRANSPORT LINKS
Getting to Shrewsbury
Road communications are excellent with the A458 linking to the A5 which runs north to Oswestry and Chester, and east to Telford, where the M54 links to the national motorway network. There is a mainline rail service from Shrewsbury with a direct service to London Euston. The region’s international airports include Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.
Roads
At M6 (J10a) take the M54 (West). At M54 (J7) take A5 towards Shrewsbury.
Rail
- Shrewsbury to Birmingham, frequent trains taking 1 hour
- Shrewsbury to Chester, frequent trains taking 1 hour
- Shrewsbury to London, frequent direct trains taking 2.5 hours
Air
- Birmingham International Airport, approximately 1.25 hours
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport, approximately 1.5 hours
- Manchester Airport, approximately 1.5 hours
Train
- London Euston to Shrewsbury, approximately 3 hours
- Birmingham New Street, approximately 1 hour
- Manchester Piccadilly to Shrewbury, approximately 1h 22m