Ludlow "The Perfect Historic Town"
Ludlow with St. Laurence's Church

A Town Full of History

A walk through Ludlow's main streets and quiet lanes is to experience over 900 years of history. 

Ludlow's History
Broad Street, Ludlow

Ludlow Castle

Ludlow Castle is one of the most interesting castles in the Marches, in a dominant and imposing position high above the River Teme.

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Ludlow Castle
Broadgate, Ludlow
The Buttercross, Ludlow

The Shropshire Hills

Situated on the edge of The Shropshire Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Ludlow is the perfect base to explore this glorious area.

Places to visit near Ludlow
Cardingmill Valley, Church Stretton

An Area Full of History

With many beautiful  historic buildings in and near Ludlow, the area is a fantastic place to step back in time.

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Stokesay Castle
Ludford Bridge, Ludlow

Ironbridge Gorge

Ironbridge Gorge Museums are a series of museums, spread along the banks of the River Severn. The Ironbridge Gorge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

More Things To Do Near Ludlow
Ironbridge, Shropshire

Welcome to Ludlow

A Guide to Ludlow

From it's ancient Castle to it's peaceful back streets, exploring Ludlow is a real pleasure. A lively friendly feel combines with over 900 years of history; with many cafes, bars, shops, beautiful & fascinating architecture and greenery all around; a visit to Ludlow will not disappoint.

Shopping in Ludlow

One of Ludlow's strengths is its wide and varied range of individualistic shops, mostly independently owned, including traditional family businesses where shopping for food, clothing, crafts, gifts, antiques, art, books and many specialist products is an enjoyable voyage of discovery.

Ludlow Market

Ludlow Market

A traditional open-air market takes place in the Market Square every Monday, Friday and Saturday throughout the year, with Wednesday markets from April to September. In addition most Sundays see the market stalls being used either as a flea market or for various specialist themes, such as books, gardens or crafts. A Local Farmers Market, is held on the second Thursday of each month.
For more information please visit our Ludlow Market page.

Festivals and Events in Ludlow

Ludlow's daily life is considerably enriched throughout the year by a series of festivals, fairs and carnivals many set against the backdrop of Ludlow Castle. These include The Spring Festival, Ludlow Food and Drink Festival and the Medieval Christmas Fayre.
To see our What's On in Ludlow section please click here.

Eating in Ludlow

The Wheatsheaf Inn, Ludlow

There are currently several restaurants in or near Ludlow with entries in the current Michelin Guide. And this statistic is not just confined to Michelin. The AA Restaurant Guide and the Which? Good Food Guide show the same conclusions. Ludlow offers a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, and pub food, afternoon teas as well as foreign cuisine from India, China, Thailand and Japan. There is an eating place to satisfy all tastes and budgets, many of which make a point of offering locally-sourced ingredients
Click here for a list of places to eat in Ludlow

Ludlow Walks

Ludlow is surrounded by ideal countryside for walking. Walks from the town lead out to forests and farmland; the Shropshire Hills are a short bus or car ride away. Ludlow is at the start of the Mortimer Trail, a long-distance path to Kington on the Herefordshire/Wales border.
For more information on Ludlow Walks please visit our Walking page.

Ludlow Town Tours

Guided Town Tours for 2021 depart from the cannon outside the Castle at 2:30pm from May 22nd to October 31st on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays; also school holidays Tuesday 1st June to Friday 4th June and Monday 26th July to Friday 27th August. There are no tours during the Ludlow Food Festival and May Fair weekends. Tours cost £5 per person; children free, and last about 90 minutes. The Meeting Point is at the cannon outside the Castle at 2.30 pm. They introduce visitors to: the history; the architecture; life in Ludlow over the centuries including some of today's planning challenges; and are spiced up with some gossip about the characters who lived in the town.

Special Tours for small or large groups are available at any reasonable time or day, and can be booked with Roger Furniss at 01584 874205 or furniss@phonecoop.coop. These cost £5 per person with a minimum charge of £20.

It is also possible for an additional £10 to have an in-character tour with Thomas Farnolls Pritchard, Georgian architect and Inventor of cast iron bridges, or John Turnor, Steward of the Palmer's Guild in 1472.

Mortimers Forest way marker

Cycling

Ludlow and the surrounding south Shropshire countryside is an ideal cycling area. The beautiful hilly countryside which includes the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has many quiet country lanes, forest areas and planned routes to suit cyclists of all abilities.
For more information on Cycling in Ludlow & south Shropshire visit our cycling page.

Leisure & Arts

Ludlow Assembly Rooms is an arts centre providing cinema, music, and drama.
For the latest programme details phone 01584 878141 or visit their website.

Ludlow Leisure Centre, at Bromfield Road, provides a range of modern facilities including a sports hall, swimming pool, fitness and health suites, courts for hire and a refreshment area. The centre is open daily. Please visit their website for more details.

Explore the Area

Places to Visit near Ludlow

Ludlow is a good base to explore this area from: within an hour (often much less), you can experience the delights of Shrewsbury, Shropshire's county town; the cathedral city of Hereford; the south Shropshire Hills such as the Longmynd, Caer Caradoc, the Stiperstones and Wenlock Edge; sample real Herefordshire cider and perry; visit Ironbridge, the birthplace of the industrial revolution and an UNESCO World Heritage Site; or explore the uncrowded hills and valleys of Mid-Wales.

More information about what's nearby to Ludlow.