Ludlow Points Of Interest – Day Trip To Ludlow, UK

A note on getting to Ludlow: part of its attraction is its history and quirky streets, but these weren’t built to house massive cars. You’re wise to park on the edge of town and walk in, where you’ll find blue bays that are free for a number of hours. Or, even better, take the park & ride and see the rest on foot. Everything is nice and reachable and the river walks are a big part of what makes Ludlow special.

As soon as you arrive, it’s time to stroll the high street and get into the spirit of your adventure. Don’t worry if you’re feeling oddly tall, the shops here were built centuries ago to suit must shorter Britons. Watch your head on those low, crooked doorways!

Inside, there’s the kind of quirky boutiques that would cost you an arm and a leg in London, but here you’ll find a traditional butcher, a dainty bake, and organic treats, plus so many children’s toy shops. If you’re here in December, you’ll give Father Christmas a run for his money.

Ludlow runs its own campaign ‘Only in Ludlow’ which celebrates the huge selection of unique and independent shops. Wherever you seen the yellow campaign sticker, you know you’ve found something to rival any chain. Take a look at Bodenhams, Ludlow’s answer to chic department stores and The Castle Bookshop, which has buckets of atmosphere and stacks of great reads with personal recommendations from its staff.

The buildings are black and white timbered and they all have fabulous histories – plenty of intrigues has gone on here! To get a bird’s eye overview, start at the church of St Laurence. It’s got beautiful stained glass windows and a bit of climbing will have you up in its tower, taking in 360-degree views. If its the weekend, the bells are likely to ring for a wedding on Saturday or services on a Sunday.

By now you’re sure to be hungry, so here are a couple of great options. The Church Inn on Church Street is an incredible choice for trying all things local. They serve wittily named pies, made by a Shropshire company and tasting just as fresh as you’d expect them to be. Wash those down with real ales and all will be right with the world.

But then, there’s nothing nicer than eating beside the river, in a pub that was built for horse-drawn carriages. The Charlton Arms, set right by the Ludlow Bridge has a garden with views all the way up the high street and a great gastropub feel. The fish and chips are not to be missed.

The center of life here was once the market in Castle Street when cloth and wool were sold to keep the town prosperous. The ancient market still runs every day except Tuesday and there’s no way you’ll walk away empty handed. In particular the fresh homegrown food on offer is amazing, so you can get pudding here.

But, if you haven’t yet eaten something sweet at the market, there’s another opportunity at Dinham Green in the form of Ludlow’s Green Cafe. You can feed the ducks here and the vibe is calm and sweet. Cakes and ice creams here are delicious, especially the locally famous damson and sloe gin ice cream.

Now’s the perfect time to make it to Ludlow’s pretty castle and grab some more enticing views. As you might expect, just head straight up the hill to find it! It’s guaranteed to burn off all the food you’ve had, too. The castle dates back to Norman times and has been the setting for plenty of bloody royal conflicts. Imagine archers in every window, take in the huge Great Hall with its roaring fireplace and feel history come alive. You can walk along the walls and explore every corner of this castle, as very little is roped off, which is a bonus!