Got a yearning to travel through time? If so, our pick of historic places to visit and stay in Shropshire will inspire you. They’ve all gone down in history with amazing stories to tell…

If the longevity of the inhabitants is anything to go by, Shropshire with its half-timbered villages, must rank among the top places to visit.

Thomas Parr, who was 145 when he died and was buried in Westminster Abbey in the 17th century, is reputed to have been Britain’s oldest man. He came from Shropshire.

Wroxeter Roman City by Ruth Hartnup

This county, with a rich and varied history, is home to some of the most spectacular historical sites in the entire country. At Wroxeter archaeologists have excavated Roman Britain’s fourth largest city and visitors today can take a tour around the fascinating ruins and explore the new Roman Town House, constructed as part of Channel 4’s ‘Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day’.

Old Oswestry hill fort by Andrew Thomas

At Old Oswestry discover one of the best-preserved Iron Age hill forts in Britain, with fine ramparts and an elaborate western portal.

The Iron Bridge by Bs0u10e0

The region is also the acclaimed birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and the site of the world’s first iron bridge, today home to the world-famous Ironbridge Gorge Museums.

Ludlow Castle by Andrew Smith

Ludlow Castle‘s ruins date back some 900 years. This once mighty castle is where Henry VIII’s elder brother and original heir to the throne, Prince Arthur, died in 1502. Two future queens who lost their heads, and most of the nation, will have wished he’d survived! The town itself was the last Royalist stronghold to fall in the Civil War. Mentioned glowingly by A E Housman in A Shropshire Lad, Ludlow also impressed the architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner, who described Broad Street as ‘one of the most memorable streets in England’.

© English Heritage

At nearby Stokesay Castle, England’s finest and best-preserved fortified medieval manor house, you enter through a magnificent timber-framed Jacobean gatehouse.

Shrewsbury Abbey by Micolo J

Further north, Shrewsbury, situated on a tight bend of the River Severn, has a wealth of half-timbered buildings and is regarded as one of England’s finest Tudor towns. The town was the birthplace of 19th-century scientist Charles Darwin and may also be recognised by followers of the popular TV series, Cadfael, about a medieval monastic sleuth.

Wenlock Priory by Donald Judge

A trip to Shropshire wouldn’t be complete without visiting Much Wenlock, home of the modern Olympic games. The town itself has some stunning medieval buildings, including the Guildhall, open to the public in summer months.

Attingham Park © National Trust Images/Solent News & Photography Agency

Other places not to miss are Weston Park, a restoration house thought to have been PG Wodehouse’s Blandings Castle, and Attingham Park, an 18th-century house with magnificent staterooms. The latter, an imposing neo-classical house set in 250 acres, has superb collections of silver and furniture and a fully restored Victorian kitchen.

Heritage accommodation

The Gatehouse, near Bridgnorth

To make your historical visit to Shropshire complete, a stay in a wow factor getaway oozing history is a must! Step back in time in The Gatehouse, an award-winning Elizabethan gem with rare plasterwork and works by the acclaimed artist Adam Dant. This truly unique property offers a luxurious hideaway for four people, ideal for small families or couples. A Royalist stronghold during the Civil War, it is one of the finest 16th-century gatehouses in England and fronts the beautiful moated Elizabethan manor of Upton Cressett Hall near Bridgnorth. Tucked away at the end of a peaceful country lane, the property looks out over miles of rural views and guests also have access to the hall’s historic gardens.

The Prince Rupert Suite at The Gatehouse

The Gatehouse is also available as luxury bed and breakfast accommodation, with a full Shropshire breakfast served in the hunting lodge dining room. Guests have the choice of two luxurious suites, The Prince Rupert Suite or The Thatcher Suite.

If we’ve stirred your appetite for a historic adventure, why not explore our full selection of luxury self-catering holiday cottages in Shropshire and find the perfect one for you and your family.