Things to do in Shropshire

Explore two traditional Victorian Prison wings: A Wing consists of 172 cells built to house 350 men. C Wing consists of 22 cells originally designed to house female prisoners until 1921. Wander the landing as officers did for 200 years and discover what it was like to be locked behind the steel doors. Reception, where all prisoners entering or leaving the prison were processed. Here you will see the B.O.S.S. chair (Body Orifice Security Scanner). Walk the two exercise yards, both bound by the foreboding high prison walls. Learn the real facts, why was netting placed over the main exercise yard? And is it true that prisoners always walked in a clockwise direction? Healthcare, see where prisoners queued for their medication and where drug and alcohol addiction programs were administered. Visits, the only place within the prison walls where prisoners can meet with people from outside the jail. Learn about the number of visits a prisoner was entitled to, how long visits would last and why this area had the highest level of security and scrutiny within the prison. Explore the Executioner’s bedroom, where many an executioner spent the night before sending the condemned man through the drop. Albert Pierrepoint would have stayed in this very room. View where the condemned man had his cell, where he would have spent his last days before being hanged. The Execution Room, one of the darkest places within the prison due to its previous usage. A total of eight men lost their lives in this room after committing horrendous crimes. Learn about George Riley the last man to be executed at Shrewsbury Prison in 1961. Hear the stories of how executions happened, why public executions were outlawed, and why The Death Penalty was removed altogether in 1965. And what made Albert Pierrepoint the world’s most well-known executioner?

You will be given a visitor guide and map as you explore around the prison; use the sound boxes to learn the facts and history of the prison. The information boards add a fascinating background detail to your visit with staff always available to point you in the right direction and answer any questions you may have. There is so much to explore including: - Reception: Where prisoners are processed, - 2 prison wings: Consisting of nearly 200 cells - Healthcare: See where medical needs of prisoners were met. Make your way to visits – the only place within the prison walls where prisoners can meet with people from outside and walk through two exercise yards where prisoners could go for daily exercise and fresh air. Next, onto segregation – where prisoners would be isolated from the rest of the prison population and into the executioner’s bedroom – see where Albert Pierrepoint would have slept the night before. And finally, the condemned man’s cell, where he would have spent his last days before being hanged next to the execution room – one of the darkest places within the prison due to its previous usage. Finish your trip with a visit to our museum and gift shop, where you can pick up a huge range of Shrewsbury Prison memorabilia, so you never forget your time behind bars. Shrewsbury Prison has a wonderful restaurant on site, open all day every day. Why not break up your tour by sampling some of our homemade cakes and fresh coffee, or indulge in a full meal, from snacks and bites to a full sized ‘Lifers Burger’?

Prepare for a spine trembling, hair raising tour, mixing heritage, real stories and real encounters with one of the world's most haunted prisons. As the only group within the prison in the evening, your destined for a never to forget experience. Starting at the Georgian gate lodge, your guide will transport you back to 1793 to the days of public executions, which took place on the very same gate lodge. Learn about the treatment of prisoners during this time, and of course, the ghostly encounters that have happened over the past 200 years. Your tour will lead you to C Wing, the former female wing, and the most haunted part of the prison. Hear stories of the ‘Grey Lady’ who walks the landings at night, and the little Georgian boy who appears on the steps of the wing. The tour continues below the Victorian prison down into the original Georgian prison, which still exists below ground. See the conditions Georgian prisoners would have been kept in (including the little boy), and experience total darkness as the lights go out. Heading over to A Wing, the prison’s largest custodial wing, follow in the footsteps of ‘Shadow Man’ - Shrewsbury Prison’s most seen spirit. Often seen walking the landings of A Wing, hear his story and the documented sightings of him. Then it’s time for your In-Cell Experience. Enter a prison cell lit by the half-light, close the cell door and you’re in your new home for the next 5 minutes. Experience the sound of the prison at night, and for those brave enough the lights will be turned off leaving you in the dark. Your penultimate stop is outside the Governor’s office, where you hear about the encounter one of the production team from Holby City had with the Governor’s wife who died 200 years ago. Your tour finishes outside the original Governors house, where you will be released for the night.

Experience an up close and personal meeting with the cutest cows you can hope to meet, at a rustic Shropshire farm. You will meet a herd of Dexter cows, who are not only the smallest breed of cattle in Europe, but also some of the calmest and most friendly animals on the planet. Your experience will begin with a quick health and safety briefing. Then, you will enter the viewing area, where the cows will be waiting for you. After an introduction to them, they will be yours to enjoy! Get stuck in feeding, petting, and grooming them. You can give them a cute new hairstyle if you'd like! The most hardened cow lovers can even give the moos a little cuddle and a tickle under the chin. You'll love the Mini Moo's doleful, cute faces and be delighted with their friendly and gentle nature. You may even get a moo or two! Ideal for animal lovers or anyone looking to do something different, this is a heartwarming and joyful experience that promises smiles and giggles for all ages.

Get up close and personal with our beautiful herd of alpacas, giving you the opportunity to learn all about these fascinating and unique animals, get hands on time with them and enjoy feeding them. This unforgettable experience is designed so you can enjoy the alpacas in the same way as we do - out in the open fields roaming freely without the restrictions of fences or the distraction of walking them on a lead, as with alpaca trekking experiences. You'll love the rustic, authentic and beautiful setting of our farm where you can enjoy the peace and quiet and amazing views while you hang out with the herd. When you arrive at the farm, we'll talk you through the important health and safety practices so you're set up to have an enjoyable and safe experience. Then, we'll provide you with food for the Alpacas and take you on a tour across our three paddocks where you will meet our three herds. We'll tell you who's who and introduce you to their individual personalities. You will then have plenty of time to bond with the Alpacas, feed them and take photographs with them. During your experience, you can ask us any questions you would like and we'll do our best to answer them. Enjoy meeting all the characters of our herd, such as Spitty Vimto and her bossy mannerisms, Athena with her cute and cuddly looks and handsome Loki with his love of posing for selfies!

Enjoy a day out at Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World, a zoo with over 100 species of animals, 45 animatronic dinosaurs and beasts, and activities taking place all day. Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World launched back in 1991 as Hoo Farm Country Park and over the past 30 years has become one of the midlands premier attractions. In 2004, the farm became a licensed zoo and hasn’t looked back. Now the zoo is home to not just sheep, cows, pigs, and horses but other zoo favorites such as meerkats, lemurs, servals, caracal, and even wolves. Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World is extremely passionate about conservation with a strong message throughout the zoo of conservation through education.

Explore the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley your way with this guidebook that illustrates a scenic 76-mile (123 km) point-to-point trip across 15 of the area’s most fascinating towns and villages. Designed for flexibility, the guide is organised into themed sections covering destinations where the Rivers Severn and Wye converge, weaving between England and Wales, so you only visit the places that you choose. __________________________________________________________________ WHAT TO EXPECT • This is an online travel guide – much like a digital book – ready for you to read, browse, and get inspired while planning at home or using your phone on the go. • The guidebook offers an overarching plan to help shape your multi-destination holiday, with different ideas and sample itineraries. It shows how destinations can be combined to suit your timeframe – typically from 3 to 14 days. • It’s designed to help you decide where to go, what to see, where to stay, and to inspire your trip in a way that suits your interests. It also includes helpful tips such as how to get there and where to park. • Please note: the guide itself is not customisable. However, each route includes Uncover Britain’s own pre-populated Google Maps with suggested pins and directions, plus customisable directions by section using Google Maps. __________________________________________________________________ GO BEYOND THE CLASSICS WITH: • Tintern Abbey – Explore the iconic ruins nestled in the Wye Valley • Symonds Yat – Take in sweeping river views and forested walks • Coleford & Lydney – Discover market towns with rich mining and railway heritage • Canoeing & Outdoor Adventures – Experience the Wye by water or take on the walking trails • Clearwell Caves & Puzzlewood – Enter the ancient forest landscapes used in film and TV • Chepstow & Monmouth – Historic towns with castles, bridges, and charming high streets • River Walks, Scenic Drives & Nature Reserves – Spot local wildlife and hidden viewpoints __________________________________________________________________ While you could search for places to go on your own, this guide offers curated context and ready-made itineraries along a recommended journey—so you don’t have to second-guess or piece everything together yourself. HOW TO ACCESS: see Know Before You Go

Day 1: You leave London and travel to the birthplace of William Shakespeare, Stratford-up-Avon. Home to the bard’s birthplace, schoolhouse, and resting place, you have time to explore this charming market town and enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants and riverside pubs. You then head to the World Heritage Site of Ironbridge close to the Welsh border. Set in a stunning gorge of the River Severn, the historic valley boasts the world’s first bridge made of iron, as well as a host of other attractions. Then, travel to the beautiful town of Shrewsbury to check in to your accommodation for the next 2 nights. Day 2: Today, you will head into the heart of North Wales and visit the picture book castle of Conwy, built by Edward I in the late 13th century. Marvel at the mountain scenery of Snowdonia National Park, including the huge Dinorwic slate quarries and the dramatic Pass of Llanberis in the shadows of the highest mountain peak in Wales. Hear tales of Owain Glyndwr and the Welsh struggles for independence before traveling back through the borderlands into England. Day 3: Northeast of Shrewsbury lies the Peak District National Park, a landscape of rugged moorland, walled pastures, and wooded valleys. As you travel through, you'll see picturesque villages and stunning scenery. After a scenic drive, you arrive in Buxton, a spa town known for its natural thermal springs, popular since Roman times. You can even fill your bottle with water from the famous spring. In the afternoon, visit Chatsworth, the Duke of Devonshire's renowned stately home, famous for its vast collection of art and furniture. Heading north, you pass through England’s former industrial heartlands before reaching York, where you'll stay for two nights. Day 4: Today you have the option to spend the day at leisure exploring the medieval heart of York. Wander the streets of a city with a rich history that dates back to the time of the Romans, Vikings, and Normans. Visit some of York’s fascinating museums, and the stunning York Minster, or just lose yourself in the maze of narrow streets. Alternatively, join your guide on a half-day excursion into the Yorkshire Dales to visit the pretty market towns of Knaresborough or Ripon. Continue your scenic drive of the remote valleys and rugged scenery of the Eastern Dales, before returning to York for a free afternoon. Day 5: Depart the fair city of York in the morning, stopping in the town of Lincoln, famed for its beautiful historic center and delicious Lincolnshire sausages. Continue to the university City of Cambridge, where you can stroll the medieval streets in the shadow of the dreamy spires of historic colleges, including the famous Kings College Chapel. Take a guided punting ride along ‘the backs’ of the colleges, or climb the steps of St Mary’s tower to get a skyline view before heading back to London.

Head away from London and to the rolling limestone hills of Oxfordshire to see key filming sites of the hit series Downton Abbey. The first stop on this full-day tour is Yew Tree Farm (Cogges). After a break for tea or coffee in the delightfully refurbished and rustic Cogges Café, you’ll enjoy a tour and learn about the relationship between the tenant farmers and landowners. Next you’ll take a short drive to Bampton, a picturesque Oxfordshire Cotswolds village. The village has been used extensively in Downton village filming. Bampton Library was the site of the Downton Cottage Hospital and doctors’ surgery. St. Mary’s Church became Downton Church and Churchgate House was used as the Crawley’s family home. Walk along the street that was the scene of shops, the post office, and the Grantham Arms. The stunning town of Burford, traditionally known as the Gateway to the Cotswolds, will be your destination for lunch. You’ll have a chance to see the famous Wool Church, built on the wealth of the wool trade, and have time to wander around this medieval market town. After lunch you’ll enjoy a drive through the Oxfordshire Cotswolds countryside, stopping en route at the Swan Inn in Swinbrook. The Swan Inn was the site of the elopement of Lady Sybil with Branson, the family’s chauffeur! On the approach to Blenheim Palace you’ll see the graves of Sir Winston and Lady Churchill in the village of Bladon. At Blenheim Palace your tour begins with an introduction to the upstairs and downstairs of a class-conscious life. Built in the early 18th century for the first Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, this historic stately home was the birthplace of Winston Churchill in 1874. Discover how the aristocracy lived and how the state apartments increased in importance, as you move from room to room. After the tour of the house, there will be time for a walk through the landscaped gardens to see the Temple of Diana where Sir Winston Churchill proposed to Clementine Hozier in 1908.

Fly over the breathtaking Lake District in an RAF Eurofighter Typhoon with a high-motion Typhoon Simulator experience at the Royal Air Force Museum in the Midlands. Enjoy a dynamic six-minute immersive experience with HD visuals and dynamic motion effects. Experience the thrill of piloting an RAF Eurofighter Typhoon in the Typhoon Simulator at the Royal Air Force Museum in the Midlands. Soar over the scenic Lake District with the help of cutting-edge HD visuals, an all-new film, and dynamic motion effects for a fully immersive flight. Located in Hangar 2, the simulator offers an unforgettable adventure, perfect for aviation enthusiasts, families, and thrill-seekers alike. Sessions are available daily from 10:20 AM to 3:30 PM. Arrive early to allow enough time for check-in and to secure your spot, as queues may form on busy days. Please note that the simulator is not wheelchair accessible, and a minimum height of 1.07m is required to participate. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, while unaccompanied participation is limited to children 12 years and older.