Discover Ludlow

Discover historic

Ludlow... when it’s safe to do so

LUDLOW is a thriving medieval market

town and an architectural gem with a lively community feel, busy with events and festivals throughout the year. The historic town centre and the 11th century Ludlow Castle are situated on a cliff above the River Teme and are surrounded by the beautiful countryside of south Shropshire and the Welsh Marches. Ludlow is an excellent base for walking and cycling, as well as exploring the rest of Shropshire and the Welsh Marches.

Ludlow has a reputation for the quality of its food and drink, with many excellent restaurants and cafes encouraged by the area’s abundance of quality food and drink producers. This is showcased every September when the town is filled with food lovers from all over the UK and beyond for the Ludlow Food and Drink Festival. From its 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 architecture and greenery all around; a visit to Ludlow will not disappoint.

Ludlow Castle

The impressive ruins of the castle occupy the oldest part of Ludlow. Building of the castle started around 1086, with many later additions in the following two centuries. It is one of the most interesting castles in the Marches, in a dominant and imposing position high above the river Teme. It features examples of architecture from the Norman, Medieval and Tudor periods.

Ludlow Castle is open to the public from 10am to 4pm,

7 days a week (except Christmas Day and December & January weekdays).

The Buttercross

Occupying a prime location at the junction of

Broad Street, High Street and King Street, The Buttercross (pic, left) is considered by most Ludlovians to be the centre of the town. Built in 1746, the ground floor was originally a butter market and is still used on market days by various traders. The upper rooms have had a variety of uses: the chamber for the Town Council, a boys’ charity school and the Ludlow Museum.

Ludlow Millennium Green

Ludlow Millennium Green, situated by the River Teme and Dinham Bridge, is a popular destination for locals and visitors. It is one of the few areas of the river that can be freely and easily accessed. It is well worth a visit to just sit and relax and feed the ever hungry ducks swimming by. Or even to have a dip in the River Teme. A large green open space, ideal for picnics or soaking up some sun, the Millennium Green is in a beautiful location underneath the cliff that Ludlow Castle’s imposing ruins sit upon.

.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.

Festivals and events

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.

Ludlow Food & Drink Festival

Eating in Ludlow

There are currently several restaurants in or near Ludlow with entries in the current Michelin Guide, AA Restaurant Guide and Which? Good Food Guide. Ludlow offers a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, pub food and 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.

Cycling

Ludlow and the surrounding south Shropshire countryside is also 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.

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, visit: www.ludlow.org.uk