Ludlow is a historic town in South Shropshire UK, close to the border of Wales and England

Some of the highlights of a visit to Ludlow Shropshire UK

Ludlow Town

A wonderfully preserved bustling black & white Medieval market town, having the finest of medieval ruined castles, sitting on a bend in the river Teme in South Shropshire.
Ludlow is twinned with the Italian town of San Pietro in Cariano, Italy, near Verona.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Ludlow was a fashionable social centre and county families built elegant brick houses. Glove making was now the major industry, reaching a peak production of 660,000 gloves in 1814. Population grew rapidly, causing many back to back buildings in the congested town centre, though after 1850 there was expansion eastwards.

Ludlow has always been primarily a market town, serving the needs of a large rural area. The town prospered, due to the collection and sale of wool and the manufacture of cloth, some of which was marketed abroad.

The parish church reflects this prosperity while a number of both stone and timber framed buildings survive from this period. The town is said to have around 500 listed buildings.

Ludlow Parish church

Ludlow has England's largest parish church with a tower 42 metres high (138 feet). The parish church of St Laurence rebuilt in 1199 was extended and mostly rebuilt in the mid-15th century but some earlier features survive. There are fine misericords and stained glass.

The poet A.E. Housman, author of "A Shropshire Lad" is commemorated in the churchyard.

Ludlow Castle

The castle was built by the Normans in the late 11th century, one of a line of castles along the Marches to maintain the border with Wales.

Walter DeLacy and his sons Roger and Hugh commenced the building of Ludlow Castle soon after the Norman Conquest. Under its protection, an ambitiously large new town was laid out, with a rectilinear street plan. This included a large market place, part of which survives as Castle Square. The castle became crown property in 1461, though it was acquired by the 2nd Earl of Powis in 1811. Ludlow Castle was later to become the residence of Catherine of Aragon and became a royal fortified palace. Edward V, Prince Arthur and other royal children were brought up at Ludlow and the castle became the headquarters of the Council of the Marches, which governed Wales and the border counties until 1689. The Council's courts were very active, and the town was full of lawyers, clerks and royal messengers. Many well known houses such as Castle Lodge and the Feathers, were built as the private homes of Council members and employees.

Visit Ludlow Shropshire UK Festivals & Events

The Ludlow castle and town play host to several festivals and events each year, including the two week "Ludlow Festival" from Saturday 20th June until Sunday 5th July. - This year in it's 50th Season:
The play this year will be Romeo & Juliet. which will be a co-production with Exeter Northcott Theater Company. Also appearing in Ludlow during the Festival; The Grimethorpe Colliery Band Country House Concert - English Ayre Lunchtime Concerts; Zollisi Duo, Benjamin Creighton Griffiths (Harpist), Cello recital - Julian Lloyd Webber, Terry Lightfoot & Band, Housman 150th Anniversary: Schubert Ensemble, London Welsh Male Voice Choir with tenor soloist Rhys Meirion.

FINAL CONCERT WITH FIREWORK DISPLAY. Featuring : The Swinging Blue Jeans - Alan Price & Band - Marty Wilde and his Wild Cats
A very busy program of fringe events in venues around the town make Ludlow the place to visit.

Other highlights include the Food and Drink Festival - Friday 11th to Sunday 13th September, and the Medieval Christmas Festival - Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November

A full calendar of race meetings take place at Ludlow Race Course each year and these attract many visitors.The Ludlow racecourse website says: "Tradition has it that in the fourteenth century soldiers from Ludlow Castle came here to match their horses. There is certainly a record of racing in 1729. The course retains not only its Edwardian character but also a strong club atmosphere. Though now a National Hunt course, jumping did not start until the mid-nineteenth century and even today the hurdles track is for a large part separate and follows for 1 mile of the original flat course."

Visit Ludlow Shropshire UK Entertainment and the Arts

Ludlow has a feature found only in Major towns and cities such as Bath, Edinborough, or Newcastle, "The Assembly Rooms" a leading rural arts, entertainment and community centre, renowned for its diverse and stimulating programme, friendly atmosphere and accessibility to all.

Assembly Rooms were popular in the 18th century and were used for social gatherings, including balls, card parties and concerts. Ludlow Castle had been a venue for such events but from the 1720's these were held in 'the long room' of the Market Hall.

A dedicated Assembly Rooms for Ludlow was proposed in the 1830's and with £6000 raised by public subscription the 'Public Rooms' were opened on 2 July 1840, and with displays, concerts and dances the Rooms soon became the focus in Ludlow. Later in the century events in the Rooms lost some of their prestige and parts of the building became shops. In the early 20th century the former ball room became a cinema. The Ludlow Assembly Rooms, with its imposing Italianate structure and decorative Egyptian-inspired features, was converted into a cinema in the 1920s. Things did not look good, but in the mid-1980s David Lloyd, a retired teacher and enthusiastic supporter of the arts, returned to Ludlow. He discovered that his home town had recently demolished its only cinema and the town hall. The only glimmer of hope was the town's increasingly popular annual arts festival, which brought widespread support for a permanent arts venue. Lloyd added his voice to what became a long-running community debate. "We started a campaign to raise half a million pounds to restore the Assembly Rooms," said Lloyd. The restoration was completed in 1993. "Our goal was to recreate the Rooms as a thriving independent venue offering arts and education-based activities similar to the original concept. The only difference between then and now is that the dances and card parties are gone." Jane Austen would no doubt have been sad about the dances, but would surely have been pleased that assembly rooms, in Ludlow and around the country, are thriving once more.

Visit Ludlow Shropshire UK Restaurants, natural handmade local food and produce

Ludlow is a town renowned all over the world for its food, it is a wonderful piece of old England with a crop of superb restaurants. Over the last few years Ludlow has gained an enviable reputation for the quality of its food and drink. There are many wonderful restaurants and places to eat in Ludlow, catering for all tastes and budgets, together with many shops and suppliers who sell excellent local produce. Many have been featured in national press and good food guides such as Egon Ronay and Michelin.

Visit Ludlow Shropshire UK Local Scenery

Ludlow's character and beauty are complimented by the wonderful South Shropshire countryside and views from the vantage points around the town, the walks around the Ludlow castle walls, the riverside with its weirs, and up to Whitcliffe common are unrivalled

Visit Ludlow Shropshire UK Antique and Craft events

Many businesses including Antiques, book binding, furniture restoration operate in Ludlow and these are augmented by Antique fairs, auctions and markets

These are some of the reasons why Ludlow is thought to be one of the best places in England to live.

Note: When visiting Ludlow as a tourist, the easiest place to park is at the "park and ride" car park, located halfway round the bypass, and for special events additional park and ride facilities are made available.
Watch for the signs!

Visit Ludlow Shropshire UK Activities

Mortimer Forest
Mortimer Forest
Ludlow Castle Tennis Club
Ludlow Burway Tennis Club
ludlow Town Football Club
ludlow Castle Motor Club
River Teme Canoeing guide
Aero Club
Shobdon Airfeild
Microlight Training
Orienteering
Ludlow Runners
Ludlow Art Society
Teme Leisure Centre
Cycling
Horse Trails