Don’t be alarmed! This is just one of the amazing sculptures at the British Ironwork Centre & Sculpture Park, one of 10 FREE TO VISIT local places we've featured for a great value break.

The British Ironwork Centre & Sculpture Park (7.5 miles)
The UK’s largest metal safari park with over 100 breath-taking sculptures on display, including the incredible Spoon Gorilla made from 40,000 spoons! The Extinction Trail within the grounds is powerful, as is the famous Knife Angel, which returns to it’s home here when not touring around the country as part of the National Anti-Violence UK tour. The Forge Café and shop are also nice to visit.
Ellesmere Lake (9.5 miles)
With a Green Flag Award recognising it as one of the best green spaces in the UK, this 48 hectare site (that’s 70 football pitches) boasts a stunning lake, garden and an abundance of wildlife. There is a visitor centre, historic boathouse serving tea and cake, and the opportunity to hire a boat or take a trip on the Lady Katherine Steam Boat.

The Quarry Park & Dingle (11.5 miles)
Encircled by a loop of the River Severn, this wonderful 29 acre park in the heart of Shrewsbury has a superb sunken garden and floral masterpiece, cultivated by world famous gardener Percy Thrower who was Parks Superintendent for 28 years. It’s also home to a number of events so do take a look and see what’s on.
Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery (11.5 miles)
Housed in one of the town’s finest buildings, the museum brings to life Shropshire’s incredible history. Explore more about the county as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, and see Bronze Age discoveries, Roman artefacts, magnificent ceramics and much more. A great visit as part of a potter around this award winning market town.
Oswestry Hill Fort (11.5 miles)
Explore the 3000-year-old, (yes 3000!) remains of Oswestry Hill Fort. In use for almost 1000 years, this is one of the finest preserved rampart hill forts in Britain. Built during the Iron Age, it was a likely stronghold for one of the tribal territories at the time. Located on the outskirts of the town, the short climb will reward you with spectacular views over the old town and Shropshire Hills.
Ironbridge (29 miles)
The Industrial Revolution had its 18th century roots in the Ironbridge Gorge and the Ironbridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site standing over the River Severn, was the first of it’s kind and a symbol of the rapid developments of the time. It was a turning point in English design and engineering, and after its success, cast iron became used in the construction of bridges, aqueducts and buildings around the world. It’s a great place to start for a tour of the fascinating Gorge and living museum.
RAF Museum Cosford (32 miles)
A fantastic opportunity to see 75 historic aircraft including the world’s oldest Spitfire! The Test Flight Area has a hands-on interactive gallery and Black Hawk Flight Simulator (small charge) while the The War in the Air collection and National Cold War Exhibition houses the Vulcan, Victor and Valiant aircraft as well as iconic cars, tanks and even life-sized Russian Dolls. There’s also a Virtual Reality Zone to ‘fly with the Red Arrows’ (chargeable). For a full visit, please allow approximately 4 hours.
Walking in the Shropshire Hills
Covering almost a quarter of the county, the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) stretches from the Wrekin to Clun Forest and the wild Stiper Stones to Clee Hills. It’s loved by locals and visitors for its rich varied landscape and you’ll find a great range of walking routes (and parking spots) for all abilities here https://bit.ly/3aLdUEJ
Montgomery Canal (8 miles)
We love spending time along ‘The Monty’ as it’s affectionately known locally. The nearby stretch takes in no less than 7 aqueducts, 83 bridges and 126 amazing sculptures. Great for walking, running, cycling or paddling, it’s one of the most important canals in the country for nature and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. You’ll find a map here.
Whittington Castle (9.7 miles)
A picturesque beauty with 12th century Norman gatehouse and castle that once formed a chain of fortified buildings, with tales of romance, legend and border battles. The gardens and meadow are truly idyllic and there are a range of events including outdoor theatre and battle re-enactments to look out for.
Whether you're planning a family staycation, friends get together, or romantic getaway, we hope we've piqued your interest to explore a bit more of Shropshire (for free!) during your stay at Riverside Cabins. We love discovering new places too so let us know if you find another great destination without a door charge during your stay...

Comments