Shrewsbury

Medieval loops wind through this market town where the River Severn creates one of England's finest horseshoe bends. Shrewsbury's half-timbered buildings lean into narrow passages that haven't changed their footprint since the Norman Conquest. The town centre feels properly lived-in rather than touristy - locals still shop here, kids still cycle to school past 13th-century churches.

Climbing up to The Monument rewards you with cracking views across the Severn's meander, while the Gothic Arch frames the countryside beyond like a romantic painting. Red Castle's ruins tell older stories on the town's outskirts. But it's the walking that really gets you - footpaths lead to Grotto Hill and Elysian Hill for proper Shropshire panoramas.

Wildlife thrives around Hawk Lake, where herons pick their way through the shallows and kingfishers dart between the reeds. Birches Pit offers quieter fishing spots. The Severn Valley stretches away in all directions, a patchwork of dairy farms and ancient woodland like Terrace Plantation.

From Birmingham, it's an hour's drive north via the A5. The train from Birmingham New Street takes just 45 minutes. Staying at one of the nearby parks like Hawk Lake Caravan Park puts you right in the countryside while keeping Shrewsbury's pubs, independent shops, and weekly markets within easy reach. You can walk the town's medieval streets in the morning, then spend afternoons exploring hillforts like Burry Walls or fishing the Severn's quieter backwaters.