Shrewsbury

Medieval streets wind through the loop of the River Severn, creating one of England's finest historic town centres. Shrewsbury's black-and-white timber buildings lean into narrow passages where Charles Darwin once wandered as a schoolboy. The town feels properly lived-in rather than museum-piece pristine.

From the red sandstone castle perched above the railway station, views stretch across the Shropshire Hills. Those rolling peaks on the horizon - Corndon Hill, Roundton Hill, and the distinctive outline of Stapeley Hill - form a backdrop that changes with every season. Mitchell's Fold stone circle sits among these ancient heights, a 4,000-year-old monument that's well worth the trek.

The Quarry park runs along the riverbank where families feed ducks and office workers grab lunchtime sandwiches. Come summer, it hosts the famous Flower Show that brings half the county into town. Beyond the medieval centre, modern Shrewsbury sprawls comfortably without losing its market town character.

Trains from Birmingham take just over an hour, making this an easy escape from city life. The Welsh border feels close - you can reach Welshpool in twenty minutes, while Church Stretton and the Long Mynd lie just south through proper countryside.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks puts you right in walking country. The Bog Mine and surrounding hills offer excellent rambling, while The Bog Visitor Centre explains the area's industrial heritage. Shrewsbury makes an excellent base for exploring both the town's medieval treasures and Shropshire's outstanding landscape.