A Day Trip to Shrewsbury, Ending in Prison

In Brief.

Shewsbury is a sprawling market town, with a compact historic centre almost enclosed within a loop of the River Severn, the longest river in England. There is more than a day's worth of things to see and do in Shrewsbury; I took a boat trip on the Severn, made a rather brief visit to the museum, and took a tour of the prison.  However, there is also a historic town centre to explore, an abbey and a castle. 

What's Here?

Having parked near the Abbey, I started by walking along the riverside path towards the Quarry Park, a large open area between the town centre and the river.  This includes the Dingle, an immaculately maintained garden area, with characterful water features and colourful borders. 

The Dingle in Quarry Park.

My destination was a Sabrina Boat Trip, which as it turns out visited the same part of the river as I had just walked. However, with at-seat refreshments and a commentary providing historical context and humorous asides, this was both a decent introduction to the town and a good opportunity to watch the world go by.

The River Severn by the Welsh Bridge.

The cruise passed The Boathouse riverside pub, which provided further opportunities for relaxing with a nice view over the river from its extensive Beer Garden, followed by a wander through the park into town. The town centre contains a collection of meandering streets filled with shops that occupy an eclectic collection of historic buildings, only periodically scarred by ill-judged 20th century additions. The many repurposed buildings include a grand Old Market Hall that now houses a cinema and a former theatre that houses Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.  The museum includes displays with narratives focused on objects from the region, as far back as Roman times, and also has a pleasant cafe.

The Victorian Wing at Shrewsbury Prison.

A more unusual tourist attraction is Shrewsbury Prison. Closed to inmates in 2013, it has since opened to visitors who can choose when they leave.  Much of the current building is Victorian, as are several existing prisons in the UK, so this provides a setting for discussing changing practices over a considerable period. For example, this prison once hosted public executions, and the last hanging took place here as recently as 1961. Though it is possible to take a self-guided tour, I joined a guided tour, which provided lots of worthwhile information both on this prison and on prison life.

Practicalities.

Distance from Manchester Town Hall: 75 miles

Drive Time: 1hour 55 minutes

Price: $$ Cruise, $$ Prison. Both of these can (and perhaps should) be booked ahead.

Parking: There are several paying carparks near the centre, but they can fill up. I stayed at the Abbey Foregate carpark, which is near the abbey and the river, and which was fairly full by 10am on my weekday visit.

Food and Drink: There are many eateries throughout the town. I had a pleasant lunch overlooking the River Severn at The Boathouse.

Retail therapy: There is a bustling town full of shops, as well as a market.

Child Friendly: There is a play area in The Quarry park.

Toilets: Yes - in the Abbey Foregate carpark and beside the river in The Quarry park.

Do it justice in: all day.

Inside-Outside: 50:50

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