The ancient town of cobbled streets and indie shops just 90 minutes from Birmingham

The drive over to Ludlow is as pretty as the town itself

06:00, 26 Jun 2025

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Ludlow has nearly 500 listed buildings, including examples of medieval and Tudor-style half-timbered buildings(Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)

Today we're travelling over to the market town of Ludlow which boasts nearly 500 listed buildings and one of England's oldest castles with battlements you can climb to enjoy a 360 degree view over the countryside.

This Shropshire town is full of black and white half-timbered buildings, narrow alleyways and cobbled streets to explore.

There are regular outdoor markets in Castle Square and an abundance of independent boutiques to mooch and cafes and pubs to relax in.

But the drive over is just as beautiful as the town itself as you pass over Clee Hill, with its panoramic vistas spanning the vast Shropshire countryside.

You'll find everything from gifts and clothes to homeware, art and jewellery, making Ludlow a great place to go for a mooch - and to support small businesses.

Before arriving in Ludlow, be sure to stop off at the Ludlow Farm Shop as you'll pass this huge store on your way in. It's won awards for bringing farming, food production and shopping together and has a café and gallery.

The drive into the 900-year-old town is as magical as the place itself(Image: Flickr / Brian Clift)

Independent shops in Ludlow

Whilst in Ludlow, be sure to have a mooch in the following independent boutiques:

The Silver Pear for gifts, clothes and homeware set over two floors of a 13th century half-timbered building. It was featured in Country Living’s list of essential Ludlow shops
Mousetrap for local artisan cheese you can try before you buy
Mod Lang for records, CDs, memorabilia, posters, books and more
Chocolate Gourmet for high quality truffles, organic and fair trade bars and more
Ludlow Vintage for retro and vintage furniture, home décor, lighting, art work and ceramics
At Home Ludlow for sustainable, fair trade, eco-friendly homeware and gifts
Castle Gallery for locally-made art works and design-led gifts
Dizzy Cat for handmade bath treats, including the Love Ludlow Bath Bomb and natural soaps, salts and face masks
Castle Bookshop full of books, cards, stationery, artist materials and maps plus a dedicated local author section
eclectica for clothes, jewellery and accessories in a shop that says 'Be Cool, Shop Small’
Holloway’s Period House Shop for homeware, lighting, gifts, antiques and furniture from a family-run shop that's been in Ludlow for 35+ years
Matt Forthergill for luxury leather goods that are made above the shop
Marches Pottery for stoneware made on site that's great for unusual gift ideas
Douglas Attire for handmade cashmere from the designers themselves
Bensons of Ludlow for jewellery from a family run business
Broad Bean deli for cheese, cured meat, olives, pastries, fresh soup, salad and coffee beans, leaf tea, nuts and snacks
Bentley’s Wine Merchants - indie wine shops dedicated to bringing customers the best wines
Bodenhams for men's and women's clothes and homeware in a quirky 600-year-old building
Draycott & Charles for wallpapers, fabrics and lighting
Florabunda for flowers from a family business that's more than 30 years old
Frank Lloyd for men's and women's clothing and shoes
Best Wishes for greeting cards, gifts, scarves and handbags
SwS Antiques for fine art, antiques, ceramics, oriental furniture and collectables

Find out more about shopping in Ludlow via The Ludlow Guide website

Where to stay in Ludlow

If you decide to make a weekend of it, why not stay at Troutbeck Cottage? This traditional, mid-terrace property backs onto the River Teme and offers pretty riverside views, whilst being just a short walk from the centre of Ludlow.

Or you could try Cariad Cottage, an 18th century characterful cottage just five minutes from the town which has a sitting room with beams and two cosy bedrooms.

Where to eat and drink in Ludlow

As well as the Ludlow Farm Shop, here are some other gems to check out whilst there:

The Feathers Hotel is a landmark half-timbered building in the town serving set lunches and afternoon teas
The Charlton Arms on Ludford Bridge offers panoramic views of the River Teme and surrounding area
Carvells is a family owned tea rooms set over two floors serving loose leaf teas from an extensive collection of fine vintage bone china
Kin family-run cafe, garden and rooms set in a beautiful listed building
Local to Ludlow small licensed café, shop and information hub with local food and drink on its menu and its shelves
Clive's Bar & Restaurant which has two AA rosettes and entries in the Good Food Guide and the Michelin Guide
Harp Lane Deli for coffee, local produce, homemade food and global treats - check out the Portuguese tarts!

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How to get to Ludlow from Birmingham

Follow the A456 Hagley Road out of Birmingham all the way to Kidderminster and then onto the Cleobury Road which takes you high onto the Clee Hills - be sure to stop to take in the views.

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It takes around an hour and a half, traffic permitting.

Alternatively, you can catch a train to Ludlow from Birmingham New Street, switching at Shrewsbury, which takes around an hour and 45 minutes.