Bridgnorth is a lovely town based in Shropshire. The River Severn cuts straight through, dividing Bridgnorth into High Town and Low Town. It is also a great place to explore with the whole family. If you are planning a trip there, then here are the best things to do in Bridgnorth.
I’ve been to Bridgnorth a few times now, and it’s quickly becoming one of my favourite places to spend the day. There’s plenty to do and see, with lots of delicious restaurants and cafes so you can have an amazing day out.
There are a few places where you can park around Bridgnorth. I have included a map which shows you a list of places to visit and park at the end of this blog post.
I like to park in Low Town, by the River Severn. You don’t have to deal with the one-way system and the walk into the town from there is lovely. For a full day of parking, it’s only £2.75 which isn’t too badly priced.
Bridgnorth Cliff Railway
Bridgnorth is separated into two parts, Low Town and High Town. Connecting the two are steep roads and paths. But, there is also the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, which is the steepest funicular railway in the UK. It is 201ft long with a steepness of 64%.
If you don’t fancy the steep walk to get to the top of the town, then you can catch the Railway at just £1.60 for a return. It is worth going on, just for the experience.
Castle Tearooms
If you arrive in the morning, you might be after a place for some breakfast. There are plenty of places to eat around Bridgnorth. One of the places I have been to is the Castle Tearooms which is a really cosy cafe, and a perfect place to grab a full English breakfast. Other places where you can get some breakfast include Giovanni’s Coffee Shop and Ice Cream Parlour and Violets Tea Room.
Bridgnorth Castle
A great place to start the day after some hearty food would be Bridgnorth Castle, located in High Town. It is situated in a lovely garden with its history dating back to 1101 when it was founded by Robert de Belleme.
The castle actually has a lean that is four times greater than the Tower of Pisa reaching an angle of 15 degrees. The gardens also offer the most wonderful views over Bridgnorth as well as the Severn Valley Railway. I love to visit the gardens and the castle as a great place to relax and take in the atmosphere.
St Mary’s Church
This church was completed in 1795 and was designed by Thomas Telford who was a Scottish architect and civil engineer. Thomas Telford was such an influential designer to Shropshire’s early infrastructure that Telford was named after him in 1968!
This church is a 5-minute walk away from the castle and offers some wonderful views over the city as you look on from the church grounds. From Bridgnorth Castle, you can see the copper-clad roof which has an elevation of 35 meters and can be seen from miles around, with its teal coloured roof.
Bridgnorth Town Hall
One area you can’t avoid is Bridgnorth’s charming high street. With delightful shops lining the street, and the half-timbered Town Hall in the very centre of the town. Which was build back in 1650 and holds a weekly market in the space underneath it.
Throughout the year Bridgnorth holds different events and festivals. The last time I was there, the high street had a range of Italian cars for its Automoto Festival, I fell in love with the tiny red Fiat in the photo above. There were so many iconic cars there from the latest Ferrari’s to vintage Alfa Romeo’s. It’s completely free to see this event, and in previous years there have been over 60 vehicles turn up to take part. It can get busy at times, so get there early to avoid the worst of the crows.
So before you head to Bridgnorth, check to see if there are any events occurring as there always seems to be something on.
St Leonard’s Church
As you walk through the highstreet in High Town, you might see this church down one of the side streets. St Leonard’s Church dates back to the 12th century and survived a fire which destroyed most of the town. This church is open to visitors and it actually holds concerts and exhibitions all year round.
Northgate Museum
There is a free museum inside Northgate which was set up in 1951. It’s open during the weekends, bank holidays as well as Wednesday afternoons in the Summer. This was one of the gates that controlled the way into Bridgnorth.
Lunch | Old Castle Pub
There are plenty of places to get some delicious food around Bridgnorth. One of my favourite pubs has to be one of the most beautiful buildings in town. Who can resist this wall of flowers! It’s the pub that keeps on giving if you walk into their beer garden, head straight to the back and enjoy the views over the town.
Severn Valley Railway
Bridgnorth features its own heritage railway which runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster following the course of the river Severn. The railway itself was laid back in the 1850s and it is a much-loved route today as it calls through historic stations and over viaducts. There are services here from May up until the end of October.
This railway also has the largest collection of working steam locomotives and carriages, with some more than 100 years old! You can also see the collection being serviced and restored from the footbridge which is accessible on open days. If you would like to take a pleasant train journey or learn more about the Severn Valley Railway then this is a great place to visit.
Hermitage Caves – Lavington Hole
Located in Low Town is Lavingtons Hole. These tunnels date back to 1646 when the town was under siege from Parliamentary forces. Most of High Town was destroyed by a great fire. After three weeks of the continued attack on the castle, a team dug 70 foot under the Castle Hill in an attempt to blow up St Marys Church with the gunpowder stored in it.
You can still see the entrance to the tunnels today, but you’re not able to enter them for safety reasons. In the same area are the Hermitage Caves, which were used as a dwelling for the homeless poor. These caves also attracted magical folk, as two of the caves were inhabited by witches.
Wightwick Manor
Just a short drive away from Bridgnorth is Wightwick Manor. A Victorian Manor House owned by the National Trust since 1937. It is a wonderful place to spend a few hours exploring the gardens and discovering all of the different rooms. Some of the rooms have original William Morris wallpapers and fabrics which look gorgeous all these years later.
Admission | Adults – £12 | Children £6
This has been my list of the best places to visit in Bridgnorth. Have you ever been to Bridgnorth yourself, I would love to know what your favourite thing was?
Adell x
PLACES TO STAY
There are plenty of places to stay across Shropshire if you are looking to extend your trip here for a few more days. Click the image below to view accommodation and places to stay around the area.
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