Made in Ludlow Glass

Made in Ludlow Glass sits right in the heart of Ludlow, a medieval market town that's already worth a full day's poking about. This is a working glass studio where you can actually watch craftspeople blowing, shaping and firing glass - not behind velvet ropes, but proper close-up stuff. The studio produces bespoke pieces and smaller gift items, all made on-site, which beats the usual run of tourist tat you find in market towns.

What you get depends on when you visit. Pop in and they might be mid-creation, flames roaring in the kiln, or you might catch them during quieter spells. There's always something to look at in the display area - vases, bowls, drinking glasses, the kind of thing you actually want to keep rather than shove in a cupboard. The team are chatty types too, which makes a real difference.

It's ideal if you're staying at Ludlow Touring & Holiday Home Park just down the road, or any of the other sites within spitting distance like Monstay Farm Glamping. Frankly, Ludlow itself is the main draw - the castle, the restaurants, the independent shops - but Made in Ludlow Glass fits perfectly into a morning or afternoon wander through town. Don't expect to spend hours here, but it's the sort of place that restores your faith in local craft. Families with older kids who aren't allergic to artisan work will get something out of it; young children might get restless quickly once the novelty of the fire wears off.