Shrewsbury

Medieval streets wind through one of England's finest preserved market towns, where the River Severn curls around a peninsula of black-and-white timber buildings. Shrewsbury proper feels like stepping back centuries - cobbled lanes lead past The Quarry park down to the railway station, while the town centre hums with independent shops and proper pubs.

The surrounding countryside rolls away in gentle Shropshire hills. St Peter's Church at Melverley sits beside the Severn, its timber frame dating to medieval times and well worth the short drive. For walkers, Pritchards Hill and Kempsters Hill offer cracking views across the Welsh borders - you can see for miles on a clear day.

Caus Castle ruins crown a hilltop near Westbury, remnants of a Norman stronghold that once controlled this border country. It's a bit of a trek but the setting is spectacular. Closer to town, Bausley Hill makes for an easier climb with equally good panoramas.

Getting here is straightforward - the A5 runs right past, and Shrewsbury station connects to Birmingham and Wales. The town centre can get busy during market days, but venture into the quieter residential areas and you'll find streets lined with Georgian terraces.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense for exploring both Shrewsbury and the wider county. You're within easy reach of the town's restaurants and shops, yet far enough out to enjoy proper countryside quiet. The Welsh borders beckon just to the west, while the Ironbridge Gorge lies a short drive east.