After our busy day exploring the delights of the city of Worcester we headed off northwards on the second leg of our West Midlands tour of England. Passing through Kidderminster and leaving the county of Worcestershire for Shropshire we were on our way to Bridgnorth.
Bridgnorth and the River Severn
One of the reasons we had decided to explore this part of England was that we had so little knowledge of any of these three counties. Of course we had heard of the big towns but had never visited so felt that we just had to put it right.
Bridgnorth wasn’t one of the places we’d heard of at all and to be honest we only really added it to our itinerary as it seemed a sensible stop on our route. Thanks goodness we did as it was a revelation. Approaching from Lowtown in the East we walked over Bridgnorth Bridge (imaginatively named) and climbed up to Castle Terrace passing the fabulously named Theatre on the Steps as we went. The town is perched on a hill overlooking the River Severn with brilliant views of the Shropshire countryside all around.
Sometimes it’s the places that you know nothing about and expect the least from that surprise you the most and this town certainly did that. From the Castle Gardens to the Shakespeare Inn, the timber-framed Town Hall to the New Market buildings, the medieval Northgate to St Leonards Church. Every turn was a delight.
“The finest view in all of my kingdom” – Charles I
The fabulous funicular railway is apparently the oldest and steepest inland railway in the UK, having been opened in 1892.
As we headed back down to continue our journey we both commented that Bridgnorth was the sort of place we could easily see ourselves settling in. It has a character and charm of it’s own and is set in some of the most beautiful countryside that the country has to offer. We’re not sure why Bridgnorth hasn’t got an ‘E‘ in it, after ‘Bridg‘ but there has to be a good reason. Couldn’t find one unfortunately.
Park House at Shifnal
Our normal overnight accommodation seems to be either Premier Inn or a Travelodge but Jo decided to take us up a few levels by booking the very splendid Park House Hotel at Shifnal. Complete with an indoor swimming pool and various bars and restaurants it was a sight to behold. The fact that the communal bars were all out of action due to covid-19 wasn’t a problem as we probably wouldn’t have used them anyway!
We did however book our own private session in the pool which was wonderful. Really felt like we were spoiling ourselves in our own private pool. Luxury. Throw in a couple of days worth of full-English breakfasts and we were completely there! The budget was well and truly blown and we loved it!
RAF Museum at Cosford
The real reason for heading up to Shifnal was for us to spend a day at the Royal Air Force museum at RAF Cosford, only a couple of miles away. Somewhere that we had both wanted to visit since our time in the RAF a few years back.
Now I could go on and on about Tornados and Spitfires and the Merlin engine zzz z z z z z z but that would send you all to sleep and drive our blog stats right down! Suffice it to say we had a fantastically interesting socially-distance visit reading every plaque and sign and reliving our time in the forces.
Although there were two huge hangars jam-packed full of Meteors, Hurricanes, Victors and every British aircraft you could imagine it was the third hangar that really made our day. It featured a detailed history of The Cold War and was fascinating. I was actually posted to West Germany in the mid 1980s during the Cold War so that made the whole exhibition even more meaningful to us.
Our only slight criticism of the museum was that there was a lot of US Air Force history which wasn’t really necessary. It should have focused more on the RAF we think but I guess the Cold War was Russia versus America wasn’t it so we can’t complain. The museum was well worth a visit though.
BTW we’re loving having a little car and being able to just go when and where we like. Is this what life is like for you car owners out there? Amazing. Even enjoying the journeys with Jo driving and me navigating and lots of interesting and daft conversations along the way. The latest was about choosing our 5 favourite counties of England. Not easy. Might become a blog post if we can decide on an answer!
Off to Shrewsbury tomorrow and another place we’ve always wanted to go ……
24/09 – 25/09/2020
JWalking 
And is if by magic Kidderminster appears in the next blog! Look at you guys living it up in a country house hotel, private pool booking and hire car! You’ll be doing room service next and having your laundry done for you. Bet you loved the RAF museum but you must be a nightmare to go round it with!
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Hotel was great, so different for us but a lovely change. The museum was right up my street but we both loved it to be honest. Fascinating.
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Bridgnorth looks absolutely lovely Jonno and your swish accommodation too. How lovely to treat yourselves to a luxury stay for a change. Don’t know that area at all so more places to now add to my ever growing list!
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It was great to spoil ourselves for once but it did feel a bit strange. Not like us at all. Hope we don’t get the taste for posh places now.
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Isn’t it great when you find an unexpected treasure on your travels. Bridgnorth seems well worthy of a few days’ visiting. And how lovely to treat yourselves to a nice hotel.
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Bridgnorth was a fabulous surprise and we’ll definitely be back someday. The posh hotel felt so self indulgent and not our normal style at all. Lovely though.
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Looks like a fabulously time was had by all and the weather held out nicely. Those funicular railways are amazing pieces of engineering and with so few around its good to see one in action. Cosford is great, I’ve not been for a few years maybe once all this has calmed down a bit I’ll rerun. Definitely worth a trip though!
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Cosford is well worth a visit once things settle down a bit. Loads of classic aircraft and the Cold War exhibition is brilliant.
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Yes, there’s so much more chance for surprises and delight when exploring places about which there are no expectations! The Shropshire countryside looks lovely from your photos. And now the mystery of that absent ‘e’ from Bridgnorth will haunt me….
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Shropshire has been an absolute revelation. We loved it. No idea about the missing ‘e’ though, guess we should have researched that. I’ll look into it.
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I spent a night in Bridgnorth once. The town itself is nice, but the B&B we were staying in was one of the grimmest places I have ever stayed. The beds were literally two cots with itchy brown blankets on top, with a toilet down the hall. At one point during the night a smoke alarm went off, and the owner pounded on our door accusing us of smoking in the toilet and setting off the alarm, even though neither of us smoke and we were both in bed (apparently a fellow guest was to blame). Never again!
It is nice having a car right now, isn’t it? We’ve gone years without one, since Marcus can drive, but I can’t, but we’ve rented one quite a few times in the past few months, and it makes life so much easier.
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Oh no, sounds like a horrible stay at that B&B. Things like that spoil your impression and memory of a place don’t they? Not at all nice. Hope you went on to better more comfy stays after that. Having a hire car is great and makes a real change doesn’t it? Feels like luxury.
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About 25 years since we were in Bridgnorth, Jonno, but I doubt it’s changed much. I remember the cliff lift like it was yesterday. 🙂 🙂 Shrewsbury I don’t remember so well, but that was a passing visit.
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Bet it hasn’t changed one bit Jo, we really liked the place. Cliff railway was so traditional and cool.
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Great post and lovely photos. I love those big old houses, real luxury, as Monty Python would say
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Ha they really are luxurious aren’t they? Great little town though.
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That RAF museum looks grand, the Cold War exhibit is right up my street and my son is mad keen on military air craft at the moment, fuelled by the fact we’ve had plenty flying over the house lately. One for the list!
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It’s well worth a visit and I’m sure your son would love it. Free entry too.
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