Top 19 things to do and attractions in Ludlow

We had an amazing day at Ludlow Castle! Originally built around 1075 by Walter de Lacy after the Norman Conquest, this castle has so much history. Over the years, it became one of the most important castles in the Marches, even hosting Prince Edward (one of the “Princes in the Tower”) and Prince Arthur with Catherine of Aragon. It was also the seat of the Council of the Marches before falling into ruin after 1689. One of the highlights for us was the Norman Chapel of St Mary Magdalene — it’s so unique with its round nave! After centuries of decay, it was lovingly restored and re-roofed in 2019 with help from English Heritage. It’s great to see such an iconic landmark preserved for future generations. We also climbed the tower and were rewarded with stunning views of Ludlow town, the lush surroundings, and Dinham Bridge. The castle grounds are peaceful, and there’s a nearby reservoir that adds to the charm. The on-site café is a perfect spot to grab a coffee or snack and relax. Ludlow itself is lovely — friendly, welcoming, and full of character. It’s an ideal spot for anyone looking for a mix of history, nature, and a relaxing day out. Entry Prices: Child (5–15 years): £4 Adult (16+ years): £9 Family (2 adults, up to 4 children): £25 Children under 5: Free

I would recommend visiting the castle to everyone. We watched a battle reenactment which was very entertaining and there were tents teaching you about what life would have been like such as forging arrows, playing instruments, cooking, etc. There is so much of the castle that you can explore too which I enjoyed the most. I find often you can see a couple of room but here there seemed endless parts to explore, all with informative posts educating you about the castle. There are various staircases you can climb for incredible views across Ludlow and the surrounding area. There's also a gift shop with a very nice gallery of paintings for sale. You could spend a few hours here easily.

Love Ludlow, especially in beautiful Autumn sunshine. Lunch at Harp lane deli was gorgeous, walnut and stilton tart was delicious! The castle looked magnificent, gleaming in the sunshine too. We were a bit late for the lovely market as they were packing up,but a lovely afternoon.

Incredible aura about this place, you really do feel the history as you walk around. I took my 3 year old and she absolutely loved it. Some great walks, great views. Take a picnic and eat in the grounds if the weather is nice. If you go to the top turrets, be mindful with the kids as the stairs are old, very steep and enclosed. Safe footing but take care. Small kiddies need to be carried which can be tricky, but we'll both rhe view from the top. There is a lovely river that runs nearby, lovely walks. Would highly recommend but another place that once you have been you probably wouldn't go back.

Didn't expect a lot as it's a ruin but it was great. Spent a good two hours there exploring and could have stayed longer if the weather had been better. Castle and Ludlow town are definitely worth a visit!

Great castle to explore with staircases up to some great views of the town. Private owned castle so had pay for entry, which was a shame as we are a cadw, English heritage and National Trust members. Weddings are held here so waiting for the bride to enter was fun 🤔 guessing what she would be wearing 😂😂

Awesome scenery, quiet and serene. Views from the top of the valley and the river highly recommend. Have a local ice cream and stroll across the river on Dinham bridge. Saw a nice medieval village and war of the roses enactment in the castle grounds.

Popped into Ludlow museum during our day out in this wonderful historic town. The museum is centrally located and close to other local amenities. The entrance fee is very small which helps support the museum. Its only a small museum but the history of Ludlow is rich and goes back centuries. Definitely pop in if you're spending any time in Ludlow. We enjoyed the time we spent there. 👍🏻

Wonderful free musuem in town. Lots of local history. Anglo Saxon pummel head from a 7th century dagger plus other local finds. Area for kids to play & draw pictures. Very interesting & well worth a visit if your in Ludlow

A small but very pleasant museum that educates on the local history of Ludlow. A small entrance fee (£1.20 each for adults) is more than reasonable. Definitely recommend to stop by if you're in Ludlow.

What a great little museum. Lovely staff who were so interesting, informative and keen to meet our needs. Highly recommend

Above the Butter market , delightful, small, two rooms with a wealth of information about Ludlow and it's history from neolithic to present day. Very friendly and welcoming staff. Well worth popping in here.

Visited as a family of 7 (children 3-11 in ages!) Really lovely woman inside, Easter trail for the children, and some very interesting artifacts.

A small two room museum displaying Ludlows history. It has a decent display of items spanning many many years. Friendly and knowledgeable staff on site. Lift on site for those less able too.

Lovely Church, busy great feel. Recomend 201 step walk up the tower. Listened to music recital. Excellent.

I am not religious but do like a nice church - and this is a nice church. People were really friendly. Cafe looked amazing (although I had just eaten elsewhere). And we were there when a group were practising medieval music on antiquarian instruments. Generally a loverly peaceful interlude to a holiday break in Ludlow.

Amazing place, fantastic architecture and wood carvings amongst many things. There is a dog friendly coffee shop within. The people who are running this establishment are friendly, inviting and informative.

Nice church well decorated inside. Visited when they had a special event (pianos musician playing) which made it special. Besides that, has a unique feature of a corner for kids, with tables, sofas and lots of toys, which I was not expecting but is quite nice.

Beautiful and quiet place, had an amazing time climbing up the famous Ludlow Tower as well. The views are well worth the small fee.

What a place to visit. Just inside of town and spectacular church. Had plenty of rebuild. I always take a moment to think of others, light a candle.

This is a stunning church,known as the cathedral of the marches well worth a visit.

Wonderfully unique market filled with local businesses. Beautiful setting. I bought a few baked goods, some natural dog treats, and a large wicker basket for logs.

Visited on a Sunday and Monday, market very good on Sunday, craft and lovely individual items worth buying. Sellers all very friendly. Visited on Monday, good selection of stalls too.

Love Ludlow, one of my favourite places. Market is varied, but the cheese stall is really good. Dog treats as well nice way to spend half a day.

Loveley Market place next to castle. Easy parking just 2 minute walk. Beautiful town.

Ludlow is a lovely little market town offering quite a few quaint little shops along with the market. Coming into Ludlow you drive up through the town passing nicely decorated and well kept shops We parked in the nearby Castle a street car park and walked up into the town. Along with the castle it is a nice stop off along your route if passing

My second visit here and love it.. really good stalls. Some days more crafts but so good and of course we really went for liqorice stall

Called here this Sunday late morning for a look around the antique market. Excellent it was too, an interesting mix with some stall holders having quality items. I will certainly call again when in the area.

Beautiful fortified manor house from the 13th century. Wood carving shows the extraordinary skills of the carpenters in Elizabethan times. Good puzzle trail for children and the cafe is next to the large car park. Picnic tables are available too.

Wonderful English Heritage castle that is extremely picturesque and mostly from the 13th century. There are signs inside or a free audio guide can be used. There are not many furnishings inside, but they did stage it well to see the previous uses (e.g. sitting room chairs, bed, beer barrels). We spent about 40 minutes seeing it slowly, but could see it more quickly. Note: It is fairly dark inside, with narrow uneven steps. There was also a sign about not disturbing the bats - so assume some creatures were overhead! Nice small cafe near the car park. Not a huge selection, but a few mains, pastries, hot drinks, and snacks like crisps or biscuits.

Great place and give an insight into how Medieval life played out. Having no glass in the windows of the great hall, let's your imagination wander to how cold and inhospitable it would have been. We I visited the wind was blowing and whistling across the great hall. The audio guide is excellent and narrates you around the fortifide Manor house. A great afternoon visit.

A really enjoyable couple of hours here. A very good and informative free audio guide Beware there are many narrow steps and staircases if you're doing the whole tour.

Stokesay Castle is a truly fascinating place to visit and one of the most charming historic sites in England. Unlike many castles built for war, it was designed more as a fortified manor house, which makes it feel both impressive and welcoming at the same time. The Great Hall, with its timber roof and medieval atmosphere, is especially memorable, and the beautifully carved 17th-century gatehouse adds a unique character to the whole complex. What makes Stokesay remarkable is how well it has survived through the centuries, allowing visitors to step back in time and imagine everyday life in the Middle Ages. It is a peaceful, atmospheric site that combines history, architecture, and storytelling, and it leaves a lasting impression on anyone who walks through its gates. Well worth a visit...

Lovely historic place to visit in the Shropshire Hills, Craven Arms. Lots of friendly and knowledgeable volunteer staff. They offer a recorded guide which you use like a mobile phone to listen to as it guides you around the area. Would recommend a visit as steeped in history and the views are stunning.

A bit of a hybrid fortified house really. Located in a lovely area with views over the Shropshire countryside. Quite a nice audio tour that is generally easy to follow, except for a couple of missed rooms. What is great, is being able to go up to the top level of the tower and enjoy the view. There is a big car park and cafe across the way and lots of picnic areas.

Two nights at The Ludlow Assembly Rooms to see The Oysterband on their farewell tour. The building is well maintained externally with the original fascia and the renovations inside are fabulous. There's a lift to all floors, a well stocked bar which sells coffee and ice cream too, loos upstairs and on ground floor. There's a good view from every seat. On the ground floor is Bills cafe which opens from 8am and serves a fabulous breakfast ( I assume everything will be as delicious and wholesome, but we only had breakfast - on 2 mornings!).

Fabulous, intimate venue for live music. Great sound, good view wherever you are comfortable seats. Lovely staff. Saw Nerina Pallot on her 'all roads lead to' tour. Just brilliant!

Saw Led Zeppelin tribute.... Fab night

Went for a live music event. Lovely and warm, clean and comfortable. Ideally situated with easy accessibility inside for the disabled. The staff were very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the area, and the prices were reasonable. Can’t wait to go again.

A nice place with various function or theatre rooms a shop and a tourist information centre. You can find out what's going on in the area and book seats for shows of which there are a wide variety to choose from. It's in a central location opposite the market square with lots to see and do. The fringe festival is particularly good.

Friendly and very efficient staff. Food excellent. Very clean and tidy.

This is a unique place in Ludlow,as it comprises of a cafe, cinema,music venue and visitor centre all in one.....It's a large cafe with plenty of places to sit at to enjoy the refreshments they have on offer...👍

The most amazing views overlooking the town here - completely free and magnificent.

It's a beatiful walk with dog access. Parking up the top of the hill is very limited (there is a carpark up there but was shut do not know if this is permanent). If you from the town end there's lots of street parking which is pay and display

A lovely circular walk from Ludlow. Not too hard but I recommend proper walking boots/ shoes. There is a small car parking area at the top if you are not able to do the walk.There are some lovely views of the castle and the church

Just beautiful and peaceful. Pictures say more than words ever can

Lovely and peaceful with fantastic views over ludlow

Quiet spot next to Ludlow Castle. With nice views down by the river. Certainly worth a stroll.

Dogs loved the common,the view of Ludlow was amazing and easy to park

Absolutely delicious lunch here, today, with the family. Superb quiche and salads. Excellent coffee and cakes, too. Very welcoming and friendly service. Excellent range of products to buy, too.

One of the best deli ever. Bought cheese, salami, sausage rolls, pastel de NATA. All for a breakfast fit for a king. Service was amazing. Such a little chem.

Called this Tuesday morning and got a cappuccino and Americano to takeaway, which were good. The two Portuguese tarts that we got to take home were still warm, so I had to eat them both, probably the best that I have ever had. The hazelnut pain au chocolat I'm told was also delicious.

Fabulous place to stop for lunch. The mini tart was just delicious and there was an excellent choice of salads to accompany it, all homemade. Everything was well presented and flavoursome, coffee was first class too ! If I lived in Ludlow this would be my “go to” eatery.

Well stocked deli with a large selection of products. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who were able to explain the differences between similar products. The store is not but they do have a small outdoor area to enjoy a sandwich or drink.

Love this deli! We’ve been enjoying their goodies while on holiday (excellent quiche and sourdough bread). Also, enjoyed a lovely lunch today of tarts and 2 salads. Fab staff, who are interested in food, and serve with easy-going smarts. Returned a year later (8/23) - remains excellent!

As visitors to Ludlow, we called in to get something to take away for our evening meal. The ham, leek & guyere cheese tart was absolutely fabulous, as were the continental meats. Thankyou so much!

Brilliant time had by all, food and drink was great and the classic vehicles just made it even better, a little more seating would have been appreciated

Lovely day. Watching The Endings and other great singers and bands

The best food festival we’ve been too, great atmosphere, great people and food everywhere you look.

Been meaning to go for years. Great food, great atmosphere and some wonderful Christmas gifts. Park and Ride was easy and well organised. Be warned, you will spend a lot of money on all the amazing food, drink and gifts here! Also some great shows put on including archery, falconry and actual sword fighting.

Wrecked by the dog policy......it is supposedly dog friendly, with the caveat that dogs are not permitted in the marquee areas. In previous years there was one large marquee that dogs were not permitted in and all the stalls outside could be browsed with your pooch at your side. No more.....the festival has done away with the large marquee (presumeably to disguise the fact it is MUCH smaller than it was) and now ALL the stalls are dog-free zones.

£12 per person entry fee which allows you to browse the stalls and watch a few demos, plus look at the castle. Plenty of stalls to buy drink and food. Samples at the stalls were actually minuscule so didn’t give you a great idea of taste, but in general a pleasant day.

I've been going to the food festival for 5 years now and it gets better and better each time. Such a fantastic place to host a food festival too! I love spending time winding around the town and exploring the castle, and munching on local foods whilst doing so is a perfect way to spend a day.

Beautiful chocolates, good value considering how good they are.. we also had some ones which were cheaper because of bloom and they were also still totally amazing. We had a lovely, friendly welcome too. Definitely will visit again if we are in the area.

Fantastic shop , fantastic chocolates , friendly staff , ignore the comments about not being allowed in without a mask , it has no significance to the quality of the truffles sold at all , I don't blame them not letting someone in without a mask 3 years ago , the height of covid it's their choice whether they wanted to risk covid or not !

I don't normally indulge in buying myself posh chocolates but I was on holiday......! What a treat, the chocolates were amazing and I didn't dare share any. I can also recommend the ice-cream, truly scrumptious. Service was good, very lovely friendly lady that served us. Don't miss this treat if you are in Ludlow. Obviously it's good for gifts too if you aren't as selfish as me!

I have been going into the chocolate shop for eight years and not once have I been disappointed. I’ve read other reviews criticising the price of their ice cream. Well, all I can say is that you get what you pay for. Same with the chocolate. Their handmade chocolates are to die for. And for a chocoholic it’s an absolute dream come true. They also have a selection of chocolate boxes, and they are exquisite. So, long after you’ve polished off the contents you have a gorgeous box as a keepsake.

The service here goes above and beyond. I've shopped here in person and online a few times and never been disappointed with the service or the quality. You get exactly what you pay for here. However, as I live in the USA, and order from here for my mum, a recent experience needs to be shared! i ordered a box for mother's day 2019 and heard from my mum that they had been hand-delivered by the shop the next day as there was a problem with the post office in Ludlow and she wouldn't have received them in time any other way. What kind of store provides that kind of service these days?! Not many. If you're in the market for top-of-the-line chocolate look no further, this place is incredible.

Really nice little shop, the young lady who served us was very attentive and polite. The chocolate is really good and so is the ice cream. Would very much recommend a visit if you have some spare cash to spend on some fancier chocolates. They make for good gifts!

THE best chocolates me and my partner have ever had! We are forever buying ‘nice’ chocolates from Hotel Chocolat and Waitrose etc, and neither come close to The Chocolate Gourmet!! We only stopped here on our way through and it’s such a shame that it’s 3.5 hours away from home for us. We vow to return however - one day!

Popped in here on a day excursion to Ludlow. The visitor centre is small and had only a limited range of gifts and books, but there were plenty of useful free leaflets and touchscreen information about Ludlow and its surrounding area. The centre is also the box office for theatre performances, cinema and events in the Assembly Rooms. Friendly staff/volunteers. Good central location close to the market and castle.

Supposed to open at ten, still closed at half past. Called, no-one answered. Not at all impressed.

May have been nice but I was shut

Ludow Brewing Company is well worth a visit if you're in the area. The bar is well designed and they offer tours also which I didn't personally experience so can't rate that, but the bar is very busy and offers quality beer as you might expect. It doesn't have the best views if you sit outside as the view is basically an ALDI car park but inside the bar is well designed and a good space.

The best of local breweries - inside an old railway goods shed, with the brewery itself on display alongside plentiful seating. Excellent beers to drink there and to take away.

My colleagues and I visited the brewery for lunch and a tour and had a fantastic time. The food was great quality, the beer was excellent (you have to try "Silent Night", it's a standout), and the tour was genuinely fascinating. Bob was an excellent guide and storyteller, and we were all completely engaged throughout. We’ll definitely be back!

Fantastic tap room with cask and keg beer available. Plenty of seating, dog and kid friendly. The beer of course was well kept and I like the fact its a slice of brewing history. Def worth a visit if you are in the area,

We did the tour. Highly recommend. Margaret was fantastic. Very knowledgable and engaging. Loved hearing the history of why food and drink is so important to Ludlow. Great to see behind the scenes and try a selection of their drinks. Stairway is the standout!

Fab talk & tour…. Took well over an hour. Small brewery but great story. Great talk and history of the brewery and all the intricacies of brewing ales, beers, lagers and stout. I thought I knew the difference but not really !! Lovely beer sampling… Shame i was driving. Bill was a great tour guide and resident expert. Informative, informal, funny and genuine. Great guy - a real asset to the company. Would definitely recommend for an afternoon - but get a taxi and enjoy a few beers in the bar area / balcony & outside.

Excellent tour and insight into the art of brewing. Amana was a very knowledgeable and super host. The tour finished with a tasting of some superb Ludlow beers. Definitely worth the visit

Love riding through here such a beautiful place to stop, a big open area with a great view from high up, recommend stopping here just to take in the scenery, long stretch of road with plenty of opportunities to stop along the way! There are the odd sheep around sometimes in the road so be warned!

Lovely walk with great views. Not easy driving up the hill.

Great Views. Well signposted walk

Views are incredible. Good roads as well if you're into driving. You can stay for hours just admiring the view.

Great views brilliant motorcycling roads.

Stunning! Just views everywhere.

Great chippy too

A great forest to explore for a day out. There are paths and different routes to take. We parked at Vinnalls car park, it's a spacious car park and while there were a handful of cars, we barely saw any people - it wasn't overcrowded. If you're taking a reactive dog out, the main paths are wide enough to make space. Really enjoyed visiting and will come back again.

Enjoyed a really nice woodland walk using the 2 mile red path, the place has amazing scenery and was very peaceful. This is a woodland walk I would highly recommend. I would have give 5 stars, but, the only disappointment was the amount of poo bags thrown or left behind by dog walkers, really pathetic that these owners bag them and then leave them scattered all over the forest. Some blame need to lie with the staff running the site, they have a huge office and multiple cars so plenty of staff about, but nobody has found the time to put bins in to prevent dog owners leaving bags of poo all over.

Mortimer Forest is a gem — those rolling hills, the mix of conifers and ancient broadleaf trees, and that quiet sense that you’ve stepped back in time. If you caught it on a sunny day, with the light breaking through the canopy and the air smelling faintly of pine and earth, I can see why you’d call it lovely. Even the wildlife there — deer, birds of prey, and the occasional squirrel on a mission — adds to the magic.

Lovely walks,very scenic,walking routes not always clearly marked but we didn't get lost and the doggies loved it

Good hiking and cycling trails in large forest.

It is a beautiful place overall, just don't be unlucky enough to walk down a path that is completely blocked with logs, with no alternative path through! Meaning your legs and arms get badly cut up, after fighting through brambles and accross slippy logs, to gain access to an adjacent path. With no signage anywhere to let you know said path is blocked.

Great forest walk lovely atmosphere.

When you approach Ludlow Castles entrance you cannot miss this huge cannon which stands guard outside.....You would naturally assume it belongs to the Castle but like me you would be totally wrong...... It's actually a 26 pounder Sevastopol Russian cannon captured by British forces during the Crimean War of 1853-1856......It was presented as a trophy of war to the town where it now stands for all to see.....👍