Shrewsbury and Shropshire

On the banks of the River Severn, the School holds an enviable position. Look one way to the heart of the medieval town; the other, to the Shropshire Hills and a reminder that we are in a most beautiful part of England.

The town

Known as ‘Scrobbesbyrig’ in Saxon times, the town’s origins date back to the 5th and 6th centuries. Its history is very visible: Shrewsbury has over 660 historic listed buildings, several of them dating from Tudor times. They include a Norman abbey dating back to 1083 (the setting for Ellis Peters’ ‘Brother Cadfael’ novels), a medieval castle dating from 1074, and the 16th century Old Market Hall, which now houses a cinema and café.

Part of the town’s medieval street plan still exists too, with many ‘shutts’ and ‘passages’ – a maze of narrow alleys, which criss-cross the town centre.

Throughout the town there are numerous boutiques and quirky independent shops, restaurants and cafés, and a huge indoor market which won the title of 'Britain's Favourite Market' in 2018. Shrewsbury is one of the few places in the UK where the independent shops outnumber the big chains – one of the reasons it has earned the title of 'Healthiest High Street in the UK'. It also carries the distinction of being named three times in the last three years by Rightmove among the top 10 Happiest Places to Live in the UK, and has Purple Flag status for town safety.

Pupils are offered the chance to venture around the town on the weekends and make use of the nearby surroundings. The Quarry has been used for running events, the river is in regular use by our rowing teams and pupils often help at the nearby Barnabus Foodbank+ and Community Centre as part of the school’s partnership and community engagement.

The most beautiful playing fields in the world, spreading and imperceptibly mingling with the pasture land of Shropshire

- Sir Neville Cardus,
^{staff member, writer and cricket correspondent}

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The surrounding area

Shropshire is one of England’s most rural counties, and the countryside all around Shrewsbury is some of the most beautiful and unspoilt in the country. Our unrivalled location is at the gateway to the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the UNESCO world heritage site, Ironbridge, and of course Wales where we maintain Talargerwyn ('Tally'), our bunkhouse in Snowdonia.

The area has been the inspiration for our Creative Writing Society, the route for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions as well as the main site for the Whole School Sponsored Walk.

We believe that school and Floreat, our whole person education, should encapsulate more than just a basic curriculum which is why we take advantage of the fantastic resources in the local area which will give pupils unparalleled experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

Whole School Sponsored Walk

Every five years or so over the past 50 years and more, we have put down our books and gone out to enjoy some of the beautiful local scenery undertaking the challenge of a long-distance walk – all to show our collective support for The Shewsy, a youth and community centre attached to St Peter's Church in Everton, Liverpool that has been a part of Shrewsbury School life for well over a century.

The walk takes in 19-miles across the Long Mynd and all money raised helps to ensure that The Shewsy can maintain and enhance its youth work programmes. The Salopian Spirit is evident throughout the day with pupils mixing across all age groups and houses all whilst taking in some of Shropshire’s most beautiful scenery and stunning views extending across into Wales.

Highlights of the Sponsored Walk 2021

Transport Links

Despite Shrewsbury's rural location, travel links to the School are plentiful and we are proud to welcome pupils from not only all over the UK, but from all parts of the world which helps us create our thriving and diverse community which stays with pupils for life.

By road

Shrewsbury benefits from excellent road network links to all parts of the UK with the M54 only 10-miles away connecting the M6 which is only around 30-miles away from Shrewsbury.

By air

Our pupils regularly travel to and from the international airports at Birmingham (1 hour by car or rail), Manchester (1 hour 15 minutes by car, with some direct trains), Liverpool and East Midlands, and a coach runs to London Heathrow at the start and end of term, and often at half-term.

By train

Shrewsbury is served by Virgin trains from London Euston (by changing at Birmingham New Street or Wolverhampton). There are also regular services from Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Oxford, Cardiff and Bristol.

Please go to NationalRail.co.uk for national rail enquiries.

Shrewsbury station is just the far side of the centre of the town from the school, and is approximately 20 minutes' walk away but there is a reliable taxi service outside of the station.

Directions to Shrewsbury School