Travelling to and around Shropshire – Kingfisher Visitor Guides

By Claire Owen

Travel to and around Shropshire with ease with a number of different options.

Getting here

Shropshire is so much closer and easier to reach than you might think – it’s roughly half way between the city of Birmingham and the Welsh border. And in spite of its reputation as a rural destination set in rolling open countryside, travel links are surprisingly easy.

By rail

Shropshire’s market towns offer a whole host of rail travel opportunities with stations in Shrewsbury, Telford, Wellington, Oswestry (Gobowen), Welshpool, Ludlow, Church Stretton, Albrighton, Cosford, Shifnal, Wem, Whitchurch and Craven Arms. Wherever you’re travelling from, you can reach every corner of the county by rail, while you sit back and enjoy the journey.

: Shrewsbury Railway Station

: Shropshire has easy access to the M6

By road

The county is around three hours by road from London, about an hour from Manchester, and just 40 minutes from Birmingham itself. With easy access to the M6 and the wider motorway network thanks to the M54, getting here is direct and hassle-free, easing the stresses and strains as you eat up the miles before you arrive in a county that lets you take a breath of fresh air. National Express also run regular bus services to Shropshire from all the main airports and cities.

By air

The nearest international airports are Birmingham and Manchester, and for North Shropshire, Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport is also a convenient transport hub. With travel times to the county from all three airports at around an hour, it’s easy to see why more and more international visitors are flocking to Shropshire.

The county is around three hours by road from London, about an hour from Manchester, and just 40 minutes from Birmingham itself

Getting around

However you choose to get to Shropshire, once you’re here, the choice is all yours as to how you explore this beautiful county. Whether it’s by public transport, by car, on a bicycle or even your own two feet, Shropshire is an open book waiting to be discovered.

By road

The county has a solid transport system with frequent buses. There are also shuttle bus services operating across Shropshire at certain times of the year, giving visitors the opportunity to take a green and pleasant route to the county’s villages and attractions. For the popular town of Ironbridge and its award-winning museums, the best way to visit is to use the 250-space Ironbridge Park and Ride service, which runs from April to October. And if you’re travelling around by car, all the major attractions are within easy reach and close by.

Steam train arriving at Hampton Loade railway station

By steam train

For a nostalgic trip back in time, you can travel by steam train along the Severn Valley Railway and explore the line from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster.

By bike and on foot

Shropshire is a haven for cyclists and walkers with its network of roads, lanes, trails and paths that give you the chance to get to the heart of the rolling countryside and out into the fresh air. It’s an opportunity to forget the stresses and strains, and explore a county that has so much to offer with public rights of way at every turn, and a dazzling view around every corner.