Getting There
Trains run hourly from Paddington Station in London to Ludlow, with a transfer at Newport. It's approximately a 3-hour journey. For schedules and information, call tel. 0845/748-4950.
National Express buses depart London's Victoria Coach Station for Shrewsbury, where you must change to the local line to reach Ludlow. It's a slow journey, approximately 5 1/2 hours, but for those who are still interested, call tel. 0871/781-81-81 (www.nationalexpress.com) for the current schedule.
By car, it's a much shorter, 3-hour drive. Follow the M25 out of London to the M40 at Oxford. Take the M40 to Bromsgrove. Once at Bromsgrove, follow the M42 until Kidderminster. From here, take the A456 to Ludlow.
Visitor Information
The Ludlow Tourist Information Centre, Castle Street (tel. 01584/875053; www.ludlow.org.uk), is open November to March, Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm; in April to October it's also open on Sunday 10:30am to 5pm.
Special Events
The 2-week Ludlow Festival, held annually in late June and early July, is one of England's major arts festivals. The centerpiece is an open-air Shakespeare performance within the Inner Bailey of Ludlow Castle. Orchestral concerts, historical lectures, readings, exhibitions, and workshops round out the festival. From March onward, a schedule can be obtained from the box office. Write to the Ludlow Festival box office, Castle Square, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1AY, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope; call tel. 01584/872150, or visit www.ludlowfestival.co.uk. The box office is open Monday to Saturday beginning in early May.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
