Things To Do in Ludlow

Whitcliffe Common, a public park, was the common land of Ludlow during the Middle Ages. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views of Ludlow as you stroll. Leave town by one of two bridges across the River Teme and follow any of a number of paths through the Common.

A flea market is held on Castle Square on alternate Sundays throughout the year from 9am to approximately 4pm. In addition, the town is filled with traditional family businesses; of particular interest are the many antiques, book, arts-and-crafts, and gift shops. The Marches Pottery, 45 Mill St. (tel. 01584/878413), produces a wide selection of hand-thrown tableware and individual pieces decorated with subtle Chinese glazes, including a host of terra-cotta flowerpots.

The town's most atmospheric and evocative pub, the Church Inn, Church Street, Buttercross (tel. 01584/872174; www.thechurchinn.com), is everybody's favorite source for beer, gossip, and good cheer. Beer, mead, and wine have flowed here since at least 1446, and according to some historians, even earlier. Meals are served daily from noon to 3:30pm and 6:30 to 9pm. Whether you eat informally in the bar or head for the more formal restaurant, the food and prices are exactly the same: Main courses range from £7 to £15. Cuisine is straightforward, British, and rib-sticking, with traditional pub grub such as steak-and-kidney pie, fried prawns, and omelets. The owners proudly proclaim that they only use fresh local produce. The bar is open Monday to Saturday 11am to 11pm, and Sunday noon to 10:30pm.