Moving to Shropshire: get to know the area
Shropshire is one of the UK’s least populated counties, with a population of just 306,000. Located in the UK’s West Midlands, the county is surrounded by other counties on every border. To the west is Wales, Cheshire is to the north, Herefordshire and Worcester are to the south, and Staffordshire to the east. The county town of Shropshire is Shrewsbury.
The county is very historic, known for its listed buildings, impressive townhouses and picturesque stone cottages. The residents of Shropshire also benefit from a lot of green space, making it great for wildlife. Shropshire offers a slower pace of life, with more open space than most places in the UK. The county is a mix of 22 market towns and quiet peaceful villages – this is not a county built around large cities. Think picture post-card cottages, small independent run shops, cosy cafes and afternoon tea.
Are you looking to move to Shropshire? At Santa Fe we believe in making your moving journey seamless and stress free. So if you need storage in between homes, or even a handyman service to get things perfect once we’ve moved you in, it’s all part of the service.
Shropshire: the history
There’s a host of historical buildings in Shropshire, steeped in the culture of the county. Ludlow Castle is a key historical building. Built in 1085, the castle was home to princes, and was also where King Henry VIII’s brother died.
Wroxeter in Shropshire was once the fourth largest Roman city in Britain. You can now tour the city ruins and learn about the importance of Shropshire circa the second century.
The county was later framed by the industrial Revolution. From the booming changes of industry to the emergence of the steam railway, the effects are evident across the county. The Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Telford tells the story and walks you through it. In fact, the town is a World Heritage site: comprising of 10 museums, a recreated Victorian town, and the first ever iron bridge.
Shropshire: highlights and culture of the county
Shropshire has a uniquely friendly, ‘village community’ feel. The county has a large selection of independent and locally owned businesses. So you can be sure to find locally owned shops, pubs, bars and restaurants wherever you go. It gives exploring the county a very unique feel.
A move to Shropshire is the perfect fit if you’re looking to slow down and enjoy a rural way of life. The county is picturesque, and peaceful. The rugged countryside, sparse population and historical buildings make Shropshire a great home for artists, photographers, and those looking to slow down and spend more time in nature.
We offer a personalised local area orientation as part of our moving services, so we can share our local knowledge with you.
Things to do in Shropshire
Shropshire is packed with things to do and see. We love the county, so here’s our list of our favourite experiences:
• Take in a performance at the Theatre Severn in Shrewbury. They host comedy, dance, music and film screenings as well as talks and exhibitions.
• Take a stroll around the Twenty Twenty Gallery, which sell exceptional paintings and prints, furniture and jewellery.
• Weekends are made for long walks along the Shropshire Hills. During the summer months, enjoy the purple heather that blankets the hills.
• For nature lovers, there is no better place than Clee Hills rare flower meadows, where you might see the famous peregrine falcons soaring overhead.
• Walk to the top of The Wrekin hill – from the top you can see an Iron Age hill fort.
• Visit Ludlow for delicious places to eat. Our favourite is Smokehouse Deli and Cicchetti Bar.
• Enjoy a leisurely pub lunch at the Kings Head in Bridgnorth. It’s a Grade II listed inn which serves excellent food.
At Santa Fe, we know that moving to a completely new place can feel daunting. That’s why we offer a personalised area orientation, with a local expert, so that we can get you living like a local in no time. This is just one of our extra special services that help make your move as easy as possible.
Where to live in Shropshire
Shropshire offers buyers a range of styles and sizes of properties, and with the average detached home selling for £337,000 (accurate as of March 2019), prices are very competitive.
When choosing where to live in Shropshire, it’s important to distinguish between city or rural living. With the small population, even the cities are more relaxed, but packed with good amenities, shops and things to do.
Our favourite urban locations are:
• Shrewsbury – the county town offers amenities, beautiful Georgian properties and good transport links.
• Ludlow – look here if you want historical properties, or an imposing townhouse. The cottages along Pepper Lane are very popular.
• Newport – on the border with Staffordshire this town offers a mix of old and new properties.
• Telford – this is the choice for those looking for a modern city with new developments and family homes.
• Bishops Castle – offering exceptional large homes and quaint cottages.
Our top rural choices are:
• Clun – increasingly popular with city movers, this small town offers some amenities and a village feel.
• Cardington – this coveted village, set in the Shropshire Hills, offers picture perfect cottages along winding roads. There are also very large stately homes available.
• Cleehill – also in the sought-after area of the Shropshire Hills, the rural location offers up large homes with gardens to match.
If you are struggling to find the perfect Shropshire home for you, let us take the stress away. At Santa Fe, our experts offer personalised home searches to make your move easy, right from the start.
Family life and education in Shropshire
Shropshire is a great county for families: offering lots of outdoor space, excellent state and private schools, and low crime levels. Equally, there is a large variety of colleges for 16-18 education. There is also a great University in the county: Harpers Adams University in rural Shropshire is a single campus university set in a unique location.
For more detailed help finding the perfect schools for your family, trust our Schools Search Service as part of your home move. At Santa Fe, we make moving home easy for you.
Travel information
Shropshire benefits from some good travel links thanks to its position between so many other important UK counties. You can easily reach Birmingham and Manchester for work from most of Shropshire.
By rail travel on Virgin Trains, you can get to London Euston in under 2 hours 30 by direct train. There is also a strong rail service to mid-Wales from Shrewsbury. Rail links are good for getting around Shropshire too, with most services running out of Shrewsbury and Ludlow stations.
The A5 and M54 provide good links between Wolverhampton to Telford, and the A49 is your main road through Shrewsbury and Herefordshire.
For international and domestic air travel, Shrewsbury is close to Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester airports. All three are about an hour’s drive from the county.
How can Santa Fe Relocation help my move to Shropshire?
Our home move consultants offer a uniquely personalised service, with one point of contact for all your needs. This means that you can rest assured that every part of your move is being taken care of, leaving you to enjoy a seamless home move. At Santa Fe, we make it easy.
