We are staying in Cheltenham for one week, (beginning next week). Since we have a train pass and can go anywhere, we were thinking of going to Shrewsbury for one of the days. Any thoughts of that town and what would be something there that would be a "not to miss" place?

We are also planning on going one day to Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon, and driving around the Cotswolds in a rental car we have for 2 days.

We are also open to any other good day trip ideas. (I know that the weather right now isn't the greatest, but we are used to snowy conditions where we live). We just like going!

Thanks

I visited Shrewsbury once to see the black and white houses, walking around the medieval old town is quite interesting; but I am afraid there isn't really "not to be missed" place.

If you don't mind listing some of the things interesting to you most, others might be able to help out.

If you are a fan of Brother Cadfael, you'll want to see the Abbey. And probably would want to anyway. We enjoyed just walking around town and seeing Darwin's statue and the castle. Not exactly "must-see," but nice.

I'm just back (yesterday) from London, the Cotswolds and a bit of Shropshire. It was snowy and chillier than I'd hoped but that's winter travel for you!

Shrewsbury's nice for an afternoon; Ludlow and Bridgnorth are also lovely smaller market towns in Shropshire that would be nice for a couple hours' exploration.

Taggie,

Just wondering if you were able to reach those destinations that you mentioned by train? How did you like the Cotswolds in the weather that they are having? Did you find it hindered your ability to do anything?

It sounds like Shrewsbury is a good town for a couple of hours is all.

Thanks.

Cheltenham's not the best connected railway station in Britain: getting to Ludlow by train can be a bizarely tortuous affair, and there's no station at Bridgnorth.

Personally, I'd say there's more to see in Hereford, which is a bit easier to get to than Shrewsbury. The Worcester-Great Malvern-Hereford-Ludlow-Shrewsbury-Telford (for Ironbridge)-Birmingham circle by train's got enough for at least two days, and with a pass you might just do the circle twice, stopping off at different places each day. For buses from Telford to Ironbridge: http://www.telford.gov.uk/Transport+...ord+travelink/

Other places easily accessible by train include Gloucester (horrid town in some ways, but fabulous cathedral and a canal museum at weekends) Chepstow and, by a bus connection at Ashchurch, Tewkesbury.

Sorry Jh I didn't register that you would be going by train. I had a car and was driving all over the place.

I was hindered by the snow a bit - I chose not to drive a couple of days so I didn't get to the south Cotswolds this time (it was my fourth visit to the area though and I've been all over it in the past) and I didn't do as much walking as I'd hoped. But everything was looking very pretty and it was very cosy in my cottage so that made for a nice experience.

The day when I absolutely HAD to drive was about the worst for snow. Some very nice people helped push my car out of its trench on the hight street in Chipping Campden and from there on I was fine. But I'm Canadian so I can handle just about any weather condition!