If you have time for a day out, or you have booked a break in Shropshire but the weather outside is making you think again, then look no further.
1. The Swan Inn on the Severn, Knowle Sands, Bridgnorth WV16 5JL
Not just a quirky pub, restaurant, B&B and wedding venue with stunning views of the river Severn, The Swan Inn on the Severn now has some new great things to do on rainy days.
info@swaninnbridgnorth.com 01746 763424 Booking essential.
Make an afternoon of it starting with their pirate theme escape room.
Blown off course in the recent storms, pirates have been left shipwrecked and stranded in Knowle Sands. Help them to recover their belongings and the code for the treasure chest before time runs out (45 minutes) or they will fall into the wrong hands.
All are welcome, including children aged 7+ (where at least one member of the group is aged 18+).
Pre-booking and payment required.
1 to 2 people £40
3 people £50
4 people £60
5 people £70
Proof of identity may be required.
Free cancellation available up to 48 hours before your event. Please be prompt and ready to start on time as the time slot cannot be changed.
The difficulty level is easy (finding items) to intermediate (problem solving).
Some mild peril 🙂
Success will mean a share of the bounty. Failure will mean ye will not be rewarded.
If you haven't completed an escape room before or are looking for some novel family/group entertainment then this is for you.
If you are bringing children who can complete the easy tasks, or for extra fun, you can pre-arrange for party goodie bags to be put in the treasure chest for £3 each too.
Relax in the conservatory restaurant and enjoy the views of the river valley.
After lunch, have fun with a Swedish Simway Shooting Simulator, currently rated as the best on the market. Suitable for individual use, pairs challenge or even a tournament for up to 6 people. The rifles are suitable for age 10 years and over.
If you still have the energy, and the weather allows, enjoy a walk along the river Severn opposite the pub. Pick up a FREE route map designed by the owners of the pub for a recommended walk taking approximately 90 minutes. This is currently coupled with a pirate 'Cluedo' game for a limited time.
You do not have to travel far either to visit many of the other attractions listed below with some within walking distance of The Swan Inn on the Severn.
2. Open Air Heated Swimming Pool, Highley, Bridgnorth WV16 6JG
Yes, even in the rain! Well you are going to get wet anyway. This four lane 25m heated pool is available for casual swimmers as well as for members but pre-booking is required. A variety of classes and sessions are available which can be viewed at Highley Outdoor Swimming Pool at The Severn Centre – Halo Leisure
3. Daniels Mill, Bridgnorth WV16 5JL
Daniels Mill and it’s impressive waterwheel have been carefully restored to it’s former glory.
The watermill is virtually unaltered since the 18th Century and was in the ownership of the same family for over 250 years. It is now a Charitable Trust whose purpose is to operate and maintain the Mill for future generations.
Daniels Mill is a fully working watermill set in the idyllic Shropshire countryside, deep in a wooded valley crossed by the 19th century viaduct carrying the Severn Valley Railway to Bridgnorth.
All visitors are welcome to the Mill and views of the waterwheel, viaduct and grounds are easily accessible but please be aware that, as an historic listed building, there are some steep steps to enter the mill and inside the mill itself if you wish to see the full milling process in action.
Visitors to this tourist attraction are taken back in time when the mill wheel turns and a steam train from the Severn Valley Railway crosses the viaduct at the same time.
Further details are available at Daniels Mill : A Working Watermill Bridgnorth Shropshire UK
4. Blists Hill Victorian Town, Madeley, Telford TF7 5DU
Step right into Queen Victoria’s time - swap the sight of cars & traffic jams for the authentic Blists Hill Victorian Town where old-time folk get about their daily life, and you can see pigs, horses and chickens around the Town.
Meet the Victorian townsfolk, ditch your modern money in favour of some Pounds, Shillings and Pence, feel the delicious smell of freshly oven-baked bread and have a traditional meal at the pub, where the whole family can join a merry sing-a-long. And while you’re peeking around the shops, make sure to get the kids some authentic 19th century sweets to nibble on!
We all know kids love touching things (whether it’s allowed or not). That’s why most exhibits at Blists Hill offer interactive items for the tiny explorers to play around with. But if you REALLY want to make the little ones’ day, take a horse and cart ride around the Town (definitely cooler than the city bus...or mum & dad’s car for that matter)
Meet the people (and the animals) of Blists Hill Victorian Town
Try freshly-cooked traditional food as the Victorians liked it
Keep an eye out for special events & fairs throughout the year
5. Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford TF11 8UP
The Royal Air Force Museum offers a fun, entertaining day out for all the family. Entry is free and they are open daily from 10.00am.
Why not make 2022 the year to learn more about the RAF Story and the brave men and women who protected our skies during the First and Second World Wars by visiting their amazing exhibitions and displays? Check out their current list of events.
6. Dudmaston National Trust, Quatt, Bridgnorth WV15 6QN
Dudmaston is something unexpected in the Shropshire countryside. A much loved home for over 875 years you will find the family rooms scattered with photos and perhaps an odd pair of shoes or two peeping out from under a table. The unexpected galleries create a total contrast, with their formal, crisp lines. They were designed by the last owner, Rachel, Lady Labouchere, to house her and her husband’s differing modern and traditional collections of art for the visitor to peruse.
Weather permitting, the gardens provide amazing vistas and tranquillity while the orchard is the perfect place to relax and for the children to let off steam. For more stunning views and getting up close to nature head to Big Pool and Dingle woods, while the wider estate provides extensive walking routes for year round enjoyment. Look out for their special events.
7. Severn Valley Railway, Bridgnorth WV16 4AX
The first station used in preservation, Bridgnorth is the most northerly station on the Severn Valley Railway. Opened in 1862, this Shropshire station has two platforms and is connected to the town by a steel footbridge. The station has a wonderful GWR-style Refreshment Room, a traditional real-ale pub, shop and much more. You’ll get great views here across to the locomotive works too – with stock movements, engineering and some behind the scenes things that others may miss!
Travel by steam train to The Engine House Visitor Centre in Highley, Bridgnorth.
8. Theatre on the Steps, Stoneway Steps, Bridgnorth
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The Theatre on the Steps in Bridgnorth came to existence in 1964 when the Congregational Chapel halfway down Stoneway Steps was bought by the local amateur dramatic society.
They converted it into a theatre in 1964 and since then it has undergone several stages of improvement.
The most notable during the last 10 years with the Balcony being restored and brought into use, the installation of central heating, new ladies toilets, a new bar and foyer area, new raked seating in the Stalls. During the summer of 2010 a new stage, fly gallery, sound and lighting systems were installed and the gents toilets were also refurbished.
The Theatre has 180 seats, 120 in the stalls and 60 in the Balcony, there are spectacular views from the Green room, over the Severn Valley covering the River Severn and Bridgnorth's Low Town. The Councils web cam for Bridgnorth is mounted on the theatre as it offers the best views of the valley.
For 45 weeks a year the theatre offers a wide variety of drama, music and dance, with its own company of actors and singers mounting several productions including the annual pantomime. The rest of the programme is filled by visiting theatre companies, bands and artists. Over the years the theatre has been privileged to host performances from Honor Blackman, Kiki Dee, Paul Jones, George Melly to name but a few.
The theatre is run and staffed by volunteers and it does not receive any contributions to its running costs from the Arts Council or local government and relies solely on the profit it makes from the shows it stages to keep the theatre running and to pay the majority of the refurbishment costs.
Over the last 10 years their annual audiences have increased to over 12,000 and they draw their audience not only from Shropshire, but also the West Midlands, and more and more people from around the country come to stay in Bridgnorth specifically to see a show at the Theatre on the Steps.
9. Northgate Museum, Bridgnorth WV16 4ER
Why not visit the Northgate Museum in Bridgnorth which is located on the High Street in High Town with FREE entry. Packed full of treasures, the Museum should be the first stop for anyone wanting to discover the history of the town and the local area. From an Edwardian cash till, to a model of Trevithick's Steam Engine, the Museum's collections will interest the whole family, both young and old.
The museum is run and managed by volunteers from the Bridgnorth and District Historical Society, which founded the museum in 1951.
The Curator is proud to announce that the Museum has, from 1st November 2007, become the first independent Shropshire museum to be given Accreditation by the MLA (Museum, Libraries, and Archives Council). The MLA set nationally agreed standards that the Museum must meet as to how it is run, looks after it's collections and what services it provides for visitors.
2009 started as a good year for the volunteers of the museum as they were selected as the West Midlands Regional winners of the Marsh Awards for volunteers. Their selection was from 90 other museums across the country and the Regional winners were invited to the British Museum in London for the award ceremony.
Entry is FREE but donations are welcomed.
10. Bridgnorth Town Hall and Guided Walks, High Street
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Bridgnorth Town Hall is a black and white building erected in 1650. In the 16th Century the view up the High Street would have been uninterrupted. In the centre of the street would have been the High Cross, otherwise known as a Market Cross. Opposite the top of Hungry Street, now St Mary’s Street, stood the ‘New House’, a raised building containing the office of the town’s chief magistrates. On the ground floor was the public wool market.
Half timbered and full of historical information the Town Hall offers visitors a unique insight into the history of Bridgnorth. FREE admission. Refreshments available.
Bridgnorth Town Hall is open all year. In Summer, it is open daily 10am – 3pm, closed Thursdays. In Winter, it is open Friday – Sunday 11am – 3pm.
Bridgnorth Charter Market is operated from beneath the Town Hall on Fridays, Saturdays and during the summer on alternate Sundays. Other events take place in the town and under the Town Hall throughout the year www.bridgnorthtownevents.org
Bridgnorth Guided Tours
Information on the guided tours can be obtained from the Visitor Information Centre in Listley Street.
