A Guide to Living in Shropshire

Where is Shropshire?

Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands of England. It borders Wales, Cheshire and Staffordshire to its east, Herefordshire to its west, and Worcestershire to its south-west. To the north, Shropshire has a border with Staffordshire across the River Severn. The civil parish of Shrewsbury includes both town and largely rural areas that fall within both Shrewsbury borough and Telford and Wrekin borough.

Areas in Shropshire

The county has a number of towns, including the capital Shrewsbury. There are also several market centres in the county such as Newport and Market Drayton that were established during the Middle Ages. Some of the more popular areas for prospective home buyers include:

Shrewsbury – The county town of Shropshire, located on the River Severn. The town has a population of over 72,000 and is home to several universities and colleges, including University Centre Shrewsbury. It also has a number of excellent independent schools, including Shrewsbury High School, Lady Manners and Meole Brace.

Church Stretton – A popular market town in southwest Shropshire with a population of around 11,000. The area is known for its attractive countryside as well as two national nature reserves that are close to the town: Long Mynd and Stiperstones.

also popular for its food and drink – Ludlow Food Festival is held every year during September and October to celebrate local produce as well as the internationally renowned Ludlow Marches Food & Drink festival that takes place at Easter.

Shifnal – A market town in northeast Shropshire with a population of around 13,000. It is close to the county border with Staffordshire and is well known for its annual carnival which takes place in late August/early September.

Much Wenlock – A small market town in southeast Shropshire located on the River Severn, Much Wenlock has a population of just over 2500. The town is best known for its annual Wenlock Olympian Games, which have been taking place every year since 1850 with the exception of during the two World Wars.

Universities in Shropshire

Shropshire is home to a number of universities, the most notable of which are:

The University of Shropshire – A public university located in the town of Shrewsbury. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses across a range of disciplines.

Harper Adams University – A specialist agricultural and applied science university, Harper Adams University is located in Newport.

Telford College – A further education college based in Telford that offers a range of courses and qualifications at all levels.

Top Schools in Shropshire

Shropshire has a number of schools that have been recognised as being within the top 100 best state secondary schools across England. These include:

St Martins High School – Considered to be one of the best comprehensive schools in the country, St Martins High School is located in Oswestry.

The Priory School – A co-educational independent school situated in Shrewsbury, The Priory School offers GCSEs and A-Levels to students aged 11-18 years old.

Population of Shropshire

Shropshire has a population of 319,189 (Source: 2019 Census) with an average population density of 23 people per hectare. Most of the population is located in the south of Shropshire, with Telford being home to most people living in the county.