The Shropshire town that's really two destinations in one where 'you never feel lonely'

There’s the lofty, historic High Town, all Georgian frontages and winding lanes, and the bustling Low Town, stretched along the riverbank with pubs, rowing boats and the gentle hum of waterside life.

High Town, once described by Charles I as having “the finest view in all my kingdom”, rises steeply above the Severn. From Castle Walk, the panorama sweeps across patchwork countryside, the Severn Valley Railway line threading through the landscape like a toy set come to life.

The views never fail to impress even the town’s resident ‘Viking Chef’ Erik Pedersen, whose family runs a Danish eatery by that name in Castle Terrace.

”We have so many things,” he told the Shropshire Star. “We have the [Bridgnorth] Cliff Railway, we have the Severn Valley Railway and we have the beautiful town with all the local shops - and we’re just a nice bunch of people to come and see!

“[Bridgnorth] is all friendly people, we’re all very nice people.”

The town is gearing up for the Bridgnorth Music & Arts Festival at the end of August, and Erik, a resident of more than 30 years, said Bridgnorth has plenty to offer visitors and locals alike.

“It’s all local bands and some bands from further afield, it’s always a very good session when that’s on.

“This coming Saturday we have Bridgnorth Pride, June 6. There’s a walk round and a big function in town.”

Phillip Jeffrey of versatile cafe/bar/eatery Peepo presented us with one particularly bold claim about the town - but he has the experience to back it up.

“Bridgnorth is the ultimate foodie town now. The difference we’ve seen - we’ve been here 15 years - and there are so many great foodie places to eat.

“I’m not going to name any of them specifically but everywhere is good, and it’s just a vibrant town in that way.

“We’ve really taken over in Shropshire of being somewhere really good to come out and have something to eat.”

Rebecca Cockayne, who we spoke to in High Street, agreed: “I think it’s a beautiful little town full of quaintness. All the people are very friendly and there are lots of places to eat and drink and frequent, also shops.

“I think it’s a beautiful, peaceful place.”

Bridgnorth’s Low Town in particular has the feel of a riverside resort: colourful shopfronts, ice cream stops, anglers lining the banks and families strolling the riverside paths.

The two halves are connected by the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, the oldest and steepest inland funicular in the country, still trundling up and down the sandstone cliff face more than 130 years after it opened.

Bridgnorth wears its history openly: a ruined castle leaning at a dramatic angle greater than the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s; the North Gate, one of the last surviving medieval gateways in Shropshire, stands guard over High Street; and tucked between the Georgian terraces are blue plaques, old coaching inns and several charming crooked lanes.

But it’s a bustling and busy place in the here and now too.

“There’s lots going on in Bridgnorth, there’s always different live music going on,” said Gabrielle Corns of the Parlors Hall Hotel.

“You never feel lonely. You go walk down the High Street and you know everybody, it is lovely.”