Days Out,  England,  Travel

Ludlow Castle – Shropshire

When I realised that the hotel where we stayed in Abberley was just a short drive away from Ludlow Castle, I promptly told my husband that we just had to go!  I remember going when I was younger with my parents and it’s just stuck in my mind as a place that I knew my kids should see and explore!

Driving into the quaint market town of Ludlow, we managed to find a parking space directly outside the castle front (very lucky), although it was pay and display so make sure you have some spare cash. Outside the castle walls the first thing that greeted you was a large cannon, after obligatory picture you head inside.

Cannon at Ludlow Castle
Cannon at Ludlow Castle

Tickets cost £5 per adult, £2.50 per child (under 6 go free) so £12.50 for us and that’s an open ticket meaning you can leave and go back in later on that day, so very reasonable.

Although this castle is a medieval ruin (built 1086), it’s a fine ruin at that!  I’ve been to some ruins and they literally are just rocks and a few walls, which could be anything…with Ludlow Castle you can actually see it’s a castle, you can imagine all the people and the knights going about their business.

“The Castle, firstly a Norman Fortress and extended over the centuries to become a fortified Royal Palace, has ensured Ludlow’s place in English history – originally built to hold back unconquered Welsh”

Ludlow Castle
Ludlow Castle

Walking over the moat and into Mortimer’s Tower, we headed straight up the spiraling staircase to explore…many many steps later we reached the very top…

On top of Mortimer's Tower
On top of Mortimer’s Tower

And what a view!

View from Mortimers Tower
View from Mortimers Tower

Looking down into the Castle grounds, the round building is St Peter’s Chapel and the great hall which according to the history books, the two princes Edward and Richard lived in the 1400’s before they lived in the Tower of London.

Heading back down, me first this time as my nerves kicked in and I had visions of the boys taking a tumble down the staircase!  We headed into the grounds to explore all the different rooms.

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Inside St Peter’s Chapel

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After exploring all the different rooms and the extended stay in the gift shop, although I have to say it was a much better quality gift shop than some I’ve been to so at least the boys spent their pocket money on decent stuff rather than crappy plastic toys!

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On to lunch and a short walk down through the market we found this very quaint little pub, traditionally called The Rose and Crown!

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Have you been to a Castle ruin before, which one?

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