Telford Town Centre and Southwater

Fun, dynamic and brimming with trees, Telford Town & Southwater has an old soul, a green heart and an international outlook. 

Explore our award-winning park, wander along historic high streets and check out cool urban architecture. Our international population means our calendar is chock-full of global celebrations, including Caribbean, African, Chinese and Indian festivals, as well as the Commonwealth Games 2022.

Fun fact: Telford Town was designed as a Forest City. More than 1 million trees of 150 different species cast their leafy shade around town. Enormous Telford Town Park is regularly voted one of the UK’s top urban parks. It’s got nature trails, cycle paths, pretty gardens and dozens of activities, from treetop escapades to adventure golf - slap-bang in the middle of town.

The park is linked to Telford town centre by the new Southwater culture and leisure quarter. Southwater is the place for entertainment. Watch the latest blockbuster at the IMAX cinema, take a spin on the ice at Telford Ice Rink, and catch a gig at super-cool Albert’s Shed. Cheer on your favourite music acts, sport stars and sing along to festivals at the QEII Arena and Telford International Centre. 

Did we mention the shopping yet? It’s awesome! The Telford Centre is packed to the rafters with 160 shops plus all the restaurants, cafes and cocktail bars you need to fuel you for your spree. As if that wasn’t enough entertainment, there’s also a bowling alley and a theme park full of bouncy inflatables. You’ll need a break after all that! Retreat to the rooftop garden to put your feet up.

There’s too much to eat, shop, see and do to cram into one day. The solution? Take your pick of eight hotels and several apartments in the buzzing town centre. Telford is the perfect base for a break packed with fun things to do, great food and nights out with your pals, and even more world-class attractions, views and adventures close by.

5# Be inspired by Telford 

1. Let Southwater and Telford Town Park entertain you. Whether you have a few hours or a few days you’ll find plenty to fill your time. Swing through the trees on Skyreach high ropes course, tee off at Adventure Golf, make friends that climb, fly and crawl at the Exotic Zoo, or stroll along the nature and heritage trails in the park. Polish off your day with fine dining, a film or a twirl around the ice in Southwater.

2. Treat your taste buds. Whether your taste buds fancy big-flavour restaurants, contemporary cafes or al-fresco dining with a twist, you’ll find it here. Chain restaurants – some big, some small, all trusted – gather in Southwater where you can choose from the bright and cheerful Wildwood Kitchen’s pizza and pasta, noodles at Wagamama’s, burgers and salad bowls at cool Novello Lounge, all-American vibes at TGI Fridays, steak grilled to perfection at Miller & Carter and many more.

3. Shop ‘til you drop. Telford Town & Southwater is a shopper’s paradise. It’s home to the Telford Centre, one of the UK’s biggest and best shopping centre experiences that draws shoppers from across Shropshire and the West Midlands. You’ll find over 160 shops plus a new market street experience with independent and artisan booths. You’ll easily find whatever you’re looking for – and plenty of things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them!  

4. Cycle the Silkin Trail. This 14-mile (23km), traffic-free woodland cycle and walking route goes through the heart of Telford. Kick things off at the start of the trail in Bratton in northwest Telford or hire bikes from the Telford Bike Hub in Telford Town Park. Go for a spin around the historic park and its industrial icons or roll down to the Ironbridge Gorge and its museums. Pause at Blists Hill Victorian Town to please little cyclists.

5. Relax in the gardens. As well as adrenaline-fuelled activities, bike trails and theme parks, Telford Town Park has an array of beautiful gardens. They’re an oasis of tranquillity! In spring, don’t miss the Japanese-style Maxell Gardens when cherry blossom flutters around the garden’s waterfall and oriental sculptures. It deserves its own sakura (cherry blossom) festival! The nearby Chelsea Gardens were originally created for the Chelsea Flower Show. There’s a garden for every season and mood, from the Water Garden to the Summerhouse.