Wellington

The charming market town of Wellington is a strong contender for the title of oldest town in Shropshire. It’s thought to be 1,400 years old! With a lively events calendar, pretty buildings, historic market and easy access to Telford’s walking trails, cycle routes, cute villages, nature reserves and adventure trails, Wellington is a great base for your trip.

Stroll along streets of red brick and half-timbered buildings, peek into cool, calm churches and wander along little lanes filled with indie shops. You can browse retro shops and pick up everything you need to make a yummy meal at the artisan butchers and bakers. 

At its heart, Wellington is a market town. Its Victorian indoor Market Hall hosts thriving markets four days a week and there’s always some event or festival going on in the busy market square.  

Like each of Telford’s towns, Wellington has its own strong sense of identity. The bunting-strewn pedestrianised area is home to quaint cafes, contemporary restaurants, boutiques, pubs and brew houses run by people who are deeply passionate about what they do. Don’t miss the colourful array of instruments on display at The Music Vault. Sip a cocktail on the terrace at The Walnut – locals rave about this place. Or you could drop in for a coffee or a movie at the new Orbit Theatre, which curates an irresistible selection of arthouse and classic films.

As well as the Walking Festival every summer, the town’s event highlights include the Wellington Festival, a celebration of arts, culture and literature, every October. 
Talking of culture… Bookworms, did you know that the poet Philip Larkin kicked off his librarian career at Wellington Library from 1943 to 1945? He wrote his two novels and published his first collection of poetry during that time. 

5# Be inspired by Wellington 

1. Shop, drink and dance – at the Market! Wellington’s market and charter might be one of the oldest in England, but it’s keeping up with the times. By day, it’s a great place to pick up local produce and chat with local craftspeople selling their wares. Some evenings, it transforms into the Late Night Market, a favourite spot for locals and visitors to hang out with street food stalls, music and a great country vibe.  

2. Lace up your hiking boots. Wellington has been a ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town since 2010. The town is known as the Northern Gateway to the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the area’s most famous landmark, The Wrekin hill range, is right on Wellington’s doorstep. Throw in the annual Walking Festival, plenty of outdoors shops, big routes and secret trails and it’s no wonder walking groups, families and adventurers love it here.

3. Go wild in Apley’s landscaped woodlands. There’s no shortage of nature reserves in Telford (17, to be exact) but Apley Woods is always a crowd pleaser! There are plenty of adventures to be had in its 56 acres of meadows, pools, woodland paths and sculptures. Follow the Tree Trail to spot 10 of the estate’s finest specimen trees, have a picnic near Yew Tree Walk (try Apley Farm Shop’s deli for all sorts of goodies), or simply bathe in the soothing forest beauty.

4. Say cheers! Wellington is a foodie hotspot thanks to the fab array of fresh local produce in the markets – and on the tables in the town’s highly rated restaurants. But did you know it’s also a great place to raise a glass? The 250-year-old Cock Hotel coach house has just had a £1 million refurbishment by Joules Brewery, which is passionate about making English beer and the heritage of the English pub. It’s another addition to Wellington’s already impressive list of taphouses and, soon, a micropub. 

5. Browse mouth-watering independent shops. Wellington’s streets and Market Square are lined with tempting artisan bakeries, butchers and boutiques, as well as big-name brands. Drool over the baklava and giant chocolate custard eclairs at Nanny’s Craft Bakery. At Anthony’s of Wellington Farm Shop & Coffee, you can pick up artisan bread and cakes, real ale, coffee and fresh local meat, including burgers and sausages made on site by the friendly butchers. The Little Green Pantry is the place to go for zero waste shopping. Its shelves are stacked with pantry refills, bee-friendly seed bombs and regular pop-ups from other eco-minded local suppliers.