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Bishop’s Castle is a quintessential English market town, nestled on the border between Shropshire and Wales. Set amongst the Shropshire Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you can enjoy some of the best food, real ales, walking, castles, and history that England has to offer during your visit to Bishop’s Castle.

Check out our guide to the top 5 must-see attractions in Bishop’s Castle below.

1) Enjoy a Real Ale (or two) at Britain’s Oldest Brewery

The Three Tuns Inn, a famous and historic pub and brewery, has been labelled the “beating heart” of Bishop’s Castle since its establishment in 1642. Over the years, it has been refurbished and extended; but still maintains the charm of the original pub. Step inside and discover not one, not two, but THREE bars (the public bar, snug, and lounge), as well as the classy oak framed, glass-sided dining room. As you can probably imagine, this lively pub serves a fantastic range of real ales from the adjoining brewery; not to mention delicious food with their modern, electric menu.

2) Dinner with a View at the Castle Hotel

The Castle Hotel is an 18th Century coaching inn, set on the site where the town’s original castle once stood. Boasting fabulous gardens and panoramic views of the Welsh hills beyond, you can enjoy modern pub food amongst spectacular scenery. The hotel boasts three separate bars, each with its own individual character. Some have terraces out to the garden, some have real fires, and all serve real ale. On a sunny day, we highly recommend heading out to the beautiful south-facing gardens with its fantastic terrace and raised fishponds and watching the sun go down over a delicious dinner.

3) Stock Up on Your Very Own Poetry Prescription

Bishop’s Castle is home to the world’s first ever walk-in Poetry Pharmacy – a beautiful Victorian shop jam-packed full of poetry, philosophy, and wellbeing ‘pills’. Discover a wide array of books, arts, gifts, and stationary to address your emotional ailments; whether you’re suffering from the pain of a broken heart of simply need a pick-me-up, The Poetry Pharmacy has the perfect poetic remedy for you. As well as being the go-to for poetry on prescription, The Distillery space hosts a fantastic variety of regular reading, writing, bookbinding, and printing workshops, as well as book launches and open mic nights.

4) Visit the House on Crutches Museum

The delightful House on Crutches Museum is home to exciting artefacts covering the daily life of Bishop’s Castle in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Established in 1993, this early 16th Century timber framed building has four separate display rooms dedicated to domestic life, local businesses, agriculture, and childhood. Farming and agriculture were particularly important in the area, which also supported thriving industries such as brewing, shoemaking, and tanning. And just in case you were wondering, the crutches in the museum’s name relate to the posts that hold up the second story of the building.

5) Explore this Picturesque Town by Foot

As a dedicated “Walkers are Welcome” town, Bishop’s Castle is an excellent hub for exploring the beautifully unspoilt Shropshire countryside. Situated within the Shropshire Way and only a short distance from the historic Offa’s Dyke Path, you can follow various well-marked paths through the pretty hillside and valley villages that pass through the River Clun and Upper Onny, If you’re a keen walker, we highly recommend visiting in May during the Bishop’s Castle Walking Festival for fascinating long and short walks with experienced guides.

Discover the Beautiful Bishop’s Castle with Moonrise Lodges

Our two luxury lodges, Swallow and Curlew, are just a 20 minutes’ drive from Bishop’s Castle, providing the perfect base to explore this quintessential English market town. We are filling up fast for the autumn season, with only the following dates still available:

  • Monday 3rd – Friday 7th October at both lodges
  • Friday 7th – Monday 10th October at Curlew lodge
  • Monday 10th – Friday 14th October at Swallow lodge
  • Wednesday 12th – Monday 17th October at Curlew lodge
  • Monday 17th – Friday 21st October at Swallow lodge
  • Friday 28th – Monday 31st October at both lodges

Click here to book your amazing autumn escape at Moonrise Lodges today!