Car Hire Telford - Mini guide to Telford

A modern new Shropshire town comprised of much older districts set in beautiful rolling countryside make Telford a vibrant place to visit. Full of leisure opportunities, first class shopping and entertainment venues, it is also an historic area with roman ruins and has an important Industrial Revolution past.

Telford town centre primarily serves the area’s shopping and entertainment needs, and is a modern affair with centrally located Telford Shopping Centre housing well-known high street names and smaller independent outlets. The town centre’s most appealing attraction is the 500-acre Town Park, with its own nature reserve, scenic Maxell Gardens, life-size dinosaurs in Dinosaur Valley, and picturesque lake.

Telford’s biggest draws is the world’s first Iron Bridge, constructed by Thomas Telford, champion of the Industrial Revolution. The Wrekin area to the west of Telford is home to Ironbridge Gorge, a World Heritage Site, with many museums depicting the history of the area. A must-see is the Museum of the Gorge, a 10-minute walk from the famous Iron Bridge. Continuing out of town is Blists Hill Victorian Town, complete with reconstructed shops, cottages and workshops, and offering a perfect place to stop for lunch or a picnic.

Less than 10 miles from Telford is Weston Park, a grand 17th century house set in parkland which dates back to the Domesday Book, and which was landscaped in the 18th century by the famous Capability Brown. The house and grounds are open to visitors all year round and make a delightful contrast to Telford’s modern industrial backdrop. 30-minute drive to the west of the town is the fascinating Wroxeter, the largest excavated Roman British city to have escaped development. Among its many impressive ruins are the 2nd-century municipal baths, and an on-site museum has many finds from its excavation.

Telford is easily accessible from Birmingham International airport, less than 30 minutes away, offering flights to many international destinations in Europe and the US. By rail the town can be reached regularly via Wolverhampton. The A5/M54 dissect the town, making it easy to motorist to get to.