Shrewsbury has been called "England's Finest Tudor Town", with good reason – the town centre is full of black and white timber-framed buildings along winding, steep, narrow streets. In fact there are over 600 listed buildings, including Shrewsbury Abbey, Shrewsbury Castle and St Mary's Church.

Shrewsbury is the birthplace of Charles Darwin, who's commemorated each year in February during the month-long Darwin Festival. 2009 will be an especially important year, being both the 200th anniversary of his birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of "On the Origin of Species".

As well as Shrewsbury Castle (along with Rowley's House home to Shrewsbury Museums), the town houses Shrewsbury Abbey (built in 1083 and home to the fictitious Brother Cadfael), many beautiful churches including St Mary's Church and the Old Market Hall, built for the Drapers' Guild in 1596. As the town is situated within a loop of the River Severn, there are also easy and picturesque walks connecting many of these places.

Each August Shrewsbury hosts the world-famous Shrewsbury Flower Show (the world's longest-running horticultural show), and the Shrewsbury Folk Festival over the Bank Holiday weekend. The Shrewsbury Summer Season runs from May to September with a range of music, visual arts and theatre events, and in June the West Mid Show, takes place at the Agricultual Showground.

Shrewsbury is also an ideal location to be based to visit the many attractions in the immediate vicinity – including the Roman city of Wroxeter (just outside the town) and the South Shropshire Hills.

To find out more about Shrewsbury visit the Official Tourist Board website, the Shrewsbury Guide website or the Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council website.