Living in Shropshire

Shropshire is one of England’s ‘undiscovered counties’ lying on the border with Wales but within easy reach of Birmingham and Manchester, either by road or rail. The National Exhibition Centre is just over an hour away and both cities have international airports from which many major destinations can be reached.

 The population of Shropshire is c500,000 people, but with only two major towns, Shrewsbury (60,000) and Telford (160,000), the majority of people living in a network of villages and small market towns. The most local of these is Newport, where many of the University's students live during their time out of campus residences. The town has a range of small shops, with some national chains, major supermarkets, including a branch of Waitrose, and a lively market. The town also has three excellent secondary schools, including a boys’ selective school and a girls’ high school, both of which perform exceptionally in the national schools league tables.
 
Telford and Shrewsbury, as well as other surrounding towns and cities provide opportunities for employment for relocating partners. Birmingham is also within commuting distance from Telford railway station.
 
The wider county has many attractions, including the World Heritage Site at Ironbridge, Ludlow with its famous food and arts festivals, and a wide range of agricultural events that take place during the summer season. Outdoor activities are just on the doorstep and extend to many places to visit just over the border into Wales.