W<\/span>hen your streets are as lauded as Ludlow\u2019s, it\u2019s hard living up to the hype, but the south Shropshire market town rises smoothly to the challenge. <\/span><\/p>\n

Described by John Betjeman as \u2018probably the loveliest town in England, with its hill of Georgian houses ascending from the River Teme to the great tower of the cross-shaped church\u2019, it\u2019s also home to an imposing (ruined) castle, built when the town was a seat of government, presiding over Wales and the Marches between the 15th and 17th centuries. <\/span><\/p>\n

The town\u2019s rich Georgian heritage is a testament to another glory period in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Although Ludlow\u2019s prominence later declined, its relative lack of growth during the 20th century is now reframed as a preservation victory; with more significant development the 400-plus listed buildings and medieval street layout of its centre might not have survived.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ludlow is no living history museum, however. Already home to a dynamic arts scene, in 1995 the local chamber of commerce came up with the idea of a food festival to shout about the region\u2019s food producers. Held in the castle square, before expanding into the castle grounds, it heralded a new era for the town as a culinary destination.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Where to buy antique and vintage rugs online<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
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While the constellation of Michelin-starred restaurants that subsequently sprang up eventually moved on, the commitment to good food stuck. From sophisticated dining in oak-panelled restaurants to craft ales brewed in Victorian railway sheds, Ludlow remains a hot ticket for food-lovers. Not least during its annual food festival<\/a> which, this year, takes place in September.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Places to visit in Ludlow<\/span><\/h2>\n
Ludlow Castle<\/span><\/h3>\n
Built after the Norman invasion, in around 1085, <\/span>Ludlow Castle<\/a> was one of the first stone castles in England. Slowly expanded over the following <\/span>centuries, it became a royal palace before falling into disrepair during the Civil War. <\/span><\/p>\n
Now an atmospheric shell, it\u2019s owned by the Earl of Powis and open as a visitor attraction. You can, however, sleep within its walls; there are apartments in Castle House, a mansion built in the 19th century in <\/span>the outer bailey.<\/span><\/p>\n
Stokesay Castle <\/span><\/h3>\n
Being in the Welsh Marches borderlands means there are more castles than you can shake a shield at in these parts. Medieval Stokesay Castle<\/a>, 10 minutes\u2019 drive north of Ludlow, is one of the most intriguing, and well-preserved. <\/span><\/p>\n
More manor house than castle, it was built in the 1280s by wealthy wool merchant Laurence of Ludlow and is now managed by English Heritage. <\/span>Stop, on the way, at Ludlow Farmshop<\/a>, a farm-to-fork version of Selfridges food hall, to pick up edible souvenirs from the region.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Kin-Ludlow <\/span><\/h3>\n
Look out for Kin-Ludlow<\/a> opening this summer in a Grade II-listed building in the centre of town. A new venture from the team behind Cruckbarn in nearby Wigmore, expect four holiday apartments plus a cafe and a large kitchen garden.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smokehouse Deli & Cicchetti Bar<\/span><\/h3>\n
The tiny, jam-and-ham-packed Smokehouse Deli<\/a> is a must-visit while in town.<\/span><\/p>\n