What to See, Do & Where to Stay 2020
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FREE MAPS What to see, do & where to stay 2020 VISIT OSWESTRY Where Shropshire meets Wales Historic - Friendly - Surprising P L A C T H E R O I F B • • 1893 1918 W I N visitoswestry.co.uk OswestryTourism L E F W R E D O Historic – enjoy discovering our market town and The Welsh Borderlands Historic, friendly, surprising VISIT OSWESTRY where Shropshire meets Wales Welcome to Oswestry – a great little town that sits snugly between North West Shropshire and the Welsh Borderlands. Can we tempt you to visit? Browse through this brochure to discover lots more about our special corner of England and we hope to see you soon. Information Historic stop for a cuppa or visit one of the town’s at Visitor & Exhibition Markets have featured in Oswestry since traditional pubs – you will be very welcome. Centre 1262 and there is nothing better than 2 Church Terrace being here on market day when stalls are Surprising Oswestry scattered from Bailey Head down to Llwyd Our visitors often say the surprise is that SY11 2TE 01691 662753 Mansion right in the centre of town. From there is so much to see and so many the ramparts of the 3,000-year-old hill fort- different events to go to and yet they hadn’t Old Oswestry, to the stunning castles of been here before. Don’t miss the dramatic Photo Whittington and Chirk that once guarded metal sculptures at The British Ironworks Reference: the borders of the Marches, Oswestry and or a walk over the awesome ‘Stream in the Front cover main: Hot air balloon over the Borderlands are ready to share their Sky’ at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Old Oswestry Hill Fort fascinating history with you. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Be here in July for This page: the fun and free Food and Drink Festival or Oswestry Visitor & Friendly in August when the Hot Air Balloon Carnival Exhibition Centre Sometimes English, sometimes Welsh, takes off from our beautiful town centre Opposite: Llwyd Oswestry and The Borderlands are known for park. Stay a day or longer – we are sure you Mansion, Oswestry their friendly folk. Take a stroll round town, will find surprises around every corner. Town Centre call in at some of our independent shops, Contents 4 Oswestry Town 32 Let’s go out - events calendar 8 Oswestry Town Council 36 Let’s find things to do - 10 Let’s explore Oswestry & attractions the Borderlands 43 Let’s eat, drink & sleep - 26 Let’s have fun - food, drink and where to stay family time 52 Area Map 28 Let us entertain you - 54 Oswestry town map & shopping arts & festivals 2 VisitOswestry.co.uk Follow us @OswestryTourism Oswestry Town Market Cae Glas Park Visitor & Exhibition Centre Hot Air Balloon Carnival Food & Drink Festival Friendly Oswestry It’s traditional, it’s friendly, it’s a market town – this is Oswestry P L A C T H E R O There’s a bit of a buzz about Oswestry Enjoy ice creams and picnics all summer I F B • • these days and we think it’s coming from long and why not spend a sunny Sunday our visitors who say, “What a friendly town, afternoon chilling while you listen to one 1893 1918 W what a surprise, we love it!” of the free summer concerts? I N L E F W R E D O Visit on market days - enjoy the bargains Relish the tastes and flavours of as you discover the many independent Oswestry – the café culture is scrumptious shops and stalls. Browse for antiques and and the pub scene lively. Many of arts, indulge your inner MasterChef, be a Oswestry’s oldest buildings are pubs and bookworm or go on a discovery of local the town was once said to have over 100! flavours in our speciality food shops. Now the pubs, cafes and restaurants are as lively or laid back as you could want. Take to the streets - and enjoy one of the Celebrate local produce in the restaurants many events that take place in the town or experience the growing pub music centre. From the free, fun and friendly scene. We’re a friendly bunch so come on in! food festival to the soaring hot air balloon carnival through to the festive Christmas live, we think Oswestry is “Fest Fab” all year! Photo Take a walk in the park - its “much loved” Reference: status says so much about how it brings Above: Oswestry Town together locals and visitors alike. Stroll Market past the stunning flowers in the memorial Friendly - who wants to Right: Cambrian gardens, the life size bronze statue of Heritage Wilfred Owen the war poet, then on to meet the train driver? Railways the Victorian Bandstand and play areas. 4 VisitOswestry.co.uk Follow us @OswestryTourism Friendly Oswestry Friendly Old Oswestry Hill Fort Oswald’s Well St Oswald’s Church Cambrian Heritage Railway Oswestry Town Museum Old Racecourse Wilfred Owen Memorial P L A C T H E R O Begin at the beginning - Old Oswestry. Western Railway. In 2020 the long-awaited I F B • • This 3000-year-old hill fort is considered connection from Oswestry to Weston will to be one of the finest in the country and re-open. Should we mention there is a 1893 1918 W legend even has it that Queen Guinevere brewery and distillery at the other end? I N L E F W R E D O was born here. The ramparts have softened over time and are now a haven for plants Walk the Wilfred Owen trail – the war and wildlife. Take a walk to the top and poet was born in Oswestry in 1893. Follow enjoy views over Oswestry town and the the trail around town to see Victorian Shropshire plain. Oswestry that he and his family would recognise. Then, take a quiet moment in the Get to know King Oswald - the town park to see his life size bronze statue. Want is said to be named after this king and to know more about the history of town? saint. Visit the Church of St. Oswald and Visit The Town Museum in the Guildhall on the timbered old school building in the the market square or, on summer Saturdays, churchyard and you will be in one of oldest why not join one of our volunteer guides for parts of the town. Walk on a little further a walking tour of historic Oswestry. and you will come to Oswald’s Well. The folklore and myth say that when Oswald died at the battle of Maserfield a large raven Historic - they say that Queen scooped up his severed arm and where it Guinevere was born at Old Oswestry dropped was the point that the first water Hill Fort. Did she play there and watch of Oswald’s Well sprung. St. Oswald’s Day the dawn from the ramparts? is 5th August and in 2020 there will be the first St. Oswald’s Festival. Friendly - take a stroll round town Photo to meet our friendly independent Reference: Ready to ride? – Oswestry’s Cambrian shopkeepers Above: Dawn on Old Railway heritage is fascinating. It began Oswestry with Thomas Savin, the gunpowder expert Surprising - watch the hot air Opposite clockwise from top left: and visionary who brought the railway to balloons as they glide over town after Wilfred Owen the centre of town. Later, Wilfred Owen’s launching from Cae Glas Park at the Statue, Cae Glas father Tom was posted to Oswestry after Balloon Carnival in August Park, Market Day being taken on as a junior clerk by Great 6 VisitOswestry.co.uk Follow us @OswestryTourism Advertorial: Oswestry Town Council - www.oswestry-tc.gov.uk Council Town Oswestry Advertorial: Enjoy a game of bowls or tennis, challenge the family at crazy golf and have fun at the Oswestry new children’s play area. Visit on a summer afternoon and bring a picnic as music soars from the Victorian bandstand during Town the free Summer concerts that feature everything from traditional brass bands to rock and reggae. Council Oswestry Visitor & Exhibition Centre is a landmark building in the town; built in 2019 Heart of England in Bloom 15th Consecutive Gold medal 1407, it was the second oldest grammar 2019 Heart of England in Bloom Cae Glas Park winner - school in the country. Visit the Town Love Your Local Neighbourhood Award Museum too, housed in our impressive 2019 Fields in Trust – Cae Glas Park nominated for West Midlands Guild Hall, it celebrates Oswestry and Best Park and winner of Much Loved Status its people. We are hoping to receive coach friendly There is a great pride, tradition and Hot Air Balloon Carnival in August and the status in 2020 and are already welcoming optimism about Oswestry and at Oswestry ultimate pre-Christmas celebration that many coach tours to town. We can meet Town Council we celebrate this in our day is Christmas Live- the streets of Oswestry your coach and give you an introduction to to day role within the town. As a council, Town are full of people having fun. our lovely market town. (See map on page we believe that by supporting many of Oswestry Town Council 55 for coach park and drop off points). the community activities and attractions As a council we are especially proud of Sponsored Events 2020 throughout the year, the vibrancy of the award winning Cae Glas Park – in 2019, If visiting by coach, let us welcome you. Easter Fun Day Apple Day town will be enhanced, and visitors and not only did we win a 15th consecutive Contact [email protected] Good Friday April 10th 10th October locals alike will enjoy being in Oswestry gold award in Heart of England in Bloom to help make your visit easier.