The Best Places To Date In Shropshire

Moreton Corbet Castle – a little picnic date

This English heritage derelict castle is near Shawbury, just a 10-minute drive from Shrewsbury! It is a mixture of Elizabethan and Medieval buildings, and as ruins go, it’s in relatively good condition. 

It is a very romantic setting to surprise someone with a picnic, and you could bring your dog too. So just let them know that you will meet them there and take care of the rest (if you’re the romantic type!). 

In fact, you could visit ANY of the castles in Shropshire! Here’s a list to explore:

• • Shrewsbury Castle

• • Ludlow Castle

• • Stokesay Castle

• • Whittington Castle (Oswestry)

• • Clun Castle

• • Acton Burnell Castle

Blists Hill Victorian Town

Ironbridge is the home of Blists Hill Victorian Town. It even featured in one of the challenges on The Apprentice. I can’t promise this means you take a step back to the times before online dating became a thing BUT it has a recreated Victorian village, complete with charming shops, actors in period attire and traditional carnival games.

Ironbridge is a picturesque location in Shropshire where you can walk alongside the river. There is a lovely park, beautiful little shops, pubs, and a couple of restaurants. You could even grab an ice cream.

A date visiting animals in Shropshire

Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World

Dating should be fun and what’s not to love about an independent farm (or zoo as it is now known). 

They have over 100 animals and if you really want to impress your date, Hoo Zoo sells animal encounters. This means getting up close and personal with the animals. You will be able to hold some of them and even feed them.

Exotic Zoo Wildlife Park

If you like animal encounters and think this could be the perfect date, you could also check out Exotic Zoo Wildlife Park in Telford. You can feed goats, horses or even wallabies’. They have a unique armadillo experience along with a cafe.

Battlefield Bird of Prey Centre (formally Battlefield Falconry Centre)

If birds are more your thing then this would be an ideal date. You can get up close and personal with the birds, and if the date is rubbish, you’ll have a whole new category of bird-related knowledge to bring to the next person you date (lucky them, hey).

A date on the water in Shropshire

Norbury Wharf

Maybe this is more second or third-date material, but Norbury Wharf allows you to hire narrow boats. Someone has to drive it though, so make sure one of you is up for that! 

You could stop off along the river at one of the pubs for drinks and food and make a day of it. It would be awesome to surprise someone with this kind of date because it is super unique.

Shropshire Raft Tours

How much fun would you have hiring a kayak, canoe or paddle board? You could make your way along the beautiful River Severn located in the Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire. 

An active date in Shropshire

Climbing Centres – Climbing Hut and Oswestry Climbing Den

If you prefer an active date, then Shropshire has several climbing centres. Climbing Hut is based in Shrewsbury, and Oswestry Climbing Den are two, but a quick Google search of your local area will locate your nearest one

Flip Out Telford

Did someone say Trampoline!! Provided you’ve been doing your kegel exercises, then this date could be a lot of fun (gents, there is nothing to see here; no need to focus too much on what that last sentence means).

The Edge Adventure Activities

Just outside of Much Wenlock, in the Shropshire Countryside, this is SUCH an awesome date idea! There is something for everyone AND you can buy packages of the different activities. These include:

• • Axe throwing

• • Quad biking

• • Sniper shooting

• • Archery

• • Clay shooting

• • Mountain boarding

• • Paintballing

• • Jacob’s ladder

So if you want to be competitive, check out The Edge!

Dates with drinks in Shropshire

Shropshire Wine School

Wine school…sounds like fun, right? They host wine and gin-tasting events in Shropshire! It’s different, it’s fun, and it takes place in an informal, relaxed setting.

South Water, Telford

Southwater in Telford is home to many different restaurants (such as Zizis, The Wrekin Giant, or TGI Fridays). There is a lush bubble tea stand inside the town centre, and if the day becomes night, check out The LiquorLab or Albert and Co Fairground for cocktails!

Walking dates in Shropshire

Woodland Walks

Here are my top picks!

• • Apley Woods

• • Haugmond Hill

• • The Wrekin (if you like walking around the Shropshire hills)

These are my recommendations as you’re unlikely to get lost, and there are likely to be other people around (in case it is a first date).

National Trust Sites

Shropshire is so beautiful that you have a lovely choice of National Trust sites. They are great places to walk and are mostly dog-friendly (if you want to bring your best mate along). 

Here are a few to check out:

• • You have Attingham Park

• • Cardingmill Valley and the Long Mynd (near Church Stretton)

• • Benthall Hall

• • Sunnycroft

• • Dudmaston Estate

• • Cronkhill

• • Wilderhope Manor

Unusual dates in Shropshire

Telford Steam Railway and Severn Valley Railway

Get steamy! (Behave, that’s not what I meant)

You have your pick of two steam train companies in Shropshire. Telford Steam Railway is particularly magical around Christmas when they have their Polar Express experience, which runs through Dawley, Lawley, and Horsehay. 

However, Severn Valley Railway runs through Kidderminster, Bewdley or Bridgnorth, so location depends; there is something for everyone.

Shrewsbury Prison (Escape room)

There are several escape rooms in Shropshire, but perhaps the most notable one is the one at Shrewsbury prison. If you’re dating someone who is up for this kind of fun and tomfoolery, then get it booked!

Enginuity

You could get stuck into some interactive science and engineering activities – this is a great little activity date in Shropshire without the high levels of exertion, but if you both have curious minds, take your date here!

Final word on the best places to date in Shropshire

Suss out your dates preferences before deciding where to go. Some people would love to spend time making something….for others, this could fill them with creative dread. Is your date an active person? Or might they feel embarrassed trying to scale a wall or row down the river? So, if it’s a first date, ask questions! Happy dating, Shropshire folk!

Want to meet other single people in Shropshire? Come along to one of our speed dating events!