Camping at West Midlands Showground

Once Shrewsbury has been well and truly explored (don’t forget a pitstop at The Mount, birthplace of Charles Darwin), venturing out into nature will be a welcome break from bricks and mortar. The site is a little over half an hour’s drive from the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where scenic wanders, horse riding, gliding and paragliding are the order of the day. If those walking boots haven’t seen enough action, make tracks for Buttington (35 minutes' drive) to join the Offa’s Dyke long-distance path and follow 177 miles of England-Wales border – alternatively, rest weary legs with a scenic boat tour along the Severn, leaving 15 minutes away. There’s plenty of history hereabouts, so dive right in with a look inside the fab 18th-century mansion at Attingham Park (and a stroll around the gardens and parkland) or a stop at the spectacular Sunnycroft villa in nearby Telford. Go from finery to industry by trundling along to the Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO site to explore the birthplace of the industrial revolution, making time for the recreated Victorian town of Blists Hill, the Coalport China Museum and the world’s first ever cast-iron bridge. Stay in the past (the very, very distant past) with a trip to Wroxeter Roman City and Vineyard, or return to the present with some modern urban days: Telford is half an hour away and has a snowboard and skiing centre that should keep families entertained, while Birmingham Is a little over an hour and a half from base if a real big-city vibe is needed.