Situated in Shropshire, the town of Telford is located in between the urbanized region of Birmingham and the West Midlands. Known as the ‘birthplace of industry’, it hosts the Ironbridge Gorge, a focal location of the industrial revolution. Home to magnificent architectures, beautiful greeneries and historic sceneries, Telford is a great place for both work and leisure, where there is the right amount of balance between the city life, and the relaxing countryside life.

1. What makes Telford unique?
2. Telford popular attractions
3. Sports in Telford
4. Food in Telford
5. Shopping in Telford
6. Telford living costs
7. Travel in and around Telford
8. Explore the UK from Telford

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1. What makes Telford unique?

Named after the famous engineer Thomas Telford, the town is recognized as a place of innovation, technology and invention dating back to its significant history. In fact, the town is advertised as “The Birthplace of Industry”. Telford provides a plethora of opportunities for sports and leisure facilities. With its rich greenery, including the Wrekin, and the River Severn meanders, there is plenty of relaxing greenspace to enjoy in this wonderful town. There are a wide range of publicly open facilities, including ice rinks, athletics tracks, swimming pools, ski slopes, amphitheatre outdoor arenas and beautiful parks.

Furthermore, bikers would fall in love with this town for its network of cycle tracks known as the Silkin Way. You will enjoy a beautiful and rewarding experience cycling along this route, deeply enriched with mother nature. Following their redevelopment period in 2014, Telford also offers a variety of entertainment venues that meet all the needs you expect from an urban city. Not to mention Telford has been listed in the top ten happiest places to live in the UK, according to a 2014 Rightmove survey.

A fun fact about Telford is that it has a rapidly growing population but a relatively low car ownership rate. Therefore in 2004, Telford was awarded the ‘Beacon Status’ for improving access to public transport.

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2. Telford popular attractions

Telford is full of fun things to do and unique places to visit. Despite being just a town, within this wonderful place are numerous spots you can not miss, including:

• Ironbridge Gorge Museum: Sublime display of the history of the Ironbridge Gorge. The Ironbridge Gorge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was the birthplace of the industrial revolution. A great place to explore Telford’s amazing history and industrial heritage.
• The Iron Bridge: Iron arch bridge crossing the river Severn, the first bridge to be made entirely out of iron. Provides magnificent photo opportunities with beautiful natural landscapes.
• The Wrekin: Iconic mountain of Telford, popular among hikers for its extraordinary view of the town. With a distance of 407 meters to the peak, it’s a challenging yet rewarding hike. There are also plenty of flat grounds for a relaxing, beautiful walk.
• Telford Town Park: Beautiful park filled with a rich line-up of facilities including mini-golf course, cycle centre, fishing pools and water playgrounds. Voted the UK’s Best Park in 2015, it is rich with beautiful flower gardens and a wide range of sports, leisure facilities. Great for visiting with children.
• Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom: Small family-run zoo with brilliant photo opportunities and excellent guides. As a top tourist destination in Telford, there are a wide range of species in the zoo including interactive activities and hands-on experiences with adorable, furry animals.
• Exotic Zoo: Another iconic zoo in Telford, famous for its interactive activities with animals including meerkat experience and fox, lemur feeding activity. Great way to introduce animals to children, where the zoo presents a sustainable and well-managed set of animals with exciting activities hosted throughout the day.
• Blists Hill Victorian Town: Open-air museum displaying a Victorian mining town. Beautiful display of a Victorian town that will quite literally walk you through history. The town also has great options for food, antique shops, and cafes.
• Telford Steam Railway: Beautiful railway constructed along the natural landscapes of Telford. The polar express only operates on Sunday, where you will experience a trip on the historic railway of Telford.

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3. Sports in Telford

Telford has a well established history of sports. In particular, Telford has shown outstanding performance in football. The AFC Telford United Football Club is an active member of the National League North, competing in the football conference, which is the highest level outside of the professional league.

Ice hockey is also a famous sport played in Telford. The two representative teams are Telford Tiger and Telford Titans. Telford Tigres was originally founded in 1985, and played in the English Premier League. Other than ice hockey and football, Telford has professional teams in American football, Rugby, cricket and Basketball. Telford’s active participation in various sports all derive from its excellent sports facilities and their culture of sports.

Other state-of-the-art facilities open to the public include:

• Phoenix Sports and Leisure Centre
• Oakengates Leisure Centre
• Abraham Darby Sports & Leisure Centre
• Stirchley Recreation Centre
• Telford & Wrekin Leisure Services

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4. Food in Telford

Telford is a thriving city with a diversity of restaurants, bars, and cafes. From fine dining and afternoon tea to pop-up markets and an array of street food. Telford will fulfil your every taste and budget.

For an exclusive fine dining experience, Restaurant 1840, serving a wide variety of refined British cuisine, shall not be missed. The restaurant provides a unique dining occurrence as it is settled in a restored heritage building. Or for a change of taste, Mushi is a popular choice for Indian cuisine, offering vegan and halal options. When looking for a quick bite, be sure to check out The Clock Tower, the perfect place for a calm and pleasant meal - well known for their delicious classic British breakfast, though they serve lunch and dinner as well.

Beside contemporary restaurants, Darby's 1779 is a tearoom that will bring you back in time. Excellent beverages and dessert with a direct view of the iconic Iron Bridge with a quiet and ambience environment. If you are looking to host an event for an important date, Dineindulge could be an option. Your dish will be prepared by a private chef, both delicious and affordable.

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5. Shopping in Telford

Your experience in Telford would not be complete without a visit to its wonderful shopping centres, from international brands, independent stores, to small fashion boutiques, Telford Shopping is the best. Being one of the largest shopping centres in the town, sizing up to 25 acres, you can find an array of top-class retail options, such as House of Fraser, M&S, Primark, Debenhams, Aldi and B&M, as well as numerous food options.

If you are looking for a more cultural shopping experience, the Blists Hill Victorian Centre Town is a great option. The town recreates the history of a Victorian mining town, with beautiful antique shops, food stalls and Victorian style cafes which makes it a perfect location for you to leisurely stroll around.

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6. Telford living costs

Budget guide:

• A one-way ticket (Local transport): £2.00
• Meal out: £10.00
• Fast food (McDonald’s): £5.00
• Gasoline (1 litre): £1.19
• Cinema ticket: £9.00
• Taxi (normal tariff): £4.00

7. Travel in and around Telford

Travelling in Telford is supported by local transportation systems whether it is by train, bus or bike. A Telford PlusBus ticket, provided by Arriva, will get you unlimited bus travel around the urban area of Telford and Ironbridge. Furthermore, cycling around Telford has been made easier with the help of CycleStreets and Sustrans, websites that are designed to plan a cycle journey around the town with indications of cycle routes.

By Plane

For any international travel, the nearest airport is the Birmingham Airport, located just 34 miles away. Telford is accessible from the airport through the bus service provided by National Express. With 23 trains taking you from Birmingham International Airport to Telford central, the railway services could be another option.

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By Train

You can also get to Telford by train from Wellington, Oakengates and Telford Central. These are the three railway stations that have direct links to Telford Central, which is the main train station of Telford. Furthermore, there is an array of national networks from the Telford Steam Railway, linked to other surrounding towns/villages including Wellington, Spring Village and Lawley.

By Bus

Bus is also a feasible option. There are multiple bus travel routes from various cities in England, including London. However, keep in mind that bus travel hours are relatively long depending on traffic. On average, the bus ride from London to Telford takes around 4 hours.

8. Explore the UK from Telford

Telford is much-loved by locals and visitors. It is not only an impressive town of innovation but also a great base to explore the rest of the UK. There are countless cities and attractions that can be perfect for a family trip or even a short city break. Places such as Birmingham, Wellington, and Wolverhampton, are some optimal cities you must visit once in your lifetime.

Birmingham

Birmingham, commonly referred to as the second city of the UK, is also a metropolitan borough. Located just less than an hour away from Telford, the city is known as the first manufacturing town in the world and the city of thousand trades.

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Birmingham withholds unique historical constructions as well as famous cultural heritage. St Laurence's Church, Selly Manor, Old Grammar School and Blakesley Hall for instance. With 40 museums and art galleries, you are always filled with beautiful artifacts and interesting history. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is especially famous. It contains a collection of works by Pre-Raphaelite painters as well as artwork from the 17th to 19th centuries. Whether it is shopping, eating, or visiting beautiful landmarks, there will always be something for everyone.

Wellington

Wellington is a market town located just 8 minutes away from Telford. The town’s literary claims to fame include it being the birthplace of 19th-century writer Hesba Stretton as well as other famous writers, poets and painters.

The town is a historic market, at the foot of The Wrekin, in an area of outstanding natural beauty that welcomes visitors of all ages and interests. The town boasts a thriving market, cafes, restaurants, wine bars, traditional inns serving real ale, guest houses, hotels and buildings with a story to tell. Furthermore, Wellington has various festivals and events throughout the year including a literary festival and walking festival as well as food-focused events such as Mid-Summer Fayre.

Wolverhampton

With less than 30 minutes travel by car or train, Wolverhampton is a perfect destination for a family trip or a weekend getaway.

Famed for its coal mining, steel, and automobile manufacturing, you will have the most exciting experience touring through some of the city’s most prominent buildings and constructions. Here, you can also visit the famous market town specialising in wool trade that will surely get you on an immediate shopping spree. Just like any place, Wolverhampton will offer you an array of leisure activities, from shopping, eating and entertainment, that certainly you can never get enough of.