Whether you are looking for a romantic luxury mini-break, a family holiday or group stay for a special occasion in a private historic estate, or just a heritage day out with tour and home-made teas, Upton Cressett Hall is a magical escape to a lauded moated brick manor brimming with history. They have three Grade 1 listed buildings on the estate, including a Grade 1 Norman church, Moated Site and Roman Settlement, making them one of the most significant heritage sites in the Midlands.
Awarded ‘Best Hidden Gem’ in the UK as a heritage destination at the Hudson’s Heritage Awards, they are ideally located for exceptional walking holidays in the Shropshire Hills and exploring such beautiful medieval towns as Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth.
They are a short drive from the Severn Valley Steam Railway, the romantic ruins of Wenlock Priory and the World Heritage Site of Ironbridge, birthplace of the Industrial revolution. They are close to beautiful National Trust walking trails along Wenlock Edge and many excellent restaurants and pubs. Both Shrewsbury and Ludlow have been acclaimed as national gastro-towns. Their opening in 2022 is supported by the Cultural Recovery Fund.
Fine Dining and heritage events at Upton Cressett: The Dragon Hall
The Dragon Hall is their new dining and heritage cultural events/exhibition space with a recreation of a 15th century Florentine palazzo dining room painted by their house muralist, Jerwood Prize winning fine artist Adam Dant. The 90 square foot room comes with a professional kitchen, dining for up to 40 guests and a sitting area in front of a huge Tudor fireplace along with a library area and wide screen TV. The Dragon Hall can be set up for intimate family and friends gatherings, events and special parties. This unique events and cultural space is supported by the National Heritage Fund and Culture Recovery Fund. See under ‘Pricing’ for booking details.
Opening Times 2022
In 2022, Upton Cressett will be open for tours and teas on Wednesday afternoons, the first Sunday of each month and Bank Holiday Mondays from May-September – 2pm to 5pm. The gardens, tea-room and woodland heritage nature trail will also be open from the May Bank Holiday Weekend.
Group bookings for groups in 2022 and 2023 can be any day of the week by prior arrangement.
Pre-booking is not essential but can be made online or by email. To reserve an audio tour booking, please pease email laura@uptoncressett.co.uk
They have a new audio-tour, produced by ATS Heritage, in which guests are led around by Sir Francis Cressett, Treasurer to Charles I who lived here in the 17th century, with additional commentary from Sir Bill and Lady Cash, author William Cash, their house muralist Adam Dant and Philip Mould OBE, presenter of Fake or Fortune. This was funded by a CRF Grant.
Home-made cake, scones and tea or coffee is available in their tea room or tea-tent. This is not included in the ticket price.If you have dietary requirements please let them know in advance so that they can accommodate you.
William Cash will also be doing a series of owner led guided tours through Invitation To View in association with Historic Houses. Please see Historic Houses website for details.
2022 Prices
Audio Tour and entrance to Hall, Gardens and Heritage Trail: £15.00
Entrance to Gardens and Grounds only: £7.50
Children under 10yrs free
Historic Houses Members special concession rate: £12 (they are not part of the Friends’ scheme)
Cream Tea (home-made cake or scone, including tea/coffee): £5 per person
Parking is free with the above.
Payment is taken on the door if you have not booked online.
They accept all cards (not Amex) and cash. Prices include VAT.
Award Winning Holiday Accommodation
They have three award winning luxury holiday properties (Gatehouse, Moat House and Coach House) on their historic estate which is set in secluded Shropshire countryside near the market towns of Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock. PG Wodehouse, who was brought up around Bridgnorth, described the surrounding countryside as the ‘Paradise of England’.
The freehouse Down Pub is just a 35 minute walk away along the Jack Mytton Way, Shropshire’s renowned walking route. The wonderful Half Way House pub, recently awarded four stars by restaurant critic William Sitwell in the Daily Telegraph, is less than a hour’s walk away. They are also located beside the Abbessess’ Way, the two-day English Heritage walk from Morville priory to Shrewsbury Abbey via the ruins of Wenlock priory (whose 15th century pilgrim age pubs are an ideal stopping point for lunch).
Their holiday destination is ideally located for cosy family or romantic breaks, group celebrations, bridal parties, and a range of sporting holidays, including walking in the Shropshire Hills of AE Housman, golf and riding. In the winter, they can also offer game shooting at various nearby private estates, providing luxury accommodation and fine dining for up to eight guns.
They were selected as one of the Best Ten Stately Homes with accommodation to stay by the Daily Telegraph and they are a winner of ‘Best Hidden Gem’ as a heritage holiday destination at the Hudson’s Heritage Awards.
Upton Cressett can be used as a base to enjoy a wide range of top arts, music and food festivals or for touring the medieval market towns of Ludlow, Much Wenlock, Bridgnorth (voted UK Best Market Town in 2017) and Shrewsbury.
Other local attractions include the West Midland Safari Park, spectacular walking along Wenlock Edge and the Long Mind, the Ironbridge Gorge, Buildwas Abbey, Ludlow and Stokesay castles and the famous Royal Oak at Boscobel House (English Heritage) where Charles II hid up for the night as he fled for his life after the battle of Worcester in 1651.
Upton Cressett Hall, with its huge twisted 16th century brick chimneys and 15th century Great Hall, stands in extensive topiary gardens next to a Norman church and one of the finest turreted gatehouses in the country. In The Best Thousand Houses In England, Simon Jenkins refers to Upton Cressett as an ‘Elizabethan gem’.
The properties are The Gatehouse, ideal for special romantic stays, (sleeps 2-4), The Coach House (sleeps 2-6), and The Moat House (sleeps 2-4). The Gatehouse is a Grade 1 Elizabethan hunting lodge which has hosted princes and prime ministers and featured on the cover of Country Life.
Their enchanting self-contained properties are now available to rent. They can be rented for a short break or a few months.
The luxury self-contained properties offer a unique opportunity to ‘holiday in history’ and all are within 100 yards of each other. They can be taken together for special group stays, with a chef and maid service, or on a self-catering basis. An additional two guests (making a group of up to 16 in total) can stay in medieval splendour in the 15th century Great Chamber Suite in the main Hall with its own private entrance. Catered dinners for up to 24 guests can be arranged in the Great Hall dining room whose giant medieval fireplace and painted gilt ceiling was described by Simon Jenkins as fit for a royal palace.
They are a winner of ‘Best Hidden Gem’ in the country at the Hudson’s Heritage Awards and have been runner-up for Best Accommodation in the UK. In 2018, they were awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor.
The Hall and Gatehouse has a long tradition of hospitality including hosting such historic figures as the eldest ‘Prince in the Tower’ – King Edward V – in 1483, Prince Rupert of the Rhine in 1646 and prime ministers. After being restored by Sir Bill Cash MP and his wife Bridget in the early 1970s, the Hall is now the family home of writer William Cash and his wife Lady Laura Cash who has her millinery studio in the grounds.
Their ancient hamlet is tucked away in unspoilt countryside near the charming and bustling historic market town of Bridgnorth where PG Wodehouse was brought up. The Jack Mytton Way – Shropshire’s flagship walking and equestrian trail – is just a short walk away as are several fine freehouse pubs and National Trust trail walks along Wenlock Edge.
As a young boy, gaining inspiration for the Blandings novels, PG Wodehouse used to cycle along the parsley and buttercup filled lanes that lead to Upton Cressett from Bridgnorth. He described this Shropshire countryside as ‘the Paradise of England’.
