Soldiers of Shropshire Museum

About the museum

The Soldiers of Shropshire Museum, formerly the Shropshire Regimental Museum, is housed in the main hall and towers of Shrewsbury Castle. It looks after the collections of the county's regiments, among them the King's Shropshire Light Infantry and its predecessors, the Shropshire Yeomanry and the Shropshire Royal Horse Artillery, together with related militia, volunteer and territorial units.

The displays were completely refurbished after a terrorist attack in 1992 and reopened in 1997. They follow nearly 300 years of the British Army through the eyes of Shropshire soldiers, from the formation of the regiments in 1755 to the Light Infantry and Rifles and the Royal Yeomanry today.

The Main Hall covers the regiments up to 1914, the castle ground floor deals with the two World Wars and later displays on the end of empire and the Cold War, and the East Tower and mezzanine show regimental artefacts and the modern army. The collection includes uniforms, weapons, medals and silverware. The museum is a registered charity and an accredited museum.

Highlights

• Shropshire regiments from their formation in 1755
• Galleries on the two World Wars and the Cold War
• Uniforms, weapons, medals and silverware
• Korean War exhibit
• Museum inside Shrewsbury Castle with castle grounds

Permanent exhibitions

• Main Hall: the Shropshire regiments to 1914 – The story of the county's regiments from their formation in 1755 up to 1914.
• The World Wars and the Cold War – Ground-floor galleries on the two World Wars, the end of empire and the Cold War.
• East Tower and mezzanine – Regimental artefacts and displays on the modern army and The Rifles.

Operated by

Soldiers of Shropshire Museum (registered charity 294260)

Admission & discounts

Prices as published for 2024/25. Serving members of His Majesty's Armed Forces are admitted free with ID.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main hall, part of the ground floor, the shop and the accessible toilets are reached by portable ramps; manual wheelchair users may need help up the slope to the main hall entrance. Some exhibits are not wheelchair accessible because of the historic building. Assistance dogs are welcome in the castle and grounds. Staff are on hand in every space, can read out exhibit labels at reception, and visual story guides for families and adults are available to download. There is no flashing lighting and noise is limited to two films and occasional band music in the shop. Only two disabled parking spaces are available; phone 01743 358516 to reserve one. A written access policy (2023) can be downloaded from the website.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

The website offers printable family activities (fact file, colouring sheet and word search) and visual story guides to prepare for a visit. An accessible toilet with baby changing is available.

Getting there & parking

From the town centre the castle is a short walk down Castle Street.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

No café on site because of the Grade I listed building; food and drink may be taken in the castle grounds but not inside the museum. All-gender toilets and an accessible toilet with baby changing are available. Gift shop in the castle and online.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Weddings and room hire are offered; see the museum website.

Plan your visit