The population of the town of Much Wenlock, Shropshire, is approximately 3,000 people. While estimates for the town itself vary (roughly 1,800 to 3,400 in recent years), the broader Much Wenlock ward, which includes surrounding rural areas, had a population estimated at 4,393 in 2024.
Much Wenlock is famous as the inspiration for the modern Olympic Games, thanks to Dr. William Penny Brookes who founded the Wenlock Olympian Games in 1850, leading to the 2012 Olympic mascot "Wenlock" being named after the town, plus its stunning medieval architecture, Wenlock Priory ruins, charming traditional shops, and location in the beautiful Shropshire Hills.
Clun (Welsh: Colunwy) is the smallest town in Shropshire with a population of less than 1000. It is on the bank of River Clun. It is usually quite quiet, except for when the Green Man Festival is held in May and the Clun Carnival is held in August.
9 Facts About Much Wenlock Historic Shropshire Abbey Priory Olympics and Tony Robinson
How many Muslims are in Shropshire?
The third largest religious group in Shropshire was Muslim with 0.5% of the resident population describing themselves in this category. This group has increased by 73% from 700 in 2011 to 1700 in 2021.
Whitchurch is not only one of Shropshire's busiest and most beautiful market towns, but also one of the most history-packed towns in the Midlands. It's also the oldest continually inhabited town in Shropshire.
Much Wenlock was named as the happiest place to live in Shropshire, according to the survey. Whitchurch was closely followed by Ludlow, Market Drayton, and Oswestry.
"Much" was added to distinguish it from the nearby Little Wenlock and to show it is the larger of the two settlements. The name Wenlock probably comes from the Celtic name Wininicas, meaning "white area" (in reference to the limestone of Wenlock Edge), plus the Old English loca, meaning "enclosed place".
Much Wenlock is a charming market town nestled in the heart of Shropshire, England. Known for its rich history, picturesque streets, and scenic views of the Shropshire Hills, Much Wenlock offers visitors a glimpse into both ancient and more modern British life.
Ludlow. Famously described by John Betjeman as “the loveliest town in England”, and with over 500 listed buildings, mainly Georgian or half-timbered, Ludlow is a feast for the eyes.
Crime and Safety in Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury is the safest major town in Shropshire, and is among the top 20 most dangerous overall out of Shropshire's 215 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Shrewsbury in 2025 was 66 crimes per 1,000 people.
Castle Combe is often called the prettiest village in England and one of the most beautiful towns in the Cotswolds. Walking through this village truly feels like stepping back in time; no new houses have been built here for over 400 years, so it has kept its authentic, old-world charm.
Herefordshire and parts of Worcestershire and Shropshire have a rhotic accent, somewhat like the West Country, and in some parts of these counties, the local accent mixes features with the Welsh accent, particularly in places closer to the English–Welsh border.
There isn't one single "most run-down" town, as it depends on the metric, but recent reports frequently cite Walsall (West Midlands) as Britain's most deprived for overall quality of life (Good Growth for Cities Index 2025), while Jaywick (Essex) is repeatedly named England's most deprived neighbourhood by government data. Other towns often mentioned for significant decline due to economic hardship, unemployment, and urban decay include areas in Blackpool, Hastings, and Middlesbrough, alongside places like Portsmouth and Aldershot facing specific challenges.
The term "Salopian", derived from "Salop", is still used to mean "from Shropshire". Salop can also mean the county town, Shrewsbury, and in historical records Shropshire is described as "the county of Salop" and Shrewsbury as "the town of Salop".
