Stretching 220 miles (354 km), the River Severn is Britain’s longest river. Rising in the mountains of mid-Wales, it crosses the border between Wales and England before reaching the sea in south west England. Following the River Severn is the perfect way to get to the heart of Britain!

The River Severn in mid-Wales

The source of the River Severn is in the Cambrian Mountains, close to the pretty market town of Llanidloes. Take the scenic eight-mile drive from the town to Hafren Forest, and follow the Source of the Severn Way on foot. It’s a strenuous eight-mile walk to the source, which is marked by a wooden marker post, but there are several other delightful shorter walks to enjoy in the area.

Llanidloes is a two-hour drive from Birmingham Airport, which is the perfect place to pick up a rental car or meet your driver. Ideal for a lunch stop, the small town on the River Severn boasts a number of pubs and cafés, as well as the Minerva Arts Centre, which is owned by The Quilting Association and is a great destination for quilting enthusiasts and those looking for traditional Welsh crafts.

The River Severn rises in the Cambrian Mountains of mid-Wales

At first, the River Severn flows east to the Welsh towns of Newtown and Welshpool. Newtown is the largest town in Powys and is famous as the birthplace of social reformer Robert Owen. There is a museum dedicated to Owen in the town. Welshpool, some 14 miles beyond Newtown, is best known as the site of Powis Castle, a well-preserved medieval castle with an extensive world-famous garden. There is a selection of hotels to suit all budgets in and around this area.

Ironbridge – a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Crossing over the border, the river enters the county of Shropshire in England, where it flows through the historic town of Shrewsbury before reaching Ironbridge Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shrewsbury is best known for its medieval abbey and castle, and the town centre boasts many half-timbered Tudor buildings. It is the perfect spot to enjoy a boat trip on the River Severn. Ironbridge Gorge is renowned as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and is home to the world’s first cast-iron bridge. The gorge should not be missed and the many museums in the area tell the story of this important place in history.

Shrewsbury on the River Severn

From Ironbridge, the river heads south towards Bridgnorth, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcester and Tewkesbury. Bridgnorth is a pretty town on top of promontory with spectacular views over the River Severn. Bridgnorth is home to the steepest funicular railway in England, and the town is the starting point for the Severn Valley Railway, a fabulous heritage railway which follows the course of the river for 16 miles.

Admire the river from the funicular railway in Bridgnorth

Stourport-on-Severn is a bustling Georgian town on the banks of the River Severn, which developed with the building of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal in 1771. By the late 18th century, the town was the busiest inland port in the English Midlands after Birmingham. Today, the award-winning canal basins are home to dozens of narrowboats and there is lots for families to enjoy along the riverside, including boat trips and boat hire.

Enjoy the riverside in Stourport-on-Severn

Worcester boasts a magnificent cathedral overlooking the River Severn and it is the perfect place to spend a day or two. The medieval cathedral is famous as the resting place of King John, who signed the Magna Carta, and the town has been associated with prestigious Royal Worcester Porcelain for over 75 years - the Museum of Royal Worcester is well-worth a visit.

Magnificent Worcester Cathedral

Tewkesbury in north Gloucestershire, on the edge of England’s majestic Cotswolds, has played a pivotal part in English history and it is here that the decisive battle in the Wars of the Roses took place. Today Tewkesbury is famous for is beautifully preserved medieval streets, Norman abbey and waterside setting at the meeting point of the Rivers Severn and Avon.

The cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral appeared in the Harry Potter movies

From Tewkesbury, the river heads south west on its final stretch towards Gloucester, the Severn Estuary and the Bristol Channel. Gloucester Cathedral, with a history dating back over 1,000 years, is famous for its sublime cloisters, which have appeared in the Harry Potter films. Nearby Gloucester Docks have been restored to their Victorian heyday and the National Waterways Museum celebrates the city’s nautical heritage. Beyond Gloucester, there are many wonderful places to visit before the river comes to its end.

WWT Slimbridge is a protected wetland wildlife reserve on the shores of the river; Berkeley Castle is an imposing medieval fortress with beautiful gardens and Painswick on the edge of the Cotswolds is a gem of a town, with its honey-coloured stone buildings.

Geese at WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire

The River Severn is generally considered to end where it flows into the Severn Estuary at the location of the Prince of Wales Bridge, which connects Severn Beach in Gloucestershire with Sudbrook in Monmouthshire, Wales. As the symbolic end of the River Severn, it’s worth briefly visiting either village to complete your riverside journey – and to admire the immense motorway bridge. Both places can easily be reached from nearby Bristol, a vibrant city that is well-worth visiting and is perhaps the best place to end your tour.

The Prince of Wales Bridge at the end of the River Severn

The Severn Estuary expands to over five miles wide before opening out into the Bristol Channel, the huge inlet that separates south west England from Wales. Extend your journey by exploring both sides of the channel, which boast some of the loveliest coastal parts of England and Wales. Ultimately, the Bristol Channel opens out into the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

We have focused here on following the River Severn by car, but for the more energetic, the Severn Way long-distance footpath traces the river from its source to the sea. For those with the time to spare, walking even a small part the Severn Way is a great way to enjoy the river and its surrounding areas.

The sun’s rays over the Bristol Channel

If you or your group would like to follow the course of the River Severn on a tailor-made tour of England and Wales, please do contact our friendly team today.