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Running further south, the River Severn reaches the attractive waterfront town of Ironbridge, which lies in the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge.
The River Severn, at 354 km (220 mi) long, is the longest river in Great Britain. It rises at Plynlimon in the Cambrian Mountains in mid Wales, at an altitude of 610 m (2,001 ft).
The town is the location of one of Britain's great engineering achievements from the Industrial Revolution, the Iron Bridge. This 30-m (100-ft) cast iron bridge opened in 1781 and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (which covers the wider Ironbridge Gorge area).
From Wales the river slowly flows into England and the county of Shropshire, eventually meeting the pretty market town of Shrewsbury.
This is the view of High Town from the river. During the English Civil War (1642–1651), Bridgnorth Castle was sacked by Cromwell's Roundheads. The ruins can still be admired, as can several other historical landmarks.
The Wrekin Hill seen from the village of Cressage in Shropshire. The hill is popular with walkers and tourists, and offers outstanding views of the countryside.
The river meets Bridgnorth in the Severn Valley, where its divides this scenic town into a High Town and Low Town.
South of Worcester is the charming town of Upton-upon-Severn. It's situated on the west bank of the River Severn, not far from Malvern.
Worcester is the home of Royal Worcester Porcelain, and the composer Edward Elgar (1857–1934). A swan sanctuary is sited on the river, right in front of the cathedral.
The city of Worcester in Worcestershire is one of England's most historic cities. It's especially noted for its magnificent cathedral, which was completed in 1504. It overlooks the River Severn, on the western flank of the city.
Back on the river, the Severn flows slowly into the county of Gloucestershire, where it's met by Tewkesbury (pictured). In fact, this pleasant market town stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and is a favorite stopover for narrow boats and other sailing vessels.
Tewkesbury's big cultural draw, quite literally, is its imposing abbey. Dating back to the 12th century, the building played a major role in the Battle of Tewkesbury, which took place on May 4, 1471, and was one of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses.
If you were to sail beyond Gloucester you'd travel along an ever-widening river towards the Severn Estuary, where you'd eventually pass a number of boats and ships, deliberately beached beside the waterway near Purton to reinforce the riverbank. The wrecks also serve as a tidal erosion barrier between the river and the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal—the navigable waterway you actually use.
The site forms the largest ship graveyard in mainland Britain. Most of these vessels were run aground in the 1950s, where they soon filled with water and silt. A footpath runs parallel to the canal where explanatory signs have been provided. One of the vessels has even been designated as an ancient monument!
Located at the northern junction of the River Severn with the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, historic Gloucester Docks serve as Britain’s most inland port. The basin is surrounded by numerous Victorian warehouses, all of which are listed buildings. These, together with two excellent museums, a shopping mall, and plenty of bars and restaurants, make for a rewarding and highly entertaining visitor experience. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)
As the Severn snakes further south and approaches the city of Gloucester, it meanders through a pastoral landscape that in parts has remained unchanged for centuries.
The River Severn effectively becomes tidal at Maisemore near Gloucester. It widens considerably further downstream as it approaches the Severn Estuary, which has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world—about 15 m (50 ft). The magnificent Prince of Wales Bridge (pictured) is one of two bridges that span the estuary before it becomes the Bristol Channel, which in turn discharges into the Atlantic Ocean.
Porthill Bridge is one of many historic bridges that span the river. Built in 1923, this pedestrian suspension bridge is one of the more attractive structures.
Actually, Shropshire has more than its fair share of great bridges. This one is a cast iron example, which dates back to 1818.
If you’re not good on water but still want to take in this grand and spectacular waterway, you can tread the Severn Way, a waymarked long-distance footpath, which follows the entire course of the river through mid-Wales and western England. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)
See also: Fancy a sightseeing cruise along the River Thames?
The Plynlimon massif, which lies close to the Ceredigion/Powys border near Llanidloes, provides the river with its first landscaped watercourse. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)
Shrewsbury is noted for its largely unspoiled medieval street plan and over 600 listed buildings of historic and architectural merit.
The town is also noted for its 11th-century castle, which crowns a hill in the neck of the meander of the River Severn.
Incidentally, Bridgnorth station is the northern terminus of the Severn Valley Railway, a heritage railway that serves Shropshire and Worcestershire—the next county the river flows through. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)
Upton-upon-Severn has a distinctive tower and copper-clad cupola, known locally as the "Pepperpot," the only surviving remnant of the former church, the nave of which was demolished in 1937.
The beautiful spa town of Malvern is only 8 km (5 mi) from Upton-upon-Severn and certainly worth a detour. Great Malvern, the historical center, lies adjacent to the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
With foundations dating back to the 11th century, Gloucestershire Cathedral stands as one of Britain's most impressive religious buildings. Inside, its most notable monument is the canopied shrine of King Edward II (1284–1327). Look out too for the highly decorated stained glass windows—the east window is partly filled with surviving medieval glass. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC0 1.0)
The Gloucestershire countryside eventually yields to the urban sprawl that is the city of Gloucester, on which the River Severn, by now tidal, lies. The Romans called Gloucester "Glevum," which served as an important crossing over the river. The city maintained its significance throughout the Middle Ages, and many fine buildings from this period can be admired in the Old Town district.
The River Severn is navigable between Stourport in Worcestershire and Sharpness in Gloucestershire—a distance of 92 km, around 50 nautical miles. The navigable route avoids the dangerous stretch of the river below Gloucester by using the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. But imagine if you could sail its entire length?
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain. Bubbling up out of the ground in the remote and spectacular Welsh mountains, it curves and loops for 354 km (220 mi) through picturesque Powys and the beautiful English counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. Along the way it meanders past verdant valleys and vales to meet picture-perfect villages and historic cathedral cities. It finally empties into the sea to create an estuary over 8 km (5 mi) wide.
Click through the following gallery for a sightseeing voyage along this majestic waterway, from source to shore.
Great Britain seen from the River Severn
Discover Britain's longest river, from source to shore
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The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain. Bubbling up out of the ground in the remote and spectacular Welsh mountains, it curves and loops for 354 km (220 mi) through picturesque Powys and the beautiful English counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. Along the way it meanders past verdant valleys and vales to meet picture-perfect villages and historic cathedral cities. It finally empties into the sea to create an estuary over 8 km (5 mi) wide.
Click through the following gallery for a sightseeing voyage along this majestic waterway, from source to shore.