Newtown

Newtown, or Y Drenewydd in Welsh, sits in the Severn Valley in the heart of Powys, roughly midway between Aberystwyth on the coast and Shrewsbury across the English border. The River Severn, Britain's longest river, winds directly through the town on its journey from the slopes of Pumlumon to the Bristol Channel, and its banks give Newtown a green, riverside character that belies its industrial past as a centre of Welsh flannel weaving. Terraced weavers' cottages, a handsome Victorian town centre and the towpath of the Montgomery Canal all sit within easy walking distance of one another.

Despite its modest size, Newtown punches well above its weight historically. It was the birthplace of Robert Owen, the pioneering social reformer and father of the co-operative movement, and later became the headquarters of the Pryce Jones mail-order empire and, in the twentieth century, an early base for the fashion label Laura Ashley. That layered heritage, combined with the surrounding hills of the Severn Valley and easy access to the Montgomery Canal, makes Newtown a useful and interesting base for exploring mid-Wales rather than simply a place to pass through.

Top things to do in Newtown

Newtown's compact centre and riverside setting mean most of its attractions can be covered on foot, with a little further afield for those wanting castles and canal walks.

• Robert Owen Memorial Museum — a small, free museum on the Broad Street site of Owen's birthplace, telling the story of the mill worker turned social reformer whose ideas on education and fair labour helped inspire the co-operative movement.
• Powysland Museum — housed in Y Lanfa, a restored canalside warehouse in nearby Welshpool, with displays covering Montgomeryshire life through the ages, including exhibits on the Laura Ashley company that has strong local roots.
• Montgomery Canal towpath — a recently resurfaced stretch of towpath runs around 15 miles between Newtown and Welshpool, ideal for an easy walk or cycle ride past locks, wildlife and quiet countryside.
• Parc Dolerw — a large riverside park beside the Severn, close to the town centre, with open green space, a walled garden and paths following the river.
• Castell Dolforwyn — the ruins of a thirteenth-century Welsh castle built by Llywelyn the Last, perched on a hilltop a few miles from Newtown with sweeping views over the Severn Valley.
• Gregynog Hall and Gardens — a striking half-timbered mansion set in 750 acres of parkland a short drive from town, with formal gardens, woodland walks and a regular programme of events and concerts.
• Oriel Davies Gallery — a contemporary art gallery in the centre of Newtown with a changing programme of exhibitions, a shop and a café.

Getting to Newtown

Newtown sits on the A483, which links it north to Welshpool and Oswestry and south to Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells, making it a natural stopping point when driving through mid-Wales. The town also has its own railway station on the Cambrian Line, with direct services connecting Newtown to Shrewsbury, Birmingham and onward to Aberystwyth on the coast, so the town is reachable without a car. The nearest airports are Birmingham and Cardiff, both a little over an hour and a half away by road, while the drive from Birmingham itself takes around ninety minutes via Shrewsbury.

Best time to visit Newtown

Spring and early summer bring the Severn Valley to life, with the riverside paths at Parc Dolerw and the Montgomery Canal towpath at their greenest and the gardens at Gregynog Hall in bloom. Summer is the most popular season, with longer days suited to canal walks, castle visits and days out at nearby Lake Vyrnwy or the Elan Valley. Autumn colours the wooded hills around Dolforwyn and Gregynog beautifully and tends to be quieter, while winter can be atmospheric but wetter, with some rural attractions reducing their opening hours.

Where to stay in Newtown

Newtown has a small but useful choice of places to stay, from town-centre inns and guesthouses to bed and breakfasts in the surrounding countryside, making it a practical base for a night or two while exploring the Severn Valley and Montgomery Canal. Self-catering cottages and farmhouses in the villages around Newtown suit those wanting a quieter rural stay within easy reach of the town.

Food and drink in Newtown

The town centre has a solid spread of independent cafés and traditional pubs. The Bank, on Broad Street, is a popular spot for coffee and light meals in a converted bank building, while The Buck Hotel and The Elephant and Castle offer classic pub dining in the heart of town. For something more contemporary, the café at the Oriel Davies Gallery serves light lunches alongside its exhibitions, and the weekly market on Broad Street has long been a fixture of Newtown life for fresh, local produce.