The LGL guide to local clubs, activities and organisations in and around Ludlow
Moving to Ludlow should be an exciting chapter in your life. But finding your feet and making new friends can be daunting and take a little more time and little more effort than you expected. We were inspired to write this feature after seeing a recent post on a local Facebook group asking how to meet people in Ludlow or find others with similar interests.
The response to the post was heartwarming and instantaneous. Local residents shared dozens of suggestions, from walking groups and choirs to dancing, volunteering and coffee mornings. It was a lovely reminder of how much people in Ludlow are willing to help others feel welcome.
Whether you’re 25 years or 85 years, whether you’re moving for work, starting a family, retiring or simply looking for a fresh start, finding your people is a big part of feeling at home. So, if you’re new to Ludlow or just fancy widening your social circle, here are some ideas to get you started.
Sport and fitness
Joining a sports club (read our 2022 feature on joining local sports clubs) or exercise class is a great way to meet people and you don’t need to be particularly sporty to join in.
Teme Leisure is a great place to start. Many recommended swimming, aqua aerobics and a range of fitness classes. Several people who responded to the FB post were very enthusiastic about the aquacise sessions. Find out more at Teme Leisure.
If you prefer a racquet to a treadmill, Ludlow Tennis Club offers affordable opportunities to play with the added bonus of having Ludlow Bowls Club as its neighbour. For indoor options, table tennis at the Catholic Church was recommended by a local resident, with Thursday sessions from 2pm to 4pm, a £3 contribution and a tea and biscuit break. All abilities are welcome.
For those who enjoy getting outside, Mortimer Forest Parkrun takes place on Saturdays at 9am. It’s a free, timed 5km event where you can run, jog, walk or volunteer. Participants have also recommended meeting for coffee at Ludlow Brewery afterwards. Find event details at Mortimer Forest parkrun.
Ludlow Runners launched their latest Walk to Run course in September, where participants learn how to ‘run Chatty’. They organise events throughout the year and you can find out all the info at Ludlow Runners.
You could also explore Ludlow’s rugby, football and golf clubs, just choose something you genuinely enjoy. And there were so many dance suggestions, we’ve created a whole section below so scroll down to find the options and groups.
Outdoor activities and walking
One of the best things about living in Ludlow is having breathtaking countryside right on our doorstep. The nearby Clee Hills, the Shropshire Hills, the river Teme and the surrounding lanes and villages offer plenty of opportunities to get outside and explore.
Friends of Whitcliffe Common and Friends of Mortimer Forest were both recommended in the Facebook chat. These are worth investigating if you’d like to combine time outdoors with meeting people who are proactive in caring about the environment. Keep an eye out for the guided walks and talks hosted by experts throughout the year.
If you’re no longer in full time employment, you can become a member of Ludlow u3a which organises walking groups. Or if you prefer to be a little more independent, look up Point 2 Guides – Tenbury resident, Andy Stevenson has put together a fantastic collection of walking routes in the area and also manages the Walky Cake Group (clue’s in the title) which organises sociable walks and walking weekends.
Gardening is another great way to meet people outdoors. Local volunteers help care for the town’s gardens and green spaces through Ludlow in Bloom. Other community gardening groups offer opportunities to get involved, learn new skills and make a difference.
Music and culture
If music, theatre, film or the arts are more your thing, there are plenty of opportunities to meet like-minded people in Ludlow.
Choirs were among the most popular recommendations in the Facebook chat and several local groups specifically welcomed people with no experience or singing auditions.
- Rockspring Community Choir meets on Wednesdays at 7pm at Elim Church. The invitation from its members was refreshingly simple: “no auditions, just a sense of humour”.
- The Shire Choir was recommended as a friendly ensemble welcoming people without previous experience or auditions.
- Ludlow Concert Band is worth exploring if you play a woodwind or brass instrument.
Other local singing groups and community choirs were also mentioned, so it’s worth asking at local churches and the library for further recommendations. You don’t have to be able to sing in tune to enjoy singing with other people. As one person joked, “you just have to give it a go!”
For theatre, cinema and live performances, Ludlow Assembly Rooms is a brilliant starting point. It hosts a varied programme of films, music, performances and other activities all though the year (includng this year’s Christmas Panto, Sleeping Beauty, produced by local theatical company, Ludwig Theatre Arts), alongside opportunities to volunteer.
Arts Alive brings professional theatre, dance and music to village halls across the area. Its Flicks in the Sticks programme also screens films in community venues throughout the region. Going along to a village performance can be a lovely way to meet people beyond Ludlow.
The Teme Valley Arts Society was another suggestion for anyone interested in the arts and cultural events.
History and learning
Ludlow has a rich history. We’ve lost track of the number of people who’ve moved here just to immerse themselves in the past. There are plenty of opportunities to explore it beyond a wander around the castle and historic streets.
One recommendation came up repeatedly in the Facebook comments: Ludlow u3a. According to one local contributor, it offers an impressive range of ways to meet people and try something new. Groups can cover everything from languages and local history to walking, music, photography, literature and crafts.
We highly recommend a visit to the Castle Bookshop if you’re a history buff. Aside from a great selection of fictional and factual books, owner Stanton hosts the Secret Garden in the summer months. Set in the pretty courtyard behind the shop, the Secret Garden offers talks from a variety of authors from folk, poetry and song to comedy, Shakespeare and of course, local history.
Joining a bookclub is also a great way to meet like-minded people, try Booked Solid Bookclub which is based in Ludlow and for readers who are ‘fully booked in the best way’.
Crafts and creative hobbies
Craft groups are a relaxed way to meet people, and you don’t need to arrive with any experience. The joy of these activities is that there’s something to do while you chat. You can concentrate on your work of art, share tips or simply enjoy a cup of tea and a conversation.
Knit and natter at Ludlow Library was recommended as a Wednesday morning activity. Another local resident mentioned a Knit and Natter group at the Red Cross, so it’s worth checking current arrangements for both.
Ludlow Library is a great community hub in its own right, with information about local groups and activities displayed on its noticeboard.
Visit the Wool Shop on Broad St too for further recommendations on local sewing, quilting, stitching and local craft groups.
Or how about learning a new language? New Ludlow resident, Izzy Taylor, is currently promoting her beginners’ French class which will meet at Pietro Lounge in Ludlow on Monday evenings at 6:30pm. It’s £5 per class and “all abilities (and accents!) are welcome.” Merci beaucoup!
Dancing, movement and trying something different
Dancing deserves a mention of its own because so many people in the FB chat recommended it as a fun way to meet people in Ludlow. It’s sociable, good exercise and a chance to learn something new without needing a partner or previous experience for every class.
Options suggested by local residents included:
- Jive classes at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Tuesday evenings.
- Zumba with Julie Rowson Knowles (Monday 10am at Ludlow Football Clun. Tuesday 6pm at Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Thursdsy 6pm at Ludlow Football Club.
- Adult ballet with Pointeworks School of Dance
- Fit for Life Classes with Sophie, a dance class for over 60s at the Women’s Centre in Ludlow at 11am on Thursdays.
- Circle dancing at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Monday afternoons.
- Line dancing at Ludlow Catholic Church on Thursday evenings, with a beginner friendly group previously meeting from 5.45pm.
- Belly dancing at Ludlow Women’s Centre on Fridays at 2pm, with an informal, welcoming group.
- Tango at the Mascall Centre on Monday evenings, 7-8:30pm.
- Sequence dancing in Church Stretton on Saturday evenings.
- A ladies’ Morris dancing team, Pinsley Mill Morris, which meets in Kingsland on Tuesday evenings.
These are all suggestions from the chat, so please check with the organisers before attending to confirm current venues and times.
Volunteering and getting involved
One of the quickest ways to feel part of a new community is to get involved in local volunteer groups.
Volunteering at Ludlow Assembly Rooms and St Laurence’s Church were both recommended in the chat, with local residents highlighting both the social side as well as the opportunity to help out.
At St Laurence’s, you can even learn to ring the bells with a “great friendly team”.
Other suggestions included volunteering with Girlguiding in Ludlow, helping at CATS charity shop in Craven Arms, or joining Ludlow Rotary Club. Rotary members support local causes, raise money for charities and organise community events like the popular Ludlow Duck Day.
Ludlow Pride of Place takes place every third Saturday of the month at The Castle Gardens and they have recently sent out a plea for more volunteers to help keep “our beautiful town looking its best”. Visit Ludlow Town Council for more information.
Additionally, Ludlow Regeneration Group was set up in 2024 by local business owners and residents to sweep, tidy and clean up the town. It runs Super Sundays throughout the year where you can join in and help out (coffee, wine and sandwiches are often included but please bring your own Marigolds!).
Volunteering doesn’t have to mean committing every week. Many organisations appreciate help with individual events or occasional activities, so you can find something that fits around your life.
Support groups, coffee mornings and community connections
Not everyone wants to join a sports club or learn a new skill. Sometimes, what you really need is somewhere welcoming to go, a cup of coffee and a chance to chat.
Hands Together Ludlow offers community activities and opportunities for people to connect, including walking and social activities. They manage a number of local charities including Ludlow Food Bank, Ludlow Men’s Shed and the Good Grief Café – it’s definitely worth exploring their current programme.
If you’re happy to venture a little further afield, suggestions included a Wednesday coffee morning at Ashford Carbonel Village Hall from 10.30am, bingo at Brimfield Village Hall on Tuesday evenings and Bitterley Village Craft Group open morning.
Ludlow Cancer Support is a very proactive group and was recently awarded a Community Civic Award from Ludlow Town Council. Ludlow Royal British Legion meets on the first Monday of each month at 8pm at the Feathers Hotel and if you’re aged between 12-17yrs, a fan of aviation, action and adventure, 333 Ludlow Squadron ATC would love your support.
There are also social groups and wellness activities in neighbouring towns and villages, including Leominster Wellness Club. Don’t feel you need to limit yourself just to Ludlow: the surrounding area has plenty to offer and a short journey could introduce you to a whole new circle of friends.
Be brave, try something new, find your tribe
When you move somewhere new, it can be tempting to wait until an invitation comes along or assume that everyone else already knows each other.
But a little effort can go a long way. Try something you’ve never done before. Go along to a group on your own. Say hello to the person sitting next to you. If the first activity isn’t quite right, try another one. You might discover that the people you click with are a different age, from a differnet background or a completely different stage of life to you and that’s great – it’s what makes our community stronger.
And remember, not every connection has to turn into a close friendship. A familiar face on your morning walk, a chat after a class or someone to meet for coffee can all help you feel more connected to the place you now call home.
And given that this feature was inspired by a Facebook Group, here are the top 3 local groups we recommend to find out what’s going on in Ludlow:
Have we missed your favourite local group?
We’re always keen to discover more of the people and organisations that make Ludlow such a good place to live.
If you run a local club, organise a regular activity or know of a group that welcomes new members, let us know so we can help spread the word.
Or visit our Directory and add your Club or Organisation, it’s free and easy to do.
