The charmingly named Much Wenlock is a beautiful little town with a rather surprising claim to fame – it was the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games. Back in 1850, a local surgeon and magistrate, Dr William Penny Brookes, had the idea of holding a day of competitive sports, open to all, which was dubbed the Wenlock Olympic Games.

The influence of these games spread throughout Europe, and in 1890, Pierre de Coubertin, who later founded the International Olympic Committee, visited Much Wenlock and was inspired by Brookes' vision. This visit played a significant role in Coubertin’s efforts to revive the Olympic Games in 1896. Today, visitors can follow the Wenlock Olympian Trail and see where those first games took place.

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