Named in honour of Shrewsbury's famous son, this Grade II* listed former hotel, moments from the Severn towpath, has evolved into a B&B full of Darwinian references, with animal and plant wallpapers, maps and natural history objets. A 'well furnished and comfortable old building', reported a reader, who was pleased to find that although it was in the town centre, it was very quiet at night. with a 'comfortable bed and a warm room'. An octagonal drawing room has a beautiful decorative ceiling depicting signs of the Zodiac. The snug has a well-stocked honesty bar. Muted bedroom decor offsets Darwinian-appropriate patterning on curtains and cushions. Two ground-floor bedrooms have garden access. Two superior rooms have a super-king bed, a bath and shower. There is a lawned garden and a light-filled conservatory, where our reader was impressed by the 'very adequate, imaginative breakfast', with artisan jams, and free-range eggs from Hollowdene's happy hens. Guests can claim a 10% discount at sister restaurant The Loopy Shrew. Book one of the more functional, smaller rooms in the garden annexe if you want to bring the beagle. 'It was incredibly good value.'