Named in honour of Shrewsbury's famous son, this Grade II* listed Sandford House, moments from the Severn towpath, has evolved into a B&B full of Darwin references, with animal and plant wallpapers, maps and natural history objets. A reader this year loved the 'well furnished and comfortable old building'. Guide inspectors, visiting in a spirit of scientific inquiry, were impressed that despite the 'museum-like theme, there is no dowdiness about the place'; it was 'cosy and welcoming'. 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.' (DR, and others)