The station opened on 21 April 1852, as the southern terminus of the first section of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway.

In the late 1960s, the Victorian buildings at the station were demolished and the last signal boxes closed.

There are direct trains to Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Newport, Cardiff Central, Milford Haven, Chester and Holyhead.

[9] Ludlow is the fourth busiest station by passenger numbers in Shropshire after Shrewsbury, Telford Central and Wellington.

Facilities include a staffed ticket office (where railway-related books and light refreshments are available to buy), car parking, small weatherproof platform shelters, and an accessible adapted toilet.