Ironbridge

The small former industrial town of Ironbridge is located a short distance to the south of Telford in Shropshire. It is known for, you guessed it, a magnificent late 18th century iron bridge that crosses the River Severn in the pretty narrow, steep sided Ironbridge Gorge.

It is quite pretty to walk along the path following the river or on the main street through the small town which is often crowded with tourists but has some cute shops and places to eat. There are lots of places to walk in the area so you can easily get away from the bustle of the town though some can be quite steep…

The main attraction in Ironbridge is, of course, the bridge which is now open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic only. The small toll house on the south side of the bridge serves as a ticket kiosk and tourist information centre.

(I have not yet visited)

Though currently closed, this small museum is located on the western edge of town housed in a former warehouse with old train tracks leading into the building.

(I have not yet visited)

The Blists Hill living museum is located at the top of the gorge, “recreating” a small Victorian town including small shops where you can exchange retro-currency for goods. There is a small car park here and an admission charge.

(I have not yet visited)

This is a small tunnel deep into the sides of the gorge that you can visit with tours beginning at the Coalport China Museum. There is an admission charge.

Parking can be difficult, particularly during peak times such as weekends or in the summer. There are free options which require a short walk into town but otherwise there are a few small car parks throughout. There is also very limited street parking.

For further information, please see:

• Ironbridge Valley of Invention - Tourist information site hosted by Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust
• Wikipedia - Ironbridge