Ironbridge

Ironbridge Gorge is a . It is one of the "birthplaces of industry" and central to the story of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain.

By car

Ironbridge Gorge is on the River Severn, 5 miles (8 km) south of Telford in Shropshire. Take junction 4 from the M54, and follow the brown and white traffic signs.

By train

Telford Central station (+44 8457 484950) in Telford is 5 miles (8 km) north of Blists Hill Victorian Town.

By bus

• Telford Travelink (+44 1952 200005)

By bike

The National Cycle Route follows the route of a former canal and railway, now called "The Silkin Way" from North Telford, through the town centre to Ironbridge, via Blists Hill Museum.

A regular shuttle bus service (+44 1952 200005) operates throughout the Gorge every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. This bus also has limited links to the Rail Station.
If you are visiting the museums and want to see the surrounding area, a car is essential as public transport links vary from limited to non-existent. Note, however, that there is no free parking in Ironbridge itself, though parking charges are normally reasonable.

Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust

Most of Ironbridge is overseen by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. A year-long annual passport is available which allows entry to all the museums, and has traditionally been very good value for money if you intend to visit a number of them.

• Iron Bridge and tollhouseThe world's first Iron Bridge, built in 1779 - there is a small visitor's centre on one side.

• Museum of the Gorge

  phone: +44 1952 433424
  address: TF8 7NH
  A small museum, but containing a large diorama model of the gorge at the height of its industry. A visit here first helps to put all of the museums into context.

• Blists Hill Museum

  phone: +44 1952 433424
  address: TF7 5UD
  A living history museum and reconstructed Victorian town.

• Museum of Iron

  phone: +44 1952 433424
  address: Coalbrookdale, TF8 7DQ
  Abraham Darby's original blast furnace and a large Victorian warehouse, now housing a museum of the Coalbrookdale company.

• Enginuity

  phone: +44 1952 433424
  address: TF8 7DQ
  An interactive science & engineering museum aimed at children.

• Jackfield Tile Museum

  phone: +44 1952 884124
  address: Salthouse Rd, Jackfield, TF8 7LJ
  A privately-owned museum documenting the history of ceramic tiles.

• Coalport China Museum

  phone: +44 1952 580650
  address: High St, Telford, TF8 7HT
  The original home of Coalport china, now a museum.

• Broseley Pipe Works

  phone: +44 1952 433424
  One of the Ironbridge Museums. A Victorian clay tobacco pipe works.

• Darby Houses Museum

  address: 30 Darby Rd, Coalbrookdale,TF8 7EW
  Former houses belonging to Abraham Darby I, a Quaker and industrialist who developed a method of producing pig iron with a blast furnace using coke instead of charcoal which was vital to the Industrial Revolution. His work can be seen at the Museum of Iron.

• Tar TunnelA long, dark tunnel used to extract bitumen (or tar). It was previously open to the public, but is now unsafe to enter. The entrance however can still be seen by visitors.

Other attractions

• Buildwas Abbey

  phone: +44 1952 433274
  address: Nr Ironbridge, TF8 7BW
  An ancient abbey ruin owned by English Heritage just outside Ironbridge. It is advisable to use a car to get to as, while it is within walking distance, it is a walk of around a mile along a road with no pavement.

• The Green Wood Centre

  phone: +44 1952 432769
  address: Station Rd, Coalbrookdale, TF8 7DR
  A forest management and conversation centre.

• Benthall Hall

  phone: +44 1952 882159
  address: Benthall, nr Broseley, TF12 5RX
  Manor house run by the National Trust.

There is a souvenir shop in the Ironbridge Gorge near the Iron Bridge itself and an online store for distance shopping.

• Ironbridge Gorge Museum Shop

  phone: +44 1952 433253
  address: 34 High St, Ironbridge, TF8 7AG

There is also a bookshop nearby.

• The Ironbridge Book Shop

  phone: +44 1952 432273
  address: 5 The Square, Ironbridge, TF8 7AQ
  An independent bookshop known particularly for its inventory of near-antique Penguin Books.

Various expensive pubs and nondescript curry houses / Italian restaurants. Also a good Thai place next to the bridge.

• Eighty-Six'd

  phone: +44 1952 432620
  address: 1a Waterloo St, TF8 7AA
  Cafe and art gallery with a creative menu of soups, salads and sandwiches, as well as typical cafe drinks, snacks and desserts. Vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free-friendly.

Splurge

• Clays of Broseley

  phone: +44 1952 884667
  address: 67 High Street, Broseley, TF12 5EX

• Restaurant Severn

  phone: +44 1952 432233
  address: 33 High St, Ironbridge, TF8 7AG

A near-exhaustive list of pubs in the area can be found on this site.

• The Malt House

  phone: +44 1952 433712
  address: Wharfage, TF8 7NH

• The Swan Taphouse

  phone: +44 1952 433108
  address: 21 Wharfage, TF8 7NH

• The White Hart

  phone: +44 1952 432901
  address: 10 Wharfage, TF8 7AW

There are a large number of small inns and Bed & Breakfasts in or near Ironbridge. When searching for accommodation outside of Ironbridge, it is worth looking across Telford and Madeley

Budget

There is a Youth Hostel at Coalport and Coalbrookdale, both campuses being part of the same hostel. The latter campus is very modern and popular, though is not ideal for self-catering visitors.
No camp sites are available in Ironbridge itself, though there are more in South Shropshire and Shrewsbury directions.

Mid-range

• Buckatree Hall Hotel

  phone: +44 1952 641821
  address: The Wrekin, Telford, TF6 5AL

• The Calcutts House

  phone: +44 1952 882631
  address: Calcutts Road, Jackfield, TF8 7LH
  Well-run 18th century home with kind hosts. It is located a little outside the main town (20 minute walk), very close to the tile museum. Six rooms.

• Mercure Telford Madeley Court Hotel

  phone: +44 1952 680068
  address: Castlefields Way, Madeley
  The Mercure Telford Madeley Court Hotel is a 16th Century Manor House steeped in history offering both the facilities of a modern hotel and the ambience of a beautiful Manor House in countryside surroundings.

Splurge

• The Valley Hotel

  phone: +44 1952 432247
  address: Buildwas Road, TF8 7DW
  A period Best Western property to the west of Ironbridge, with pleasant views overlooking the park and a particularly well regarded restaurant.

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby
You can head out by car:

• North to Telford
• South toward Much Wenlock, Bridgnorth and Church Stretton part of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
• West toward Shrewsbury and North Wales

It's worth exploring Wellington which, like Ironbridge, is part of the new-town of Telford, which has a nice town park which is worth a visit if you have children.
Telford Steam Railway is also a pleasant trip on a Sundays or Bank Holidays, as is a walk up the nearby Wrekin Hill.