Telford and Ironbridge Gorge

This picturesque valley south of Telford is famed as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Although originally a hive of activity with factories and belching smokestacks, it is now a quiet place with many interesting museums dedicated to the various items that were produced in the gorge.

There is no real town centre and Ironbridge Gorge is more a string of small villages clustered in the valley between Coalbrookdale and Coalport. These include Coalbrookdale where you’ll find the Enginuity science museum and the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron; Ironbridge with the Museum of the Gorge and the famous Iron Bridge; Jackfield and the Jackfield Tile Museum; Madeley and Blists Hill Victorian Village and Coalport, which is home to the China Museum.

Just north of Ironbridge Gorge is Telford, which is a fairly uninspiring new town. But Telford is large enough to have very good transport connections and a good choice of accommodation options.

Sights and activities in Telford and Ironbridge Gorge