Two of the Ironbridge Gorge museums recently taken over by the National Trust are set to throw open their doors this week, offering families a historic half-term destination in the Shropshire countryside.
The Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron and its Furnace Kitchen are first to return, opening on 20 May, with the open-air Blists Hill Victorian Town following a day later on 21 May.
Further sites are expected to reopen throughout the year.
Why did the Ironbridge Gorge museums close?
Both had been closed since February while the handover from the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust to the National Trust was completed, a transfer described as among the most significant the charity has undertaken in its 130 years. The deal was made possible by a £9 million government investment.
What is Ironbridge Gorge?
Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the gorge cuts through wooded hillsides above the River Severn and is considered by many historians to be the cradle of the industrial revolution. Coal extraction began there as early as the 1500s, and by the 1700s a proliferation of furnaces and foundries had turned the valley into one of the most industrially significant places on earth, reports Time Out.
The centrepiece of the Museum of Iron is the very furnace in which Abraham Darby I developed his groundbreaking iron-smelting process, the innovation that set the industrial revolution in motion. Blists Hill Victorian Town, meanwhile, brings the 19th century to life through authentic shops, cottages and costumed craftspeople.
Claire Tafft, National Trust project manager for visitor engagement at Ironbridge Gorge, said: “As a living, evolving town, Blists Hill will continue to be re-opened and restored over time. We appreciate everyone’s support as we begin this new chapter, and we look forward to sharing what’s still to come.”
How do I visit Ironbridge Gorge and how much does it cost?
All visits to Blists Hill Victorian Town will need to be booked in advance initially. Entry is free for National Trust members, while English Heritage members can claim 15 per cent off until 1 April 2027.
Families with young children will find that under-fives are admitted without charge, and group tickets are available from £36. Drivers can park at no cost at the Museum of Iron, and the Furnace Kitchen is open daily from 9am throughout the week.
Ironbridge Gorge is around 2.5 hours from London and 45 minutes from Birmingham, making it an accessible day trip from either city.