If you’ve explored every inch of Black Country Living Museum, but still want to see more of life during the Industrial Revolution, then I’ve got the day trip for you. Just 40 minutes in the car (or an hour and a half by public transport), this recreated Victorian Town sits at the heart of this World Heritage Site.
Internationally recognised as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, the chances are you’ve already been to Ironbridge Gorge and its many, many museums. But following a takeover by the National Trust, Blists Hill Victorian Town (which lets you step into a working-class town in the Shropshire coalfield) only reopened in May.
What’s there to do in Blists Hill Victorian Town?
Blists Hill brings all the sights, sounds and smells of Ironbridge Gorge’s industrial past back to life. You are free to visit the town’s many Victorian shops and cottages, meet its craftspeople showing off trades and costumed storytellers sharing what everyday life was once like for people in industrial towns like this.
You will be able to tuck into traditional beef dripping chips at the fish ‘n’ chip shop and enjoy sing-songs at the pub. At the same time, kids play in the outdoor play area, dress up as Victorians in the photography studio or join a lesson in the schoolroom. Other experiences include horse-drawn carriages, steam exhibits and forge demonstrations.
But Blist Hill is a living, evolving town that’s always growing, so keep an eye out for new additions to the town. Visitors should also check out the recently reopened Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron and the Furnace Kitchen, too. To visit Blists Hill Victorian Town, you will need to pre-book a slot, which you can do so here.
How do I get there?
Take the M6 and the M54 to the A464 in Shropshire, which you can follow to your destination in Telford to Blists Hill Victorian Town, Legges Wy, Telford TF7 5UD. Visitors to Blists Hill Victorian Town, Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron and Furnace Kitchen can enjoy free parking.
