A weekend in the Ironbridge Gorge
If you plan to spend two or three days at Ironbridge Valley of Invention, this itinerary might come in handy.
You can comfortably visit all our museums in three days and have time left over. If you have two days you might want to tailor your visit according to your interests. For this itinerary the museums are grouped by location and interest, but you could do the days in any order.
When planning your visit please be aware that opening hours vary at different times of year. In addition, the Coalbrookdale Gallery, Darby Houses, Broseley Pipeworks and the Tar Tunnel are only open at selected periods of the year, sometimes on limited days a week. Check dates and times on our Opening Times page.
Find out more about the individual museums on their respective pages. Special events take place at our museums throughout the year. To find out about future events go to our What's On page.
Coalbrookdale
day 1
Begin your visit to Ironbridge Valley of Invention in Coalbrookdale. Once a hub of industrial activity, today its leafy, green surroundings are peaceful and perfect for walks. You will end your day further down the Gorge in the small town of Ironbridge alongside the River Severn.
Visit the Old Furnace (approx.20 minutes), Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron (approx.1.5 hours), the Darby Houses* (approx. 1 hour), the Coalbrookdale Gallery (approx. 45 minutes), Enginuity (approx. 1.5 hours), the Museum of the Gorge (approx. 20 mins) and the Iron Bridge & Tollhouse (approx. 20 mins). You could also visit the latter two at the beginning of Day 2 instead.
Take a break on the picnic benches on the Green or go to the Furnace Kitchen café restaurant.
*Open at selected periods during the year. Check dates and times on our Opening Times page.
day 2
On day 2 see how towns in the Gorge benefitted from the area's natural resources and location on the River Severn to become a 19th-century creative hub manufacturing decorative objects that went around the world.
Visit Coalport China Museum (approx. 1.5 hours) and the Jackfield Tile Museum (approx. 1.5 hours). In the summer months opt to add the Tar Tunnel* (45 minute guided visit) or Broseley Pipeworks* (approx. 1 hour) to your itinerary. You could also visit the Museum of the Gorge (approx. 20 minutes) and the Iron Bridge and Tollhouse (approx. 20 minutes) if you didn't see them on day 1.
For a break, try the cafe at Jackfield Tile Museum.
*Open at selected periods during the year two days a week only. Check dates and times on our Opening Times page.
Jackfield Tile Museum
Blists Hill Victorian Town
DAY 3
Step back in time to the year 1900 and experience life on the East Shropshire Coalfield at Blists Hill Victorian Town (approx. 3 hours), our largest museum.
There are plenty of options when it's time for a break, including fish and chips cooked the traditional way in beef dripping or a light lunch or cake in one of our cafes. Go to our Where to Eat and Shop page to find out more.
PLAN your visit
To plan your visit fully visit the Planning your trip to Ironbridge page on our website for information about opening dates and times, getting to the Ironbridge Gorge, access information and more.
All the museums on this itinerary are included in our PASS and PASS PLUS, which allow you to visit the museums as many times as you like during a year.
Once you've finished the culture itinerary, you might like to try one of our other itineraries, for history and heritage lovers, arts and crafts fans and families.