Plan your visit

Set within the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ironbridge Valley of Invention is situated 5 miles from Telford Town Centre in Shropshire. We've gathered together all the information you need to help plan your trip to the Ironbridge Gorge. 

  1.

    Experience Ironbridge your way

    Get the most out of your visit with our useful guides

    Experience Ironbridge your way

  2. Access information

    Find out more about visiting our museums if you have additional needs

    Access Information

  3. Visiting with dogs

    Exploring Ironbridge with your four-legged friend

    Find out more

Days out in the Gorge this summer

For all ages, and all interests, there's something new to explore each day you visit Ironbridge Valley of Invention. 

Discover more

Frequently asked questions

General FAQs

We love to see dogs at Blists Hill Victorian Town.

They’re welcome to visit with you so long as they’re kept on their leads. Sadly, they are not permitted during any evening events or when our Heavy Horse event is taking place.

Unfortunately our other indoor museum sites are restricted to assistance dogs only.

If you have any doubt, please email tic@ironbridge.org.uk.

Each museum has different opening times which change to suit different times of the year. For example, our opening times are usually reduced in winter due to darker mornings and evenings.

Important information -

Please note some sites temporarily close at different points of the year so please check the museum opening hours before your visit.

There is a free cash point in the entrance building at Blists Hill Victorian Town and at the Co-op in Ironbridge.

Ironbridge Post Office can be found in the Chemist in the Square - money can be withdrawn over the counter and there is also a Euro foreign exchange service.

Most of our museums have good levels of physical access for all visitors.

Please visit our accessibility page to see our site access guides for further, detailed information about access if you have a physical or hidden disability.

We have a number of wheelchairs available at Blists Hill Victorian Town for visitor use. 

We have also recently introduced a mobility scooter at Blists Hill and hope to have more soon. These are currently available on a first come first serve basis. Anyone using it must be over 18 (or if 16-18 you must have an adult with you) and accompanied by someone else.

Wheelchairs and the mobility scooter are currently not bookable in advance. Please speak to our friendly front of house team when you arrive.

There are many hotels, B&Bs, guest houses and campsites within a few miles of the museums. Go to www.visitshropshire.co.uk or www.visittelford.co.uk for full accommodation listings.

There are multiple museums to visit so you will need a couple of days to see them all.  These are our recommended visit times:

Blists Hill Victorian Town - 3+ hours (please note that some exhibits will begin to close from 30 minutes before the site closes)

Enginuity - 2 hours

Coalport China Museum - 1.5 hours

Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron and the Old Furnace - 1.5 hours

Jackfield Tile Museum - 1.5 hours

The Iron Bridge and Tollhouse - 30 minutes

Museum of the Gorge - 20 minutes

 

The Trust's Education Department can offer advice on all aspects of making an educational visit. More details about educational visits can be found on our school visits page.

We're sorry that you were disappointed with your experience with us. If you email contactus@ironbridge.org.uk a member of our team will be happy to help.

Please email tic@ironbridge.org.uk with details of the missing item(s) and the time and date of your visit.

Yes, the museums accept both cash and card payments.

Find all our museum opening hours here.

There is no need to book in advance. If you arrive at the photographers exhibit early in the day you can book your slot. However, if you prefer to make a booking please ring during opening hours. The direct photography studio number is 01952 601031.

The Photographers exhibit is open every day from 10am with the last photo sitting normally an hour before closing. A sitting costs £30 for up to 6 people and £35 for up to 8. You will receive one print plus a link to download a digital copy as well. Any extra physical prints cost an extra £10.

Public transport to our sites is available but is quite limited. Find out more here. 

Ticket FAQs

We do not take bookings for specific dates. If you pre-purchase a regular single site ticket online it can be used for one visit any day before 2 March 2026. Just bring your confirmation order number to the admission desk on arrival.

Anyone with a valid Blue Peter badge can visit our museums for free. There is currently no option to pre-book a free ticket. Please turn up on the day of your visit with your valid Blue Peter badge and ID card and speak to a member of our front of house team.

We offer reduced admission rates for groups of 15 people or more. Group leaders and coach drivers are given free admission. More details about group visits can be found on our groups page.

Carers are admitted free when they are with a full paying adult/child who they can show they are caring for. The full paying adult/child may gain access with a single site ticket, a PASS or PASS PLUS.  

We accept the following documentation:

  • A valid Blue Badge
  • A disabled person’s bus pass
  • A letter proving entitlement to Carer’s Allowance
  • A letter proving entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children under 16
  • A letter proving entitlement for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • A DID card
  • An Access card

PLEASE NOTE – Free entry for carers is not applicable for some of our events. Please refer to the specific event listing for more details.

Carers are admitted free when they are with a full paying adult/child who they can show they are caring for so do not need a ticket or pass. The full paying adult/child may gain access with a single site ticket, a PASS or PASS PLUS.  

We accept the following documentation:

  • A valid Blue Badge
  • A disabled person’s bus pass
  • A letter proving entitlement to Carer’s Allowance
  • A letter proving entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children under 16
  • A letter proving entitlement for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • A DID card
  • An Access card

PLEASE NOTE – Free entry for carers is not applicable for some of our events. Please refer to the specific event listing for more details.

Discounts can only be used when buying a ticket in person. Please ask a member of our front of house team when you arrive.

We offer the following the discounts:

YHA - 10% discount off all tickets

Telford Centre Plus - 10% off annual passes

Blue Light Card - 10% discount off annual passes

Military - 10% discount off all tickets

English Heritage Members - 15% discount off all tickets

FREE entry to those with a Blue Peter Badge, Art Fund Pass or members of the Museums Association.

We also offer discounts off retail and specific tickets for certain groups. Please email tic@ironbridge.org.uk for more information.

We don't offer discounts on bulk coupon websites.

We offer discounted single entry, PASS and PASS PLUS tickets for students in full-time education. To benefit from this discounted ticket, please bring evidence of your student status. For example, a Student ID or digital correspondence.

Child tickets are available to those aged 5-16 inclusive.

Visit the Tesco Clubcard website and search for 'Ironbridge - Blists Hill Victorian Town'.

Follow the listed instructions explaining how you can convert your Clubcard points to vouchers. These vouchers can then be exchanged for a single entry ticket to Blists Hill Victorian Town. If you choose, this ticket can be upgraded to an annual PASS or PASS PLUS at the front desk by paying the difference.

Please note, these vouchers cannot be used for any of our special events, such as Fireworks Night or Victorian Christmas Weekends. Other T&Cs apply. Please visit the Tesco Clubcard website for more information.

Just bring your original ticket(s) to the ticket desk at any of our museums within 30 days and pay the difference. We will need to scan your tickets at a till point, which means it is not possible to upgrades your ticket online.

If you buy your tickets online you will not be asked to select a date or time to visit us unless you are visiting during December 2025.

Tickets can also be bought upon your arrival.

PASS and PASS PLUS FAQs

With the PASS PLUS you can enjoy unlimited entry to all museums within Ironbridge Valley of Invention for a whole year, free parking in any IGMT car park, a 10% discount in our catering outlets and shops, discounts on our special events (including our popular Christmas events) and year-round fast-track entry to Blists Hill Victorian Town. As of 16 October 2025, the PASS and PASS PLUS are no longer for sale.

As of 16 October 2025, the PASS and PASS PLUS are no longer for sale.

You can collect your PASS or PASS PLUS from any of our ticket offices. These can be found at Blists Hill Victorian Town, Enginuity, Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, Coalport China Museum, Jackfield Tile Museum. As of 16 October 2025, the PASS and PASS PLUS are no longer for sale.

Don't worry! Just bring a form of ID when you next visit one our of sites and we can print a replacement card. 

The first replacement card will be issued for free. Any subsequent reissues will cost £5.

Each named ticket holder is required to have their photo taken to validate their PASS or PASS PLUS and prevent misuse. This image, along with personal details, will be held by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust in line with our Data Protection policy.

Photographs are stored on our secure ticketing system only and will not feature on the ticket itself. As of 16 October 2025, the PASS and PASS PLUS are no longer for sale.

Simply show your valid PASS PLUS card to a member of our catering or retail team at the point of transaction and they will apply the discount. Please note discounts cannot be applied retrospectively.

Cancel your Direct Debit with your bank before the expiry date and the PASS PLUS will automatically cancel on expiry.

The PASS and PASS PLUS are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. As of 16 October 2025, the PASS and PASS PLUS are no longer for sale.