Blists Hill Victorian Town

EXPERIENCE LIFE IN 1900

Step back in time to the year 1900 and explore a working-class town in the East Shropshire Coalfield. Be immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian life and get a glimpse of a new world shaped by industry.

Visit Victorian shops and cottages, meet craftspeople demonstrating their trades and taste authentic food in our recreated town.

The Drapers at Blists Hill

History brought to life

Be immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian life.

  • Exchange your modern money for pounds, shillings and pence in the bank
  • See steam engines, printing presses and candle dipping machinery in action
  • Talk to craftspeople demonstrating traditional trades
Swing Boats at Blists Hill Victorian Town

Traditional fun and games

Fun for all the family, Victorian-style.

  • Ride old-fashioned fairground rides or go on the horse bus
  • Have your portrait taken in Victorian costume
  • Let off steam at the Madeley Wood Co. Outdoor Adventure

(Some activities are seasonal, please contact us for details. Additional charges may apply for some activities.)

Couple eating chips at Blists Hill Victorian Town

Eat and drink like a Victorian

Tuck into traditional foods prepared the old-fashioned way.

  • Enjoy a bag of fish and chips cooked the traditional way in beef dripping (vegan option available) or a pint from the New Inn pub
  • Bag a sweet (or two!) from the 19th century sweet shop's selection 
  • Enjoy fresh bread, fruit buns, shortbread and more from the bakery 

What's coming up

The Iron Bridge In The Ironbridge Gorge Credit Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust 2

Experience Ironbridge your way

To help you get the most out of your visit to the Ironbridge Gorge, we’ve created tailored itineraries to guide you around our sites.

Ironbridge itineraries

Parking information

Please note parking charges apply across all museum car parks. PASS PLUS and Friends can park for free during their daytime visit by validating their PASS PLUS at the front desk on arrival.

You can pay for parking with a debit/credit card at machines on-site or online within 48 hours of your visit.

Blists Hill Victorian Town Heavy Horse Weekend May 2022 76

Ready to book?

From single day tickets to our annual passes, choose a ticket which suits your needs.

For great value, save £5 when you purchase a PASS PLUS online.

Book tickets

An old, slightly grainy photo of the blast furnaces at Blists Hill, made from brick and fallen into disrepair, with windows missing and vegetation growing over and around the buildings.

A potted history of Blists Hill

Blists Hill Victorian Town is located on a site formerly used for ironmaking, mining and brickmaking. At its peak in the 1850s we believe more than 700 people were working at the mine, foundries and brickworks here run by the Madeley Wood Company.

Today when you visit you can still see some original features from this time, including the winding engine and pit wheel at the entrance to the 1780s mine; the Shropshire Canal (1792), which connected the area to Shropshire’s canal network; and the Hay Inclined Plane (1793), which connected the canal to the River Severn and the rest of the world.

Some of the buildings you can visit, for example the Candle Factory, Butcher shop and school, are historic buildings that have been deconstructed and rebuilt here brick by brick. Others are copies of historic buildings or feature original period interiors.

Images shows the original Blast Furnaces before conservation work. 

History of the museums

Explore our sites

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