Blists Hill Victorian Town
Open-air museum recreating a Victorian industrial town of about 1900, with shops, workshops and costumed storytellers.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Blists Hill opened in 1973 as an open-air museum on a former industrial site at Madeley in the Ironbridge Gorge. In the 18th and 19th centuries the land held blast furnaces, coal, iron and clay mines and a brick and tile works run by the Madeley Wood Company, and the Shropshire Canal crossed it to the Hay Inclined Plane.
The museum recreates a working-class town in the East Shropshire coalfield as it was around 1900. Some buildings were moved to the site, such as the New Inn public house, while others are replicas or typical examples. Visitors can walk through Victorian shops and cottages, watch craftspeople at work, sit in a school lesson and meet characters such as Constable Jarrett.
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust ran Blists Hill until 2026, when the National Trust took over its museums in the gorge. Some experiences, such as carriage rides, steam exhibits and forge demonstrations, are expected to return in stages as the town is restored.
Highlights
- Victorian high street with bakery, chemist, sweet shop and fish and chip shop
- Craftspeople and costumed storytellers, including Constable Jarrett
- Victorian school lesson in the Board Schoolroom
- Daily horse demonstrations and a canal path
- Madeley Wood outdoor adventure playground and a sensory room
Permanent exhibition
- Blists Hill Victorian Town – A recreated working-class town of about 1900 with Victorian shops, cottages, craft demonstrations, a pub, a school and industrial remains.
- Founded
- 1973
- Operated by
- National Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £24 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £12free up to age 4 · Child tickets are for ages 5 to 17; under 5s are free. Blue Peter badge holders under 18 are free with their badge. |
| Groups (15+ people) | –Groups of 15 or more can book through the group bookings page. |
| Families | £60Two adults and up to three children. A ticket for one adult and up to three children costs £36. |
| One adult and up to three children | £36 |
Prices are for Blists Hill Victorian Town without Gift Aid; with Gift Aid the adult price is £26.40 and the child price £13.20. English Heritage members get a 15% discount until 1 April 2027, and holders of cards issued by the former Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (Pass and Pass Plus) can still enter free until the card expires. National Trust members book free tickets.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Six Blue Badge bays are near the visitor centre on firm tarmac, and the visitor centre has level access and powered doors. The site covers a large area with tarmac roads, block paving, cobbles, a gravel canal towpath and woodland paths, with steep gradients such as Furnace Bank between the upper and lower town; wheelchair and mobility vehicle users are advised not to go beyond the bakery without a companion. Some historic buildings have steps, narrow doors or lifts, and a detailed access guide is available. Four powered mobility vehicles and four manual wheelchairs can be hired on a first-come basis and cannot be booked. Accessible toilets and baby changing are at several places on the site. Sensory items and ear defenders are available, and a quiet sensory room, the Sunflower Room, is off Canal Street. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £60 · Two adults and up to three children. A ticket for one adult and up to three children costs £36. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
Children can join a Victorian lesson, dress up in the photography studio, visit the horses and use the Madeley Wood outdoor adventure playground. Pushchairs are welcome, but many historic buildings have uneven floors and steps. Baby changing is at the Welcome Café, Forest Glen Pavilion and the playground; highchairs are at the Station Café and Forest Glen Pavilion. Under 5s are free.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus stop at Blists Hill (Arriva services from Telford)
Telford Central railway station is 4.5 miles away. Several Arriva bus routes serve Blists Hill from Telford. The Ironbridge Park and Ride and Gorge Connect services link many of the museums on selected weekends from July to September.
By car
Free parking
Free car parking on site; Blue Badge spaces are in car park one, closest to the Welcome Centre, and cycle racks are in car park one. A dedicated coach car park is on the upper level.
- Accessible parking
Leave the M54 at junction 4 or 6 and follow the brown and white signs for Ironbridge Gorge. Sat nav postcode TF7 5UD. Cyclists can reach the site from Telford along the Silkin Way.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
The Welcome Café, Forest Glen Refreshment Pavilion and Station Café serve food and drinks, and Victorian-style shops sell bread, fish and chips, sweets and drinks. The National Trust gift shop is in the Welcome Centre. Picnic areas are at the Station Café, Forest Glen, the Green and the playground. Only assistance dogs are allowed inside the cafés.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Costumed storytellers and craftspeople explain the exhibits, and a live school lesson runs daily. A horse demonstration is held at 11:00 and 14:30 in good weather. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in outdoor areas. Balance bikes and scooters should be left at home. |
