Ironbridge Gorge

The Iron Bridge over the River Severn was completed in 1779, opened in 1781 and is regarded as the world's first major cast-iron bridge. It has a span of 30.6 m and is made of roughly 380 tonnes of iron. It grew out of Abraham Darby's breakthrough of 1709, smelting iron with coke instead of charcoal, which allowed the Coalbrookdale Company to cast large iron pieces. The gorge is regarded as a birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust runs several museums along the gorge, including collections on iron founding, ceramics and Victorian crafts. The bridge itself can be crossed free of charge. Choose one or two museums rather than trying to see them all, and allow about two hours for the bridge and the village. Park near the bridge and continue on foot; spaces can be hard to find at weekends and during holidays.