For anyone intersted in Britain's industrial heritage, a visit to Ironbridge and its many museums is heaven. My personal favourite is Blists Hill Victorian Town, but my children would probably vote for Enginuity!

The town sits in quite a steep sided gorge with the Iron Bridge gracefully spanning the River Severn. Most of Ironbridge clings to the hillside on the north side of the river, criss-crossed by steep narrow lanes and footpaths running between individual character cottages.

Ironbridge is often described as the 'Birthplace of Industry' and the bridge is the famous symbol associated with the area's heritage. Designed by Shrewsbury architect Thomas Farnolls Pritchard, the bridge had to accommodate the masts of severn trows whilst spanning over 100 feet of river. His solution was an arched bridge to be constructed from 5 semi-circular cast iron ribs to be cast at the Coalbrookdale ironworks of Abraham Darby. This was the new technology of the time, and as such, used dovetail and tenon joints similar to those in carpentry. The bridge was opened in 1781 to great acclaim.

Running along the north bank of the Severn, adjacent to the bridge is The Wharfage, where most of Ironbridge's shops, restaurants, pubs and eateries are situated. The Wharfage runs down to the 'Museum of the Gorge', located in a Gothic warehouse, from where Coalbrookdale goods were once exported to the rest of the world.

Other museums around Ironbridge gorge include: Museum of Iron and Darby Houses, Coalport China Museum, The Tar Tunnel, Jackfield Tile Museum, Broseley Pipeworks and the already menitioned Enginuity, Blists Hill Victorian Town and Museum of the Gorge.

Attractions near Ironbridge include Telford, Blists Hill Victorian Town at Telford, The Telford Shopping Centre near Telford, Spencers Shopping Malls And Markets at Telford, Wenlock Priory near Much Wenlock, Wrekin Golf Club at Telford, Shifnal Shopping Centre near Shifnal.