Blits Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge

Since the UK has started to open up I’ve been looking for new places to explore that are safe and fun to enjoy without catching a plane, so when I was invited to check out the outdoor museum Blits Hill Victorian Town I knew I’d have to go over and check it out.

Blits Hill Victorian Town is an outdoor museum in Ironbridge, Shropshire, one of several in the Ironbridge Museums group but one of the few that has been able to reopen with Covid-19 restrictions in place. It’s more than just a street with some Victorian facades, this really is a whole town for you to explore and interact with. They officially tell you to leave at least two hours to explore here but we were there for four and a half hours and still didn’t get around everything! Here’s some of what you can find in this amazing interactive living museum:

High Street

The high street is the first place you come to when you enter the town, there’s the bank, pub, pharmacist and lots more to explore. Many of these places can enter to take a look around and ask the staff about the history. Due to COVID only one ‘bubble’ of friends or relatives can enter a shop at any time and whilst this does mean more queuing then usual, it means you get the shops to yourself when you are inside to enjoy and ask as many questions as you like, it really made the trip extra special. In non-covid times you can exchange money at the bank for Victorian coins to shop with, now instead there is a separate market where you can buy the goods in a more socially distant manner.

Canal Street

In Canal Street, you can expect to find more shops to explore including the post office, sweet shop, fish and chip shop and drapery. There are still two places you can purchase goods inside the actual shops themselves and both of them are found here; the sweet shop and the fish and chip shop. Of course, I took full advantage of both! Eating fish and chips by the canal was a real treat.

Canal Side

Not just a place to sit while you eat your fish and chips, Canal Side has the original Brick and Tile Works as well as well as an enjoyable walk alongside the canal. If you continue walking you head past old mining buildings and a mine shaft before heading into the woods, it’s a great palace if you want some peace and quiet on your trip.

The Lower Settlement

Down the hill, you find the lower settlement part of Blits Hill Victorian Town which is where you will find the Mission Church, Toll House and Squatter’s cottage. It gives you a real idea of how the working class lived during this time period. Set in the beautiful woodlands you can continue past here to The Miner’s Walk amongst the woodland trees.

The Victorian Fare

Here you can find a whole host of rides to enjoy and even a coconut shy! In this same area, you can also find the Boarding School and shipyard to explore. There might even be a lesson taking place in the school when you visit!

Upper town

Here you can find all about the production of iron in the blacksmiths and wrought-iron works, you might even catch the foundry men doing casting demonstrations. Heading further up the hill you will find the doctor’s surgery and the estate office which give a great insight into how the other half lived. There’s a print works where you can get Victorian-style posters printed on the fascinating Victorian printer and watch a candle-making display in the candle works or speak with the horsemen and women about their work with the horses. There are loads of live displays throughout the museum so these really are just a few highlights.

This is just some of what Blits Hill Victorian Town has to offer and there’s so much more besides. It’s a great day out for family and friends alike. Blits Hill Victorian Town is currently running at a reduced capacity so book your time slot on their website before you plan to visit, tickets are £27.50 for adults or £20 if booked online through their website.

Do you love living museums like this one?