Summer family events at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums

29 July – 30 August

The Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire have planned a great programme of summer events and activities to keep the family happily entertained during the school holidays from 29 July to 30 August.

Step back in time at  Blists Hill Victorian Town, where life over 100 years ago is recreated. Change your decimal money into pounds, shillings and pence at the Bank to spend in the shops and treat yourself to some traditional fish and chips from the Fryers. Try candle-dipping in the Goods Shed, then walk through the historic streets down to The Green where the Victorian fairground will be in full swing.

Visit over the weekend of 17 and 18 August when the Town will be 'in steam' and you will also be able to get up close and personal with an eclectic collection of Victorian steam powered machines, all of which will be in their full working splendour. Go on 18 August and you can also watch and join in traditional Morris Gang dancing.

Get crafty at Coalport China Museum where you can try sculpting with clay and decorating ceramic pieces, while at Jackfield Tile Museum you can take inspiration from some of the classic designs on display and join a workshop (Monday - Friday) to create your own ceramic masterpiece to take home.

Then let your imagination go wild as you play with the huge interactive exhibits at Enginuity, while unusual attractions include the 900-metre Tar Tunnel, where you can see the tar seeping from the rock. Visit the Darby Houses, once home to the old ironmasters, and see Abraham Darby's original furnace where the Industrial Revolution began. The Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron celebrates the early iron industry while the Museum of The Gorge  explains the area's importance.

Finally cross the world's first Iron Bridge and imagine what life was like around 300 years ago when industrial development began.

The Ironbridge Gorge Museums are open at varying times between the hours of 10am and 5pm. A great value Annual Passport Ticket allowing multiple visits into all 10 museums costs £26.50 per adult, £20.50 for seniors, £16.50 for children (16 years or under), £70 for a family of two adults and all their children and £50 for a family with one adult; under 5s free (terms and conditions apply); Passports can also be bought online in advance saving 5% and individual entry tickets are available at each museum. Activities will vary from day-to-day and some additional costs will apply.

For further information, call the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on 01952 433 424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. The Gorge is easily reached via the M54 motorway exiting at Telford junction 4 or 6.

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For more details contact:

Pat Edgar, PR Matters

Tel: 01494 764932 / 07836 786043

Email: PRMatters@talktalk.net