A summer of childhood and play

This summer is all about childhood and play at Ironbridge Valley of Invention.

Make a paper kite or boat at Blists Hill Victorian Town as you enjoy the kinds of games played by Victorian children, experiments with bits and bobs to make mechanical toys at Enginuity or make toys from clay at Coalport China Museum. A highlight of the holidays is our annual steam gala.

Book tickets

  1. Family on Canal Street at Blists Hill Victorian Town

    Guttersnipes and Urchins

    BLISTS HILL VICTORIAN TOWN | Try your hand at old-fashioned games, and get creative making your own kite, hat or boat

    Find out more

  2. Magical Mechanical Toys

    ENGINUITY | Make your own mechanical toy using a series of moving parts including cams, levers and springs

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  3. Two children making shapes from clay

    Clay Play!

    COALPORT CHINA MUSEUM | Get your hands dirty at our animals and boats themed drop-in clay modelling workshops

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A man, dressed in Victorian costume, is driving a large green steam engine. The engine has two large rear wheels and one roller at the front. There is smoke coming out of a chimney stack on the front of the engine.

Steam Gala

9-10 August 2025
BLISTS HILL VICTORIAN TOWN

Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Industrial Revolution as the streets of Blists Hill  are brought to life by a variety of visiting Steam Engines.

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Inside the printers at Blists Hill Victorian Town

Experience Ironbridge your way

To help you get the most out of your visit to the Ironbridge Gorge, we’ve created tailored itineraries to help plan your visit.

Ironbridge itineraries

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