Blists Hill Victorian Town

I was invited here for a wedding reception. I had been may years ago, but had forgotten about it really. The site is set in a lovely part of Shropshire, as part of the Iron Bridge heritage site. It’s a old Victorian town that has been preserved for us to look round. You can go into all of the shops and even buy things. I was quite pleased to find this included the pub!;) There is a visitors Centre and café too. I would think you would need maybe two hours to do it properly. Sadly I can’t remember how much it cost to go in, as luckily my wedding invite gave me free entry:)The wedding reception was held in the Forest Glen Pavilion — really sweet. Great idea! –Talking of reception — there is no mobile phone reception, so if you need a taxi, pre-​book it!

I had a fantastic day here; possibly because I am old enough to remember times like these as there was very little change in street scenes, shops etc from Victorian times until the 1960s.
This town is filled with interesting characters who live the spirit of Victorian times while in character, which they appear to maintain at all times. They are mostly very well-​informed and glad to talk about how people lived in these times.
My wife thought that the pensioners’ rates of £12.50 per person was a lot, but I genuinely found it value for money as we spent a great part of the day there and had a wonderful time even though the weather wasn’t really ideal (Many local areas are cut off due to flooding!)
We particularly appreciated the many old-​style shops and, especially, the pub. It was a shame that the pub had post-​Victorian hours and closed the bar at 15.00, just as the music-​hall singalong began! he two guys who conducted this are superb, keeping up the «banter» throughout the half hour they sang and played.

Visited Blists Hill Victorian Town on a number of occasions and would recommend to everyone. The staff are very helpful and love telling you the stories of the town. The fish and chip shop is slightly expensive but a most buy the taste is great. The year ticket for all the Ironbridge areas is very good value and you can go in as many time as you like. A good morning out for the family with load of fun to be had.

Totally gobsmacked by this ‘museum’. Worth every penny of entrance fee as the money goes towards more items.
Characters, in Victorian costumes, walking around and ask any question and they would have the answers.
Buildings, either replica or original (moved from sites), bring you back to those ages.
First building is a Lloyds Bank where you can, if you wish, change modern money to the old pennies etc etc.
I won’t elaborate too much because you MUST visit this museum to appreciate it. Fish and chips, bakery, sweetshop, chemist etc etc.
I loved the place and felt quite ‘at home’. there is even a school class room where a class is held for visitors (they do miss out the cane which I do remember quite well) LOL
We finished off the wonderful trip by frequenting the pub, as you do, or as you MUST.
There was a great sing-​a-​long on the old jo-​anna (piano). Funny, how many people do remember those old songs.
Anywhere near Ironbridge (Telford) it is well worth a visit.

If you’re staying anywhere near Blist’s Hill it’s worth a visit. The only thing that stung was the cost you’re best to spend the day there if you want to get your money’s worth out of it.
Its great to see all the staff in victorian costume and many of them are working on site such as candle making, baking, ironmongery etc. The great thing is you can buy and taste your way through the town as they sell what they make! We went to the pharmacy and got a nice big block of coal-​tar soap! The old-​school fish n chips also look amazing! Whichever shop or house you go into there’s always a staff member wanting to talk to you about what they do (so be prepared for the chat!).
If you’re a family there’s a brilliant Victorian funfair with boat swings and chair-​o-​plane.
Be aware that if you go during the week you will be surrounded by noisy school kids. It’s a brilliant place for a school trip but not peaceful of you’re a couple or small family! This shouldn’t affect your day but means you may have to come back to shops as they are packed full of kids.
Overall a brilliant day but I would probably want to go on a Saturday or Sunday to avoid the school trips.

great day out
great for families with kids

Even if your’e not into museums Blists hill will change your mind.
It is one of the best to visit takes you back in time, even down to having to change your money to what they used in Victorian times. The old fashioned sweets and cakes were to die for. The whole day can be taken up with your visit and you will still miss things. Great value for money.

Brilliant day out for the whole family. It really feels like you stepped back in time. Very hands on. Good knowledgable staff.

This has got to be one of the best places to visit and so educational.
you really feel you have gone back in time.
They have streets and shops working as they would have done in the victorian times. people are dressed up and are happy to speak with you about life in the victorian age.
We went a couple of years ago on a very cold and very quiet day and this was to our advantage. No one was here and so all the shop keepers were happy to help and chat. you can exchange your money in the bank for old pennies and then buy things in the shops.
The printers was the best, he gave us loads of time and found old posters of the era from around our area.
It’s well worth a visit, truly magical.

Blists Hill is a brilliant place to go to learn about the Victorians in a ‘real’ setting. There is a lot on offer, providing an interactive experience for all ages and interests.
However, it is fairly pricey, but worth it– spend the whole day there on a nice, sunny day to get the maximum out of the ticket!

Blists Hill is a display, over quite a large area, of shops/​businesses and buildings showing how things were in bygone days. I have to admit I found this attraction a bit naff as there seemed to be lots of people trying to sell things and not a whole lot of information but my husband enjoyed it and thought it well done while the children (aged 5 and 9) had a ball running around and wondering at the difficulties of life in past times.
Some of the ‘enactors’ were great — like the lady who patiently allowed my two children to add to her rag rug and the jolly printer — but some just seemed rather bored by the whole thing. There were some activities for the children — like candle dipping but again these were charged extra and it all mounts up.
Overall my opinion is that its worth a visit — especially if you have children studying the victorians at school but don’t expect much detail or information othere than what you can just see.

a great school or family experince which brings the victorian times to life .they use both old currency and modern day currency in their shops and pubs. there is a chemist, bank, bakery, pub, fun fair, café for modern day refreshments. there are horses and side shows. i. e shakespeare plays. great day out. you can fill the whole day here.

There are quite a few ‘living museums’ to visit in and around the Midlands and they each have their own particular charm. Blists Hill is no exception. Like many people, I first visited the Victorian town whilst at school and not only did we have a great day out, but we really did get a feel for life in the 19^th centuary — old fashioned confectionary, school life, what people did for a living, how they kept their homes, the role of the Church, etc. Presenting historical information in such a manner really does ensure it fixes in the viewers brain. As a medium for teaching, it far outweighs anything a textbook could do.
I have also had the pleasure of using the site for a team-​building event I organised for one of my clients. The group consisted of an international management team for a large manufacturing conglomerate. Each member of the group was able to take part, despite some of them unable to speak English. It just went to prove that this is an experience suitable for people of all ages. I would heartilly recommend it.

This is a fantastic open air museum. You really feel like you are stepping back in time. You get to change your money to victorian money in the bank and spend it in the many shops and cafes. The fair ground it lots of fun, with shuggy boats and other traditional rides. I love the old sweet shop and spent a lot of my pennies here. The old school is fun as well and has old toys in it. We got our photos taken here dressed up in the old clothes. It looks like a real victorian photo and is a brilliant keepsake. It’s a great way to spend the day, well worth a visit.

Blists Hill is a wonderful place to visit, a real step back to the olden days. If you attend school around here then more than likely you’ll have visited as a kid, but it’s worth going back as an adult, even just in order to appreciate it on a different level (no homework to do afterwards!) My favourite times to visit are during the events at Halloween and Christmas, because this is when the town really does come to life. Try out some of the Victorian sweets, or get dressed up and have your photo taken, a visit to Blists Hill is a day packed full of things to do.

This is one of the best living museums that I have ever been to. Blist’s Hill literally throws you into history and lets you experience, in some small way, what it was like to live in Victorian England. You can visit the bank and change your money into special Ironbridge Victorian currency so you can buy items from the various shops, the pub etc (you can use modern money too but the Victorian money makes for a lovely touch). The staff at Blists Hill know their stuff and speak to you in character explaining the ins and outs of their jobs inthe town and what their life is like.
What better way to learn about a period of history than fully immersing yourself in it.

This is where you really do step back in time!!! This is a working museum and you meet various ‘old’ characters around the site at their work or play depending on their age!!! You can go to the bank and change your modern day money into old, farthings and shillings etc Children can get stuck in too, from going to the candle maker and making your own candles to sitting in a Victorian school lesson. This requires good walking feet as it is spaced out but you will love the little cottages where the ‘characters’ are baking bread or making old rag rugs. By the school is an old fairground to with a cocnut shy and merry go round, which is not just for kids as I proved when I had a go!!! Lots of fun too in the pub when they have a sing a long!!!

This place is a gem — packed with history but also very fun, the staff are all dressed up and act in character — from the town drunk to the spanking happy teacher! Kids can try a real victorian class and parents can shop for old fashion cakes, sweets and toys! Fun day out if you are in Shrewsbury area.