Iron Bridge and Toll House

Cast in Coalbrookdale and thrown across the Severn in 1779, the Iron Bridge was the first of its kind anywhere in the world and gave both the gorge and the town their name. Walking over it costs nothing, and the little Toll House on the south bank, in National Trust care since the 2026 Ironbridge transfer, still shows the original board of crossing charges alongside an exhibition on how the audacious structure was built; entry is free with no booking needed, while English Heritage looks after the bridge span itself. Tips from visitors: the pay and display car park on the far bank is cheap for a couple of hours, the public toilets are across the main road among the shops, and the town rewards lingering, with riverside views, independent cafes and a much-recommended pork pie shop.