landmark
Ironbridge Gorge
Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the world's first iron bridge built in 1779.
6 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Telford
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Telford
Telford is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Madeley, 6km from Ironbridge Gorge.
Telford is in England, United Kingdom, with about 160,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Madeley, about 5 km away.
Telford ( ) is a town in the Telford and Wrekin borough in Shropshire, England. The wider borough covers the town, its suburbs and surrounding towns and villages. The town is close to the county's eastern boundary, and near the River Severn. The notable hill near the town called The Wrekin is part of the ShropshireRead more
Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To the south of the town is the Ironbridge Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Places around the Ironbridge Gorge area, which were developed into the town itself, are internationally recognised as being "The Birthplace of Industry" being to a large extent constructed during the Industrial Revolution on the Shropshire Coalfield. The town is the main administrative centre for Telford and Wrekin Council.
The M54 motorway was completed in 1983, improving the town's road links with the West Midlands conurbation, Wolverhampton is 19 miles (31 km) south east and Birmingham is 28 miles (45 km) in the same direction. In the 2021 census, the town had a population of 156,896 while the wider borough had an estimated population of 185,600. It is the most populous settlement in Shropshire and is nearly twice the size of Shropshire's historic county town, Shrewsbury, 15 miles (24 km) to the west. It is near Staffordshire: Stafford is 21 miles (34 km) to the east and Stoke-on-Trent is 25 miles (40 km) north east from the town.
The town is polycentric, having been designated under the New Towns Acts in 1963 and 1968 and developed between the 1960s to the 1970s. Centred on a shopping centre and a public park, the new town is named after Thomas Telford, a civil engineer on many road, canal and rail projects in the county. It was originally designated under the name Dawley New Town. As well as multiple villages and Dawley, the other constituent towns are Coalbrookdale, Madeley, Newport, Oakengates and Wellington.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Telford?
Within an hour or so of Telford: Ironbridge Gorge (6 km), Black Country Living Museum (30 km), Black Country Living Museum (Peaky Blinders) (31 km), Loton Park (34 km).
Are there any good drives near Telford?
The nearest famous roads are A54 Congleton to Buxton, Horseshoe Pass and B4391 Milltir Gerrig.
Where is Telford?
Telford is in England, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Madeley.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 155,570
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 52.6766, -2.4493
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Telford
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
museum
Black Country Living Museum
Open-air museum rebuilding an industrial Black Country town: canal boats, a working replica Newcomen engine, 1930s fish and chips fried in beef dripping, and a coal mine walk. A key Peaky Blinders filming location.
30 km · about 35 min drive
film location
Black Country Living Museum (Peaky Blinders)
The open-air museum in Dudley provides the canal-side streets and workshops of Peaky Blinders' Small Heath.
31 km · about 35 min drive
racetrack
Loton Park
A 1,475-yard hillclimb running through the deer park of a Shropshire country estate, twisting between mature trees with the hill's Museum Corner and Fallow bends. One of Britain's most scenic speed venues.
34 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
The Peter James Collection
A remarkable private collection of over 100 classic and vintage cars on display in Birmingham.
43 km · about 50 min drive
racetrack
Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb
The world's oldest motorsport venue still using its original course, running since 1905. A 1,000-yard blast up a wooded Worcestershire hillside, steeped in Edwardian racing heritage.
46 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Bentley Factory Tour
Exclusive guided tours of Bentley's Crewe factory where master craftspeople build the world's finest luxury cars.
48 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Alton Towers
Major British theme park set in the grounds of a historic estate in Staffordshire with record-breaking coasters.
51 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Telford
15 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 100km.
- 64 kmHorseshoe PassSweeping A542 mountain pass curling above Llangollen in a giant horseshoe, climbing to 417m past the Ponderosa Cafe with wide views over the Dee Valley. A classic North Wales driving and biking road.
- 64 kmA54 Congleton to BuxtonA fast moorland alternative to the Cat and Fiddle, rolling over the Peak District's western edge past Danebridge and the Cheshire border.
- 64 kmHorseshoe Pass (Bwlch yr Oernant)A sweeping 417m moorland pass on the A542 above Llangollen, with the Ponderosa cafe at the top and views to the Berwyns.
- 69 kmB4391 Milltir GerrigA high, empty moorland crossing of the Berwyn range between Bala and Llangynog, all long sightlines and sheep.
- 70 kmCat and Fiddle ViewpointA high-altitude viewpoint on the A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton, one of England's highest roads with expansive moorland vistas.
- 70 kmGoyt Valley road, Peak DistrictA quiet reservoir road between Errwood and Fernilee in the Goyt Valley, wooded and twisting, often closed to through traffic on summer Sundays.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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