YHA Wilderhope Manor

Immerse yourself in the past at the Acton Scott Working Farm Museum, 15 minutes’ drive away, for a glimpse of what life was like in rural communities during the Victorian era. This spot has shire horses to have a gander at along with regular wheelwright and blacksmith demos. To swot up on the industrial side of 19th-century history, the Ironbridge Gorge – a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 10 museums – is where to go. After investigating the cultural heritage centres, take yourself over to a tunnel that oozes tar, an old clay tobacco pipe factory and the world’s first cast-iron bridge (25 minutes’ drive) as well. Cross said structure, then head to the Severn Valley Railway (25 minutes) for a trip on a vintage steam locomotive line that traces the River Severn from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster. Finish it all off with a look at how the other half lived in times of yore at the National Trust’s Attingham Park estate (half an hour away).