Newsroom Archive

The Discover Telford event is one of three major events in Telford and Wrekin that are part of the Festival Telford programme, which has been made possible by funding from Arts Council England.

Telford & Wrekin Council has issued advice for visitors to the event to ensure everyone can enjoy the River Festival safely and understand how things will work on the day. This advice can be accessed at www.discovertelford.co.uk/riverfestival 

The Festival’s climax will be the Severn Fire and Light Flotilla, which will sail from Ironbridge Rowing Club at about 7.30pm and finish at the Iron Bridge itself. It will be put on by outdoor arts experts Walk The Plank.

Viewing areas will be set up in Dale End Park and along The Wharfage and stewards will be on hand to direct people. There will be no spectator areas on the Iron Bridge or on the south side of the river. 

There will be allocated disabled viewing next to the Ironbridge Rowing Club but the maximum size of party will be one person plus one carer. There are also a limited number of disabled viewing spaces next to the Museum of the Gorge, again with spaces limited to one person and one carer.

Parking is available at Ironbridge Park and Ride, located at TF4 3QE.This service will run every 12 minutes. This increases to a bus every four minutes later on with the last bus returning from the Museum of the Gorge at 9.30pm.

There is also a Park and Ride service from Blists Hill, with the service running every 10 minutes from Legges Way Car Park in Madeley. This increases to a bus every six minutes later on with the last bus departing from the pick ups at Waterloo Street, Ironbridge, at 9.30pm.

Alternatively, Arriva bus services 1, 2, 4 and 44 can be picked up from Telford Bus Station (a 10 minute walk from Telford Central railway station) and stop a short walk away from Legges Way Park & Ride – please check the Arriva website for timetables. People travelling in a group should ask their bus driver about group saver tickets.

There will also be limited chargeable parking at the Ironbridge Regatta Fields (TF8 7BJ). Car parks at the Museum of the Gorge, Market Square and Dale End will all be closed.

The public are advised to use public transport links to and from the event. As well as the two Park and Rides, bus routes 9, 18 and 96 will operate into The Gorge during the day. 

Other useful pieces of information: 

• Limited Blue badge parking will be available at Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge Primary School and at the Museum of the Gorge 

• An allocated taxi drop off and pick up will be located on the Museum of the Gorge car park

• The lost child point will be in the orange Kidstrapp marquee in Dale End Park

• First Aid points are located at Market Square and in Dale End Park

• We advise people to bring torches to light their way safely home

• Public toilets are located at the Museum of the Gorge car park, the Square in Ironbridge and on Station Yard car park

• There is a free cash machine at the Co-operative Food store in Dale End

• Dogs on leads are welcome

Outdoor arts expert Walk The Plank have an impressive portfolio of operating flame and pyrotechnic shows on water including the Mersey River Festival, Henley River Festival, Greenwich and Docklands Festival, the Manchester Ship Canal Centenary and Sound To Sea Commonwealth Games.