Ironbridge Gorge in Top 20 of UK's most visited World Heritage Sites
The Ironbridge Gorge was today included on a prestigious list of the most visited World Heritage Sites in the UK.
The landmark is visited by more people than Blenheim Palace or Hadrian's Wall, according to the survey.
It is also more popular than historic sites like Cornwall's tin mines and the ancient stones of Avebury in Wiltshire.
The list, which is headed by the Tower of London, places Ironbridge in the top 20 sites in the UK.
It cements the birthplace of the industrial revolution as one of Britain's historic jewels – and also highlights its economic importance to Telford & Wrekin.
The 10 Ironbridge Gorge Museums receive more than 545,000 visitors per year, with around 70,000 of these being visits from schools.
Many more pay a visit to Darby's iconic bridge and the town, taking the total visitor number to more than a million.
The museums support around 160 full-time equivalent jobs and many hundreds indirectly.
Paul Gossage, director of marketing at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust, today said was an "honour" to be recognised among so many famous sites.
He said: "It is very important to us, the Gorge and Telford & Wrekin that we have been recognised in this list and in such prestigious company. We are delighted to hear Ironbridge Gorge is held in such high esteem."
Research carried out by Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust estimates around half of its visitors come from outside the West Midlands region. Seven per cent of tourists have travelled to Ironbridge from abroad.
Independent economic assessments estimate that the Trust generates around £20m of income per year to the economy of Telford & Wrekin and the wider Shropshire area.
Telford & Wrekin Council leader, Kuldip Sahota said: "The Irongbridge Gorge is very very important to the borough and I am very pleased to hear it has come out as one of the most visited World Heritage sites.
"With the museums and businesses in the area there are many people employed in the town, and this just goes to show how significant the site.
"It is a beautiful place and I would say to anyone who gets the chance to visit the site a day or a weekend then they should."
The Shropshire landmark is listed as the12th most visited site, just behind Kew Gardens and Canterbury.
The list was created through a poll of 2,000 people from across the UK, which showed that 16 percent had visited Ironbridge.
Tom Lowes, head of online marketing at Sykes Cottages which organised the poll, said: "It's easy to forget how lucky we are to have so many sites of natural beauty and historical importance on our doorstep. Ironbridge is an example of this."
