Brunel's SS Great Britain

About

Step on board the most extraordinary time-machine. Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the world’s first great ocean liner, is Bristol’s no.1 attraction with other accolades including: one of the UK’s top ten museums (TripAdvisor 2017-18) and 'Europe’s Most Welcoming Museum' (European Museum of the Year Awards 2019).

The brainchild of our most famous honorary Bristolian, Isambard Kingdom Brunel; this iconic steam ship is the heart of a multi-award winning visitor attraction.

Rescued from rust and wreckage in 1970, and since lovingly restored to her Victorian hey-day, a visit to the SS Great Britain allows you to step back in time and explore true stories from the opulent First-Class to the cramped and quarrelsome Steerage. Each kitchen and cabin, dining room and doctor’s surgery emanates authentic sounds and smells which bring the ship and its history to life. So much more than a dusty old museum, this is a living and breathing, atmospheric experience.

Step ‘underwater’ for a unique and magnificent view of the ship below the beautiful glass sea; investigate the Riggers’ Yard and the Great Western Dockyard, test your skills with interactive displays and choose from a selection of fascinating audio companions. With storytelling and games for children to in-depth historical research in Brunel’s Institute, there is something for everybody at Brunel’s ss Great Britain.

Being Brunel

Set inside Brunel’s original and fully restored Dock Office where he designed and built the SS Great Britain, this £7.2m attraction is the world’s most significant Brunel collection, celebrating the engineering genius who ‘built Britain’ and helped shape the world. The museum features six galleries setting out some 150 of Brunel’s personal artefacts - many never seen in public before - to provide unprecedented insight into his life, family, interests and creative mind.

Go Aloft!

Step into the shoes of a Victorian sailor and take the chance to discover what it was really like to be a member of the SS Great Britain’s crew by climbing the rigging to over 25 metres above ground level.

If you are brave enough you will then edge out onto the main yard, which will take you nine metres out across the Great Western Dockyard below, unveiling a unique and breathtaking view of Bristol.

Please note that Go Aloft! is currently open on weekends only, until the Easter Holidays (1-16 April 2023), when it will open every day of the week. 

Flash, Bang, Wallop!

A Victorian photographic studio and dressing up experience - step back in time and travel across the world to a Melbourne photographer’s studio in 1852 as they enter the Baker Gallery. The ‘Flash, Bang, Wallop!’ exhibition is just one of the many new activities on offer to families this year when they visit Brunel’s SS Great Britain.

Brunel's Apprentice

Free with admission, younger visitors will be given a satchel which they can take with them around the dockyard and Ship, solving problems and enjoying exciting activities whilst learning about the many skills that make a great engineer.

Brunel's SS Great Britain Walking Tour

Join Isambard Kingdom Brunel himself on a walking tour of Bristol’s historic harbourside and its surroundings. Discover the stories behind some of his greatest works and learn how Brunel’s Bristol projects changed not only the city but the whole world!’

Tours leave Brunel Square at 10.30am and are available on selected dates. Tours cost £12.50 per person and last approximately 2.5 hours, covering just under 4 miles of the Harbourside. This does not include admission to Brunel’s SS Great Britain, however you can add an afternoon admission ticket to your purchase.

Online advance booking only, subject to capacity.

Crew talks

Find out what life was like on board the SS Great Britain as a crew member, with these volunteer led talks. Discover how they dealt with living conditions, quality of food and drink, relationships and most importantly their Captain. Talks last approximately 30 minutes.

You'll also have the chance to eavesdrop on conversations from almost 160 years ago. Combining sounds with props, the scenes show what life was like for passengers and crew on a 65-day voyage to Australia. The ambitious sound-scape covers idle gossip and plotting gamblers, grumbling stewards, and musicians tuning their instruments. Set in 1853, all the scenes are inspired by true stories taken from passengers’ accounts, and show how First Class passengers used the saloon for dining and entertainment.

Whilst wandering through the Great Western Dockyard where the ship is situated, you'll wander past the Vistorian Pissoir Soundscape, which will include authentic sounds of whistling, tinkling and chattering from unseen dockworkers!

A choice of audio companions are included in admission for French, German, Spanish and Mandarin speaking visitors.

There are special deals for families and grandparent families, family tickets (include two adults and two or three children) and under fives go free. Your ticket also entitles you to return throughout the year. Visit the website for full details on admission an opening times.

A visitor leaflet is available in French, German, Spanish and Chinese. The physical leaflets are available from visitor services and they can also be downloaded from the SS Great Britain website http://www.ssgreatbritain.org/your-visit/group-visits

Virtual Tour

Take a virtual wander around Brunel’s iconic Victorian luxury ship, the SS Great Britain. Click here for the virtual tour

Groups

Bring your group to visit the world’s first great ocean liner - winner of more than 30 major tourism, heritage, conservation and access awards. Offering discounts of up to 25% on standard admission prices for pre-booked groups of 15 or more, Brunel's SS Great Britain also gives you the opportunity to add a private guided tour to your booking to hear about the stories and people behind this remarkable ship followed by a Group Lunch (subject to availability). If you're ready to plan your group visit, fill in the enquiry form or email; groups@ssgreatbritain.org

Accessibility

All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
Facilities for Hearing Impaired Visitors
Guide Dogs Permitted
Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
Ramp/Level
Accessible toilets

View the full access guide from AccessAble

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