Brunel's SS Great Britain
Brunel's SS Great Britain
5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Step back in time when you board Brunel’s SS Great Britain. Discover the true stories behind the ship that changed the world. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of life on board for Victorian passengers and crew. Descend under water below the glass ‘sea’ to touch the world’s first great ocean liner.
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- Ron J2 contributionsFabulous Evening in the Shakespeare RoomWe booked an evening in the Shakespeare Room (a replica of Brunel's London dining room) for a special birthday celebration. Our party of 12 enjoyed private access to the Museum and the SS Great Britain for 90 mins before a drinks Reception in the Shakespeare room with private access to the Brunel museum followed by dinner. The Museum and SS Great Britain tour was truly memorable and it is a tribute to all those involved in the restoration of this iconic ship. To be able to browse at our leisure was a real treat. The quality and presentation of the food for the dinner was outstanding and exceeded our expectations to the extent we asked for the chef, Jason, to come and see us so that we could thank him personally. The customer service provided by Christina and Rich throughout the evening was faultless and contributed to the wonderful evening. The event was planned with Maisie whose attention to detail was impressive. The evening was a great success and in our view a world class experience.Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 4, 2023
- Angela EWaltham Cross, United Kingdom301 contributionsAmazing ship and well worth the entrance feeExcellent attraction, lots to see and do. The ship is amazing, there is something around every corner with friendly staff are on hand to enthuse and explain it all. There is so much work and thought that has gone into this attraction that it is well worth the entrance fee. The tickets are valid for a year, so we went one afternoon and then again the next day. There is so much to see that it is good if you can do it over a couple of days. It really brought history to life. Lovely experience seeing the boat from under the water line with the water over head - great experience.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 9, 2023
- prxicricket3 contributionsA Great Ship to visitWe were just going to view the SS Great Britain from the dockside but I had been advised to go inside by a friend of my sons'. At £22 a ticket it was well worth the money. It is a brilliant site with the ship open to visit and explore plus an excellent museum dedicated to IK Brunel. There are other areas on site to explore and I reckon you could spend 3-4 hours there. We were fortunate to have sunshine on the day and caught the ferry to the ship - which is another worthwhile adventure. Just around the corner from the SS Great Britain is a Banksy , plus a great pub and Aardman Animations Offices (but you cant go in).Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 27, 2023
- AndreaLiphook, United Kingdom15 contributionsAn amazing experienceWow! We’ve always wanted to explore SS Great Britain and we were not disappointed! All of the staff are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic when speaking about the history of the ship. We were lucky enough to go into the archives room & learnt a lot about the artefacts that have been found or given to them to have on display. You can even go under the ship into the covered dry dock to view the hull! The ship is fully accessible so, as someone with mobility issues, I was able to explore the whole thing with my family as a lift system has been installed so you can access all decks. The museums are wonderful and full of amazing artefacts and information. These are also fully accessible.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 28, 2023
- jo and Andy gSurrey, United Kingdom1,015 contributionsWorth the moneyWhat an informative and well put together experience. Staff on hand also to answer any questions . The staff member who stood out was down in the steerage kitchen section on Monday 23rd October! took the time with a few questions we had. Thank you A highlight in our 2 day Bristol trip alongside walking along the suspension bridge, also going to find a couple of banksy’s, one within 5 min walk of the ss Great Britain and clear direction from a staff member to find it .Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 29, 2023
- TBall27Wiltshire, United Kingdom57 contributionsLet’s set sail!Excellent day out! Family fun! Thoroughly enjoyed being able to step foot on an amazing piece of history. Reasonable ticket prices for a small family and get a partial refund on parking ticket which is a little bonus! Would highly recommend visiting!Visited August 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 6, 2023
- SnapsUKKent, United Kingdom106 contributionsA great day outI last visited the ship 41 years ago!, yes really! Great to come back and see the transformation into a first class visitor experience. Winter may be wet and windy but the ship was less crowded. I spent 3 hours here and could have spent longer. The whole visit was so full of interest and a credit to the team who run the show.Visited November 2023Traveled soloWritten November 21, 2023
- allimHassocks, United Kingdom197 contributionsBrilliant attraction and superb staffFantastic place to visit. Really interesting, really well laid out and superb staff throughout Highly recommend this attraction, especially to history lovers. Very reasonable entrance fee considering how much there is to see Staff go above and beyond and are full of knowledgeVisited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 27, 2023
- GroovyTraveller01Dubai, United Arab Emirates137 contributionsThe special Victorian Christmas weekends are great! Even for teens!Even good for teens! Victorian Christmas weekend; actors dressed in Victorian costumes including green Father Christmas. All very knowledgeable about the period. Really interesting, educational and great photos! Fake snow and lots of holly, red berries and mistletoe decorating the area outside the ship - more great photos! A live choir singing carols. Mince pies on sale. Gift shop selling imaginative and beautiful gifts. And then there's the fascinating ship itself! Tickets are valid for a year, parking is subsidised in the nearest car park. I thought it was very good value. And my older teen really enjoyed their time so it's a big hit!Visited December 2023Traveled with familyWritten December 4, 2023
- Susan H32 contributionsA Great and Informative TourA fabulous tour from start to finish. We enjoyed reading the information before entering the ship. We visited on a special Christmas weekend where people were dressed in clothes of the era, it made the experience even more lovely. We liked that you could dress up and have a photo taken with your own phone at no extra cost.Visited December 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten December 27, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
8,259 reviews
Excellent
6,743
Very good
1,313
Average
137
Poor
41
Terrible
25
Martyn P
Welshpool, UK23 contributions
Feb 2020
Yes as well as bridges he also turned his hand to ships. This is the first passenger steamer to be made of iron and to use a crew propeller rather than a paddle. It is an amazing exhibit. We crossed the river to the ship itself via the little passenger ferry that operates- cost £1 per person. The ship is really interesting. The cabins and bunks in the cabins are tiny! You can really get a feel as to how life on board must have been. There are a lot of staff on hand who are very knowledgeable and happy to help. The shop is a great place to browse around. Entrance fee was £18 per adult but this then gets you free admission for a year- so it is good value. There is a separate exhibition devoted to Brunel himself which is quite interesting plus there is a cafe- but we did not use this.
Overall an interesting few hours
Overall an interesting few hours
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian C
London, UK23,698 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
I was expecting to visit the ship, the SS Great Britain, but was delighted to find a great deal more. I would recommend this to anyone interested in nautical, engineering, social or British history.
From buying our tickets until the end of our visit we found helpful enthusiastic staff. We started our visit in the Brunel Institute, a fascinating research centre operated in conjunction with the University of Bristol, and then went out to explore the dry dock, the ship itself and the difference museum spaces.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel's engineering triumphs are many - including the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, his tunnel under the River Thames, the Great West Railway and, perhaps his greatest achievement, the SS Great Britain which, when launched in 1843 was called 'the greatest experiment since the Creation'.
Brunel created a ship that changed history and was the prototype for the modern trans-Atlantic liner.
SS Great Britain, with the innovation of a propeller rather than paddles, was the first iron steamer to cross the Atlantic, which she did in 1845 in 14 days.
Sadly this great ship was scuttled in 1937 and left to rot under water until in 1970, the businessman Sir Jack Arnold Hayward paid for her decaying hull to be raised and repaired enough to be towed back to the United Kingdom and returned to the Bristol dry dock where she had originally been built where she remains today with her rusted hull preserved and interiors, engine, propeller, rudder and rigging restored, along with displays on her history and of the achievements of Brunel, including the Dock Office in which she was designed by Brunel.
First Class, compared to today, was pretty basic - and as for Steerage!.... The reconstruction includes displays of how people lived and worked on the ship, which children in particular appreciated.
A fascinating experience from when British engineering was innovative and leading the world.
From buying our tickets until the end of our visit we found helpful enthusiastic staff. We started our visit in the Brunel Institute, a fascinating research centre operated in conjunction with the University of Bristol, and then went out to explore the dry dock, the ship itself and the difference museum spaces.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel's engineering triumphs are many - including the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, his tunnel under the River Thames, the Great West Railway and, perhaps his greatest achievement, the SS Great Britain which, when launched in 1843 was called 'the greatest experiment since the Creation'.
Brunel created a ship that changed history and was the prototype for the modern trans-Atlantic liner.
SS Great Britain, with the innovation of a propeller rather than paddles, was the first iron steamer to cross the Atlantic, which she did in 1845 in 14 days.
Sadly this great ship was scuttled in 1937 and left to rot under water until in 1970, the businessman Sir Jack Arnold Hayward paid for her decaying hull to be raised and repaired enough to be towed back to the United Kingdom and returned to the Bristol dry dock where she had originally been built where she remains today with her rusted hull preserved and interiors, engine, propeller, rudder and rigging restored, along with displays on her history and of the achievements of Brunel, including the Dock Office in which she was designed by Brunel.
First Class, compared to today, was pretty basic - and as for Steerage!.... The reconstruction includes displays of how people lived and worked on the ship, which children in particular appreciated.
A fascinating experience from when British engineering was innovative and leading the world.
Written March 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JimboDundee
Cuffley, UK14 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Very polished museum from the Brunel actor entertaining those queuing outside to the ship itself where you can walk across the deck as well as around the hull in the dry dock. Lots of interesting exhibits for all ages. Biggest hit ironically was spending 15-20mins drawing circles in a mock railway carriage trying to get higher than 90% (need to visit in order to understand that last comment :-))
Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roblegor
Lymington, UK45 contributions
Jan 2020
This historic ship was close to where we were staying. We were initially reluctant to visit as the cost seemed high but once we had taken the plunge (virtually when we went below the Plimsoll Line) we realised there was a lot to see and it was great value.
As well as seeing on board the ship and the conditions for the various classes there was a very interesting museum about the career of Brunel to look around.
We by no means saw it all so we very much hope we can use the year's validity of the ticket to return.
As well as seeing on board the ship and the conditions for the various classes there was a very interesting museum about the career of Brunel to look around.
We by no means saw it all so we very much hope we can use the year's validity of the ticket to return.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graham M
Frodsham, UK17 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
The SS Great Britain is one of the best attractions I have visited in the UK.
The ship is most amazing and also the dry dock where it is located now was where it was constructed which is unique in itself.
The artifacts are very well laid out along with a good history tour of the capabilities of the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
COVID safety is well done, the guides are well informed and if you are going near to Bristol, I recommend that you pay a visit but plan for 3-4 hours to see everything !
The ship is most amazing and also the dry dock where it is located now was where it was constructed which is unique in itself.
The artifacts are very well laid out along with a good history tour of the capabilities of the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
COVID safety is well done, the guides are well informed and if you are going near to Bristol, I recommend that you pay a visit but plan for 3-4 hours to see everything !
Written May 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your kind comments, I'm so pleased that you enjoyed your day out! Hope to see you again soon.
Written June 1, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alex M
8 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Came here on a rainy morning. I must say we were very impressed (2 adults, 2 boys, 9 & 7)
The boat and museum were excellently thought out, very informative and entertaining. The exhibits gave you a real sense of how the passengers would have lived.
The story of how the ship was ‘rescued’ was very interesting as was the story of the designer, Brunel.
Covid precautions were excellent with a one way system around the boat, plenty of signage and hand sanitiser.
The staff were very helpful, pleasant and knowledgable.
I would definitely recommend a visit in wet or dry weather.
The boat and museum were excellently thought out, very informative and entertaining. The exhibits gave you a real sense of how the passengers would have lived.
The story of how the ship was ‘rescued’ was very interesting as was the story of the designer, Brunel.
Covid precautions were excellent with a one way system around the boat, plenty of signage and hand sanitiser.
The staff were very helpful, pleasant and knowledgable.
I would definitely recommend a visit in wet or dry weather.
Written August 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sian T
Bristol, UK49 contributions
Sep 2019
Went there a year ago, not long after the Brunel museum opened.
This is an essential place to visit for anyone with an interest in Bristol's history.
The ship is enough on its own but when you add the Brunel experience you get an incredible destination.
Interactive and evocative we will certainly be back (which isn't difficult as buying a ticket allows repeat visits).
This is an essential place to visit for anyone with an interest in Bristol's history.
The ship is enough on its own but when you add the Brunel experience you get an incredible destination.
Interactive and evocative we will certainly be back (which isn't difficult as buying a ticket allows repeat visits).
Written August 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
richharri
Plymouth, UK166 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Easy to book online with tickets then being valid for 12 months...good value! On arrival we were greeted by the friendly staff and provided with information on their new COVID-19 safety measures, which provided us with the reassurance needed to feel safe. All the staff were wearing visors and there are plenty of hand sanitising stations around the site. The boat has a one way system and regular reminders about keeping your distance.
The SS Great Britain really does bring history to life as you wonder around the decks; really well designed exhibits give visitors and idea of conditions on board for passengers but also mixed with the awe of the engineering. The museum on the dock was fascinating too, a great example of how museums should present history. We will definitely make a trip back to Bristol to visit again.
The SS Great Britain really does bring history to life as you wonder around the decks; really well designed exhibits give visitors and idea of conditions on board for passengers but also mixed with the awe of the engineering. The museum on the dock was fascinating too, a great example of how museums should present history. We will definitely make a trip back to Bristol to visit again.
Written September 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meera2580
London, UK10 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
This was our first visit to Bristol and the SS Great Britain is an absolute must see attraction. The staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and made our experience exceptional. In particular, Ryan who played the part of Isambard Kingdom Brunel perfectly and knew his history and the whole team (including the lady from Shrewsbury), made our visit an exceptional experience. We were lucky that the museum opened last week and we were impressed with the safety measures in place. We felt totally safe and comfortable and would highly recommend this visit to anyone visiting Bristol.
Written July 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mrs_McHugh
Southampton, UK15 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
Great experience for the whole family. Lots to see and do, staff are brilliant. They're all very knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic which always makes the day better. Tickets are valid for a year so hoping to go back in a few months and take advantage of the cafe and other areas we didn't quite have time for. Toilets are in abundance which is always welcome with children in tow. You could easily spend most of the day here.
Written August 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Theres toilets on site at the museum.
Written February 26, 2023
Can you get public access to just walk along side it from the pavement. Or is access totally sealed off via a pay booth of some kind. Not needing to go on board.
Written March 12, 2022
You have to pay the entry to go onto the wharf and or alongside.
It's well worth the admission fee
Written March 13, 2022
I would guess it is ok for assistance dogs but it is limited for space.
Written September 18, 2019
Can we hire a buggy of any sort from you as my husband has a few problems getting around
Written June 24, 2019
Sorry I was a visitor there, try asking the venue
Written June 24, 2019
I an coming on a coach trip. Just wondered what else is in the area with in walking distance please
Written June 5, 2019
The Zoo and Aquarium are OK, Clifton Suspension Bridge and Clifton. There’s the Riverside and Docks area and there is a big shopping complex.
Written June 5, 2019
Is this attraction suitable for someone using a disability scooter please?
Written May 31, 2019
There are lifts, but it would be advisable to phone the box office before you plan to go, as not all of them are big enough to carry a mobility scooter.
Written June 29, 2019
Is it suitable/safe for a 3 year old?
Written November 6, 2018
Yes if well supervised. Decks can be slippery when wet. A nice day out.
Written November 7, 2018
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