Tour Highlights
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Clifton Village
ss Great Britain
Harbour Ferry Tour
Bristol Industrial Museum
The Old Station

Isambard Kingdom Brunel is most famously associated with Bristol. The greatest engineer of the Victorian era, he left an indelible mark on Bristol, leaving us magnificent and beautiful monuments to the age of engineering.

This tour has to start at the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Brunel's "first love and darling", and one which has a fascinating story to tell.

Begin by dropping off (no pun intended!) at the Viewing Point on Sion Hill. Did you know that one side of the bridge is higher so that it appears level from here? A stroll over the bridge rewards with breathtaking views of the Avon Gorge and the cliffs of St Vincents Rocks. For an alternative view of the bridge make for the Victorian Camera Obscura on the hill, where you can also descend into an underground passageway to a cliff side cave.

Allow 30 minutes, 1 hour if including the Camera Obscura and caves (unable to cope with large groups at once)

While you are in Clifton Village you really ought to explore this lovely neighbourhood, in particular Royal York Crescent the longest terrace of its type, affording magnificent views over the city.

Allow 45 minutes for the Centre, 45 minutes for the Village

Descend to the bottom of the Avon Gorge along Bridge Valley Road, passing beneath the bridge en-route to Brunel's other great masterpiece the ss Great Britain. The low level bridges over the harbour locks were designed by Brunel and were the first ever use of manufactured tubular steel to add strength to a structure.

The ss Great Britain sits in the very dry dock from which she was launched in 1843. At the time she was far larger than any ship before her and the first ever screw propelled iron passenger liner. She was built for the transatlantic route and together with the Great Western Railway was part of Brunel's London to New York transport network.

Allow 1 hour

The Floating Harbour occupied Brunel throughout his time in Bristol. It was he who built Underfall Yard, the mechanism by which the harbour keeps itself free from silt. Take a guided ferry tour of the harbour to really bring Bristol's maritime history to life (Bristol Ferry Boat Co.).

Allow 45 minutes for ferry tour

Also on the harbour is the Bristol Industrial Museum. Moored beside it you will find a dredger designed by Brunel and so good at its job it was in use up to the 1960s. The museum contains examples of every type of industry the city has excelled in and even has the original test version of Concorde's cockpit, another great Bristol design.

Allow 2 hours

	The Great Western Railway was the first modern mainline passenger railway, starting in London and terminating in Bristol at Temple Meads.
The Old Station is now partly home to the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum. The old engine shed is open to public view, and is now used as a covered car park. This shed has the longest single span hammer beam roof in the world and was an engineering marvel in its day. The railway is still in use and is now shortlisted as a possible World Heritage site.

Originally Brunel intended that passengers on the GWR would stay in his Great Western Hotel before embarking on a transatlantic crossing. The grand facade of the hotel still stands and is now called Brunel House and is used by Bristol City Council. It is located behind the Council House on Frogmore Street.

If you are staying in Bristol for the evening how about a meal in one of
Brunel's original harbourside warehouses? Designed and built by Brunel when he
was working on the Floating Harbour, a building has recently been
sympathetically restored and converted into a stunning new waterside bar and restaurant - The Severnshed.