Brunel's SS Great Britain

A ship that came home

Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and launched in 1843, the SS Great Britain was the largest ship in the world when she was built and set the pattern for the ocean liners that followed. After decades abandoned in the Falkland Islands she was brought back to Bristol in 1970, and today she rests in a glass 'sea' that lets you see both her deck and her hull.

What you can explore

On board, themed areas take you from cramped steerage and the galley to the promenade deck, the engine room and the first-class dining saloon, before you step out on to the weather deck. Below the waterline, the dry dock shows her iron hull and the conservation work that keeps it stable. The Being Brunel museum, the Brunel Institute and the historic dockyard buildings are included, along with a newer museum about the people who built and sailed on her. In season you can also climb the rigging on the Go Aloft! experience.

Planning your visit

General admission tickets give free return visits for a year, which makes it easy to split the site over two days. Booking online is cheaper than paying on the day, and an afternoon ticket is available if you arrive later. Cabot Tower on Brandon Hill and the attractions around Millennium Square are a short walk or ferry hop away along the harbour.

Highlights

• Launched in 1843 to Brunel's design
• Walk beneath the iron hull in the original dry dock
• Being Brunel museum and Brunel Institute included
• General admission includes free returns for a year

Good to know

• Booking online saves money compared with buying on the day
• Go Aloft! rigging climbs are seasonal, so check dates before you go
• An Afternoon Saver ticket is offered for later arrivals

Frequently asked questions