Clifton Suspension Bridge

A bridge Brunel never saw finished

Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed the bridge after a competition in the early 1830s, but money ran out and he died in 1859, five years before it finally opened in December 1864. Its main span is about 214 metres, and it still carries millions of vehicles a year. The bridge is looked after by the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust, a charity set up in 1953.

How to visit

The bridge is open around the clock, every day of the year, and pedestrians and cyclists cross free. Drivers pay a small contactless toll with no booking needed. Head over to the Leigh Woods side for the visitor centre, which explains how the bridge was built and is still maintained, with free entry. Free guided tours run at weekends and on bank holidays, and between Easter and October there are hard hat tours into the vaults hidden inside the Leigh Woods abutment.

Making a morning of it

Come early or towards sunset, when the light on the gorge is at its best. From the bridge it is a short stroll to Clifton Observatory and the viewpoints on the Clifton Down side, and the woodland paths of Leigh Woods are on the far bank. Ashton Court Estate is a little further south-west if you want a longer walk with views back over the city.

Highlights

• Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel; opened in 1864
• Deck about 101m above high water in the Avon Gorge
• Free to walk or cycle across, 24 hours a day
• Free visitor centre on the Leigh Woods side
• Grade I listed

Good to know

• Cars pay a £1 contactless toll; no booking needed.
• Free weekend and bank holiday tours start at 2pm; you can reserve or just turn up.
• Hard hat tours of the hidden vaults run from Easter to October.
• Bus 8 runs from Bristol Temple Meads to Clifton Village; walking from the city centre takes about 45 minutes.

Frequently asked questions