Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre

Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust
Bridgemaster's Office
Leigh Woods
Bristol
City of Bristol
BS8 3PA
England

Website

www.cliftonbridge.org.uk

E-mail

visitinfo@cliftonbridge.org.uk

Telephone

For guided tours

+44(0) 117 974 4664

For Crossing Cards

+44(0) 117 973 8008

Fax

General Enquiries

+44 (0) 117 974 5255

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
A night time photo of the Clifton Suspension Bridge
Guided tours icon Shop icon Visual disability facilities icon Wheelchair access icon

The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a world famous icon of the city of Bristol. Designed in the 1830s by the Victorian engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it was not completed until 1864. Remarkably it still copes admirably with the 11,000 vehicles which cross it every day. Locals and visitors alike come to marvel at its sight and the views from it. The Visitor Centre tells the story of the Bridge from Brunel up until today.

Venue Type:

Heritage site, Science centre, Industrial heritage site, Transport heritage site

 Opening hours

A visitor centre containing information about the history, construction and maintenance of the Bridge is situated on the Leigh Woods side of the Bridge. Entry is free (donations welcome) and it is open 10.00 to 5.00 daily throughout the year.
Guided Tours for groups and schools are available at any time by arrangement.
Free Guided Tours are operated by volunteer guides at 3.00pm on weekend afternoons Easter to end of October (NB these tours are not suitable for large organised groups for whom separate arrangements apply)

Closed: 24th, 25th and 26th December

 Admission charges

Entry to the Visitor Centre is free - although donations are appreciated at the door.
Guided tours for groups and schools are charged at £2.50 pp (minimum total charge £60.00)

 General services and facilities
  • Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
  • Guided tours
  • Information point provided
  • Pre-booking service for groups
  • Picnic area
  • Shop
 Disability access
  • Large print information and/or interpretation
  • Parking for disabled available
  • Wheelchair access to all public areas
 Schools services and facilities
  • Member of staff available with responsibility for education

Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust
Bridgemaster's Office
Leigh Woods
Bristol
City of Bristol
BS8 3PA
England

Website

www.cliftonbridge.org.uk

E-mail

visitinfo@cliftonbridge.org.uk

Telephone

For guided tours

+44(0) 117 974 4664

For Crossing Cards

+44(0) 117 973 8008

Fax

General Enquiries

+44 (0) 117 974 5255

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

Collection details

Architecture, Archives, Design, Inland Waterways, Science and Technology, Social History

Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust
Bridgemaster's Office
Leigh Woods
Bristol
City of Bristol
BS8 3PA
England

Website

www.cliftonbridge.org.uk

E-mail

visitinfo@cliftonbridge.org.uk

Telephone

For guided tours

+44(0) 117 974 4664

For Crossing Cards

+44(0) 117 973 8008

Fax

General Enquiries

+44 (0) 117 974 5255

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.
 Digital and online resources

Interactory Online Resources and Tours

http://www.interactory.com

Building the Clifton Suspension Bridge was one of the hardest projects Isambard Kingdom Brunel ever undertook, demanding major Victorian technical ingenuity. But beyond what you can see lie the secrets that have kept the bridge upright for almost a hundred and fifty years.
Take a tour through this website to discover the bridge's history; construction; and its setting, the Avon Gorge wildlife haven. You can also watch or download video and audio tours and podcasts onto your phone, PDA or computer.

 Face to face resources

Public Guided Tours

http://www.clifton-suspension-bridge.org.uk/guidedtours.php

Guided tours of the Bridge by knowledgeable staff are available at any time by arrangement.
If you are a group leader or organiser why not make a visit to the Bridge more interesting? There is more to admire than just the view. Tours are in English but we are used to welcoming visitors of all ages from all over the world for whom English is not their first language.
Free guided tours are provided for the public every Sunday afternoon from Easter Sunday to mid September. Meet/start at 3.00pm at the toll booth at the Clifton end of the Bridge.

How to obtain

Contact Mr Mike Rowland on 0117 974 4664 or email
visitinfo@clifton-suspension-bridge.org.uk

School Curriculum Guided Tours

http://www.clifton-suspension-bridge.org.uk/guidedtours.php

We welcome everyone from Year 1 through to A2 Level. We can support the curriculum in various ways including
KS1 - the study of significant individuals in British History.
KS2 - Victorian Britain.
KS3 - the study of Britain 1790-1900.
There are also opportunities for cross-curricular and non-curriculum work in science, design and technology, mathematics, geography, ICT, art etc. We are limited only by the imagination!

How to obtain

Please allow one hour from arrival to departure.
Prices are £2.50 per person with a minimum charge per group of £50.00. There is no charge for adults accompanying school groups with pupils aged 16 years and under.
Contact Mr Mike Rowland on 0117 974 4664 or email
visitinfo@clifton-suspension-bridge.org.uk to book.

Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust
Bridgemaster's Office
Leigh Woods
Bristol
City of Bristol
BS8 3PA
England

Website

www.cliftonbridge.org.uk

E-mail

visitinfo@cliftonbridge.org.uk

Telephone

For guided tours

+44(0) 117 974 4664

For Crossing Cards

+44(0) 117 973 8008

Fax

General Enquiries

+44 (0) 117 974 5255

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

Related teaching activities

Key stage 2 geography, 1-2 lessons

Knowledge and understanding of places

Bridges such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge allow easy travel across major rivers. Think about how buildings developed to meet the needs of industrial development in Britain and make a list of the bridges that were built during this period.

Key stage 2 ICT, 1-2 lessons

3 Exchanging and sharing information

Make a list of the different types of bridges found in England. Create a probability chart using software to show which types of bridge cover the largest distance.

Key stage 3 design and technology, 1 lesson

1.4 Critical evaluation

In small groups, discuss the main ways to extend the reach of a bridge. Use examples of bridges in England to illustrate your discussion.

Key stage 3 design and technology, 1-2 lessons

1.1 Designing and making

Using materials available in the school grounds, design, test and build a small sustainable bridge.

Key stage 2 or 3 English, 1 lesson

En3 Writing

Inscribed on the top of the Leigh Woods pier is the Latin inscription 'Suspensa Vix Via Fit' which roughly means "A suspended way (or road) made with difficulty". Make up your own new (English!) inscription for the bridge which captures something about the structure. You could make one up for your school too.