SS Great Britain

The SS Great Britain sits in a dry dock and displays a 98-meter iron hull with a screw propulsion system that was new when it was built. The site includes the restored ship, a museum area in the adjacent dockyard, and spaces dedicated to engineer Brunel.

The ship was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and launched in 1843 to carry passengers across the Atlantic. It later transported more than 16,000 emigrants to Australia during the gold rush of the 19th century.

School groups and families often visit together to learn about steam navigation through guided tours and hands-on workshops. Visitors walk through crew quarters and passenger cabins that show how differently people traveled depending on their class aboard.

Entry is valid for one year and covers all areas of the ship as well as the exhibitions in the Dockyard Museum and the Being Brunel gallery. Visitors should wear solid footwear since the stairs on board are steep and the decks can be uneven.

A glass plate at water level surrounds the hull and shows both the section above and below the waterline at the same time. The design creates a mirror effect that makes the ship appear as if it were actually floating in water.

Location: City of Bristol

Length: 98.15 m

Width: 15.4 m

Accessibility: Accessible en fauteuil roulant

Fee: Yes

Address: Great Western Dock, Gas Ferry Road, Bristol BS1 6TY

Website: https://ssgreatbritain.org

GPS coordinates: 51.44920,-2.60840

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:31