SS Great Britain

Brunel’s SS Great Britain is one of the most important historic ships in the world. When she was launched in 1843 she was called ‘the greatest experiment since the Creation’. She was part of a plan to convey passengers from London to New York by Brunel’s Great Western Railway to Bristol and then onward aboard the Great Britain.

The SS Great Britain returned to the place she was built on 19 Jul 1970. In the 127 years following her launch she had a rich and varied working life. At first as a luxury liner, then carrying 15,000 emigrants to Australia, then being converted to sail as a cargo ship and finally acting a floating warehouse.

Restoration of SS Great Britain

During your visit you will find out about her recovery from the Falkland Islands and subsequent restoration. The ship has been painstakingly restored to recreate life on the world’s first great luxury liner and you will go aboard the ship to see the passenger accommodation, galleys, holds and engine room. You can also go into the dry dock beneath the “glass sea” which protects the ship.

Details of opening times can be found at the SS Great Britain website https://www.ssgreatbritain.org/