Bristol Dockyards
Home of SS Great Britain.
An all-new experience on Bristol's 200-year-old dockyard
Explore the legendary SS Great Britain, the man who imagined it, and the legacy it left in its wake.
There‘s something for everyone
Days that will stay with them for years
A vibrant adventure the whole crew will love, time and time again. Climb aboard, walk the decks, greet passengers and dive into hands-on fun for all ages, in a 200-year-old experience that never gets old.
Did you know?
Isambard Kingdom Brunel wasn’t just a genius engineer. He was a master of mistakes, known for bold ideas, stubborn determination and a famously impressive moustache.
A radically different school of thought
Through expert workshops and interactive storytelling, children can explore Brunel, the SS Great Britain and the vast effect both had on the world in the UK’s most immersive history lesson.
Did you know?
When the SS Great Britain launched in 1843, it was the world’s largest passenger ship and one of the first iron, propeller-driven ocean liners.
The ship's just one idea. There are a million more where that came from.
The Dockyard is built on iron-clad ideas. A place of brilliance, ambition and contradictions, you can explore global themes and join conversations that connect our past with questions shaping our future.
Did you know?
The Great Western Dockyard didn’t just construct ships. It was a testing ground for bold thinking focused on all manner of engineering, industry and Britain’s place in a rapidly changing world.
What’s on?
Go aloft!
Ships and Giggles
A collection for all ages
Open to everyone. Free to access
Bristol’s greatest day out
And we’ve got the numbers to prove it
“Honestly one of the best family days we’ve had in ages. The kids were completely hooked — climbing the rigging, exploring the cabins and chatting to the characters onboard. It’s one of those rare places where everyone finds something they love.”
“Honestly one of the best family days we’ve had in ages. The kids were completely hooked — climbing the rigging, exploring the cabins and chatting to the characters onboard. It’s one of those rare places where everyone finds something they love.”
Do your bit for the dockyard
The Dockyards have launched a thousand stories, but your support keeps ours going. Preserving the SS Great Britain, protecting our history and inspiring the next generation to change the world all over again.