Sailing The Stars
"One of the most magical festive days out in the UK" - The Times
This Christmas, chart a course to festive wonder at Bristol Dockyards. Following last year's Times-hailed light installation, we're returning with a new immersive experience across the entire site. Created in collaboration with artists Squidsoup, the ship and dockyards become a living map of the night sky, inspired by the stars that guided SS Great Britain's journeys across the globe.
From the familiar shape of the Plough illuminating the dockyard, to a shimmering aurora in the Promenade Deck, follow the same stars sailors once used to find their way home - and discover the true stories of passengers and crew who encountered them from the very deck you stand on.
What’s included?
Five installations, one epic journey across the hemispheres. Wander through, pause beneath or lie among some of the installations, as every celestial phenomenon is brought to life through its own unique visual and audio experience.
Looking to explore further? Recreate constellations with torches, discover hidden details through binoculars, and share your own stories beneath the stars as you journey through the trail together with family and friends.
- The Plough: the shape that points to the North Star, and the first pattern sailors learned to recognise.
- Polaris: the constant, guiding North Star, glowing above the ship.
- Orion: The Dry Dock sets the scene for Orion - one of Greek Mythology’s greatest hunters. Discover his downfall and legacy amongst the stars.
- The Southern Cross: the constellation pointing to the south celestial pole, that told passengers they'd truly left home behind.
- Aurora: the show-stopping centrepiece, rippling curtains of colour illuminating the ship’s Promenade Deck.
Included in your General Admission or Afternoon Saver Ticket.
Save up to 15% when you book online.
Following the Stars
Long before GPS and satellite navigation, the night sky helped sailors find their way across the world's oceans. On voyages aboard the SS Great Britain, stars such as Polaris, the North Star, and the Southern Cross provided important points of reference, helping crews navigate vast stretches of sea.
But for many passengers, the stars meant far more than navigation. As they crossed oceans between Britain, Australia and beyond, passengers gathered on deck to gaze at familiar constellations, sharing stories and marking their journey across hemispheres. These constellations became markers of home, and for some signalled the excitement of a new life ahead. This festive season, follow a trail inspired by the same skies that helped steer these remarkable journeys across the globe.
Praise for Christmas at Bristol Dockyards 2025
The Times
"One of the most magical festive days out in the UK"
Backstage Bristol
“A welcome sensory experience”
Bristol World
“An immersive underwater dreamscape”
take in the whole experience
Propelled by ideas since 1843
Explore the legendary SS Great Britain, the man who imagined it, and the legacy it left in its wake. Sitting proudly on a glass ‘sea’, SS Great Britain is the crowning moment on Bristol’s harbourside.
How many museums can claim they’ve travelled the world?
Whether it’s the 32 round trips between the UK and Australia, the cargo shipments from California to Chile, or the hero’s welcome she received on her trip back to Bristol, the SS Great Britain has racked up quite the sea-miles – and carried over 33,000 people on her way.
Where Brunel’s biggest ideas took hold.
The SS Great Britain might take centre stage, but the famed Victorian dockyard surrounding it certainly doesn’t hide in the shadows. Historic cranes ferrying cargo, masts ready for their next adventure and incredible views paint an incredible idea of what life was like 200 years ago.
Albion Dockyard
The Albion Dockyard is a working Grade II-listed facility that’s been building and maintaining ships for decades. If you’re lucky, you might even catch one being worked on.
GO INSIDE THE MIND THAT CHANGED HISTORY
Isambard Kingdom Brunel is not simply one of the greatest engineers of the 1800s. He’s the genius behind some of the world’s most radical engineering feats.
Dock Office
Head back to 1850 and experience the sights, sounds and smells of The Great Western Steamship Company’s Grade-II listed headquarters. You might even help Brunel sign off a decision or two with the board.
One of the world's finest maritime collections
When you have such a rich history, a rich collection usually isn’t far behind. The Brunel Institute – a collaborative venture between the SS Great Britain Trust and the University of Bristol – is no exception, housing over 75,000 original drawings, letters and items in one the world’s finest maritime archives.
Open to all
Today, the Institute is open to all. A hub for curiosity, research and bold thinking, it provides the opportunity to explore historic innovations, discover the human stories behind them, and step into a space where past ideas spark present-day debates.
