Dominating the historic waterfront of Bristol, the SS Great Britain is ready to welcome you aboard. Explore what life was like on the world’s first great luxury liner, dressed for departure and decked with flags as she was for her launch back in 1843.
The ship
When she launched in 1843 the SS Great Britain was the fastest, largest and most efficient ship ever built.
You’ll be transported back to the 1800s as you explore three beautifully-restored decks, starting with the upper deck, which looks today much as it did in 1845 when the ship’s very first passengers sailed to New York.
Then, step inside to the Promenade Deck, where passengers fortunate enough to pay for first class travel would walk, dance and socialise without getting wet or windswept!
Eating and drinking played a huge part of life on board., Experience the sights and smells of the galley, stores and bakery that fed more than 600 passengers and crew, and admire the impressive interiors of the Dining Saloon.
Witness what life was like in the cramped conditions of steerage, also known as third class, where the majority of passengers lived during the ship’s voyage to Australia.
Finish your visit with a stop in the Forward Hold, where you will discover what made the ss Great Britain such an impressive achievement of Victorian construction. See the stunning structure of the shipon display and admire a full-scale working model of the ship’s engine. See the engine turning, hear the sounds of stokers shovelling coal and smell the engine room with its oil and coal.
The Great Western Dockyard
This is where the story of the legendary engineer and designer of the SS Great Britain, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the ship began. The dockyard dates back to 1839, when directors of the Great Western Steam Ship Company decided they needed a purpose-built dry dock to build their transatlantic liner. This is where the ss Great Britain was launched by Prince Albert on the 19 July 1843.
The Dockyard Museum
Travel through four different time zones as you admire paintings, photographs, letters and stunning objects from the ship’s long and adventure-filled life in the Dockyard Museum.
Learn about how the SS Great Britain made three voyages to San Francisco, played her part in two World Wars, and listen to stories of the ship carrying emigrants across to Australia on 32 voyages as part of the Australian gold rush of the 1850s.
Interactive exhibits are also on hand to bring history to life. Try lifting the giant propeller for a real test of strength!
The Dry Dock
Admire the SS Great Britain from underneath in the Dry Dock. Surrounding the ship with a water-lined glass plate to keep the air as dry as possible, between 10% and 20% in energy bills are saved thanks to a giant dehumidification plant ensuring that the air in the Dry Dock is also now as arid as the Arizona Desert!