Bucket list experience:
Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)
Architect and engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s beautiful masterpiece has become a true symbol of Bristol, and the view of its cables stretched tight between two brick towers over the gaping Avon Gorge is a breathtaking one.
Begun in 1831 and finished in 1864, the bridge was originally designed for horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians, but a whopping 12,000 cars now cross it daily on the journey from Clifton Village to Leigh Woods. A separate pavement allows pedestrians to safety stand tall and take in panoramic views, 75 metres above the River Avon.
Free guided tours and an interpretation centre unravel the history of this Grade I listed glory.
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Destination Guide >It’s free to walk or cycle across the Suspension Bridge. Cars and motorbikes pay a £1 toll each way, which goes towards the maintenance of the bridge. The visitor centre is located on the western side of the Suspension Bridge, with free guided tours on offer daily.
Several companies offer guided tours of Bristol that include the Suspension Bridge, and will explain the background as to why and when it was built.
The bridge is open all year round – get there for sunset on a clear day for spectacular views across Avon Gorge, or time your visit to coincide with Bristol’s Balloon Fiesta in August, when the skies above the bridge are filled with colourful hot air balloons.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Bristol
£20 | Rating 5 / 5 [71 ratings]
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)[0.2 miles]
Surely the best room with a view in Bristol? The Hotel du Vin Avon Gorge offers rockstar-worthy suites in exclusive Clifton Village.
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Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)[0.6 miles]
A graceful hotel with Georgian features, a picturesque walled garden and a great location in the heart of buzzy Clifton village
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Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)[2.4 miles]
A stylish boutique hotel set in a gorgeous old bank heritage building, ideally located in the best part of the city. There’s a fine seafood restaurant, and a luxury spa housed in the former bank vaults.
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Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)[2.4 miles]
A contemporary boutique guesthouse in the heart of Bristol with the added quirk of four Retro Rocket airstream caravans on the roof.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Somerset, United Kingdom (UK)
A lovely west country city of world-class Georgian architecture, ancient and modern spas, and an atmosphere of romance and refinement.
United Kingdom (UK)
Bristol is the beating heart of the UK’s South West, with an offbeat focus on culture and the arts plus interactive history, a cutting-edge independent food scene and street eats all on offer.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom (UK)[19.2 miles]
Take to the air for unrivalled views of Bath’s architecture and the north Somerset countryside.
Best for ages: 13+ | £120 | 4 hours
Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom (UK)[20.2 miles]
A unique modern spa with steam rooms and showpiece rooftop pool, that uses Bath’s natural thermal water.
Best for ages: 12+ | £38
Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom (UK)[20.3 miles]
The historic Grand Pump Room next door has a fountain spouting genuine mineral-rich Bath spa water for tasting. It also does an enjoyable afternoon tea, a popular and highly recommended way to round off your visit.
Best for ages: 8+ | £15
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)[0.1 miles]
The city’s smartest postcode is home to cobbled streets, elegant Georgian townhouses and great boutiques and delis, all crowned by the Suspension Bridge – the perfect bolthole in busy Bristol.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Bristol , United Kingdom (UK)[1.2 miles]
Lovingly restored, the city’s 150-year-old public hot tub is now a sleek spa and restaurant complex – the heated outdoor pool is worth a visit alone for its charming Victorian decor. Adults-only packages.
Best for ages: 18+ | £100
Bristol , United Kingdom (UK)[1.3 miles]
A pocket of wild in the city home to herds of red and fallow deer, this sprawling wooded country estate is a wonderful spot for a picnic and a stroll.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)[1.4 miles]
Perhaps Bristol’s most colourful festival, each August the city’s skies fill with balloons launched from Ashton Court. Climb on board for a dawn ride or catch the Night Glow display after dark.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free | 2 weeks
