About

Join the knowledgeable volunteer tour guides as they talk you through the history, construction and maintenance of the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge! The weekend tours last between 45 minutes and one hour and are run at 2pm on weekends and bank holidays throughout the year.

Tours start at the Clifton Toll Booth on the Bristol side of the bridge, crossing over the bridge and finishing at the Visitor Centre. Everyone is welcome and content is family-friendly.

They operate a ‘Pay what You Think’ system, and ask for a recommended donation of £5 per head. Pre-booking is advised to secure a place, but it may be possible to join the tour on the day if spaces are available. After 10am on the day of the tour, call the Visitor Centre on 0117 974 4664 to add your name to the list, or speak to the guide at the Clifton Hub just before the tour begins.

Book a private tour for your school or group. You will enjoy a 45 minute to one hour guided experience as you explore the history of the bridge and its designer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Contact Clifton Suspension Bridge to discuss your requirements.

Hard Hat Tours 

When construction of the Clifton Suspension Bridge began in 1831, the eyes of the world were on 23-year-old Isambard Kingdom Brunel and his bold plan to build the highest and longest bridge in the world. Many of the bridge’s secrets, like the vaulted chambers sealed inside the abutment, were lost when Brunel died.

Join the knowledgeable volunteer guides on a one-hour historical tour through two of Brunel’s twelve vaulted chambers. The tour will begin on the abutment above, then once you’ve descended the ladder your guide will share some of the most interesting features and explain why it took until 2002 for the Clifton Suspension Bridge vaults to be rediscovered.

2 hour hard hat tours are also available. 

Underground Lantern Tour

Experience the Clifton Suspension Bridge Victorian style with an immersive Lantern Tour.

Guided by the flickering light of your lantern, you’ll reveal the secrets of this architectural marvel. The knowledgeable guides will transport you to the era of the bridge’s construction, where you can imagine yourself in the boots of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the labourers who made this engineering feat a reality.

Lantern Tours take place in the evening on the second Tuesday and Wednesday of the month.