Dive into Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025

SS Great Britain has today announced its exciting programming plans for the first quarter of 2026. The cultural and heritage attraction is set to become home to the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 exhibition – becoming the second venue in Europe to play host to the major photography showcase.

Highlights from the exhibition – which is composed of 116 marine photographs and is currently on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum – will be displayed in the venue’s Dry Dock. Affectionately referred to as ‘beneath the glass sea’, the Dry Dock is the heart of the charity's conservation efforts, providing a temperature-controlled environment for preserving the ship’s original iron hull. It makes a fitting and atmospheric backdrop for the stunning images which showcase the diversity, beauty and – crucially – the vulnerability of our marine ecosystems.

Admission to the exhibition at SS Great Britain will be included in ticket prices. The venue will also host special late openings for reduced entry to the exhibition, plus a mini programme of arts events to further compliment the photography showcase.

Superhero Engineers at February Half Term
Family audiences will have a new way to engage with the charity this spring, as the Trust pays homage to some of history’s most influential engineers, with a new family activity trail beginning in February half-term. Visitors are tasked with finding six “Superhero Engineers” hidden around the ship – cardboard cutouts designed by children’s illustrator Alisa Burrows, which include NASA legend Mary Jackson, computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee and Bristol’s favourite adopted son, Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Families will learn about their ideas and inventions, gaining a greater understanding of how these women and men propelled society forward - leading humans to explore space, boost global migration, and make our everyday lives easier to manage.
Visitors can take the experience one step further by joining in with the Crazy Capes and Marvellous Masks craft workshops in the First-Class Dining Saloon. Little heroes are invited to let their imaginations run wild as they design their very own superhero outfit to wear for further explorations of the ship. Superhero Engineers will run until 22 March; admission included in ticket price.

New museum opening summer 2026

The Trust’s current Dockyard Museum will be temporarily closed for redevelopment from mid-February to mid-July. The transformed museum will take visitors on a voyage from Bristol to New York, Australia and beyond, encountering those who built, sailed and travelled aboard the SS Great Britain.

Andrew Edwards, Chief Executive of SS Great Britain Trust, commented: “These programming decisions are instrumental to the latest bold chapter in SS Great Britain’s story, reflecting our commitment to engaging audiences in fresh, innovative ways while honouring our status as an icon of engineering and maritime heritage.”

General admission tickets include unlimited returns to SS Great Britain for a whole year, with 10% discount available when booking online in advance. Visit ssgreatbritain.org to book your tickets and plan your visit.