Clifton Suspension Bridge
Clifton Suspension Bridge
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Designed and built in 1836 by a young engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this 702-foot-long, 250-foot-high suspension bridge gracefully spans the Avon Gorge between Clifton and Leigh Woods.
Duration: < 1 hour
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See what travellers are saying
- MJD P21 contributionsYou won't forget the views!Fantastic walking across the bridge. Kids absolutely loved it. I recently discovered a great great grandfather was a stone mason who worked on the Abbots Leigh side column.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 12 November 2023
- TimmoColchester, United Kingdom10 contributionsOh she’s a beauty.So here we are. The famous Clifton suspension bridge. Me and the Mrs first time seeing this beautiful piece of architectural brilliance. The bridge stands tall over the river which runs freely below. The bridge itself looks well maintained and the safety barriers well in-forced. We ran over and back and it wasn’t too busy, finding time for a photo by the entrance. The weather wasn’t the best but even with the rain it stood magnificently over the abyss below. I can only imagine what she looks like with the dazzling sun shining off her sturdy beams what hold her aloft. 100% will be coming back. 5*Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 January 2024
- Dens35New Forest National Park Hampshire, United Kingdom43 contributionsWell worth doing this guided tour.It was easy to book via the website and instructions of where to meet were clear. I received a reminder email the day before. Our Guide arrived with his high vis jacket about ten minutes before. He was so friendly and asked where we were all from. Seven of us were in our group so we could hear easily. Our guide had a background in Civil Engineering which helped when explaining the building process. The information about the history and building of the bridge was so interesting and clear. We crossed the bridge, stopping to hear more. The tour lasted about an hour. Definitely something we would recommend to others.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 15 January 2024
- K848Fareham, United Kingdom442 contributionsUnbelievable feat of engineeringIt was easy to park on the Bristol side and then walk up at steep path to the hill beside the ridge. The views weren’t as great as I imagine they can be due to the fact the weather was awful but the actual bridge is a sight to behold. It is short enough to walk across (we followed the clear one-direction walk way but others didn’t so no idea if they are still left from Covid days?) We then walked back admiring the views and took our car over for £1 so we could visit Leigh Woods on the other side. A great use of an hour.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 13 February 2024
- MikeWells90Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom2,062 contributionsWell worth a visit if you are in Bristol.Well worth a visit if you are in Bristol The bridge crosses an attractive gorge so even in dull, damp February it was a pleasant visit. There is a small free interesting visitor centre on the west end of the bridge. Good restaurants and cafes nearby in Clifton Village. The number 8 bus runs into the city centre and to Temple Meads station.Visited February 2024Travelled soloWritten 17 February 2024
- BraindamagedbaronNewark-on-Trent, United Kingdom1,618 contributionsCertainly not a bridge too farA strikingly beautiful feat of engineering that still stands up against contemporary structures so many years later. For the full experience take the opportunity to walk across. Admire the views of the gorge while you marvel at the actual bridge. It's a spectacular place, a gorgeous bridge and a quite marvellous city too. Heartily recommendedVisited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 March 2024
- GrandTour444847384501 contributionA Different View of Clifton Suspension BridgeWe booked the guided tour of the vaults under the Leigh Woods tower and were not disappointed. As locals we have crossed Clifton Suspension Bridge many times but to access the the vaults and learn more about the history of the bridge was very interesting. Our guide was very informativeVisited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 April 2024
- nozzzzz2015Worcester, United Kingdom259 contributionsUnderground Vaults TourFantastic underground vaults tour. Amy & Jed were fab, very informative and I loved the tour. Totally recommend it & the visits centre was also really good with loads of info about the bridge, its history & construction.Visited June 2024Travelled soloWritten 3 June 2024
- permia66,148 contributionsVictorian wonderEven though Brunel didn’t live to see its completion in 1864 it is very much based on his design. We really anticipated seeing it for the first time. And expectations were exceeded, on a perfect day for the vistas. Reaching it was simple, taking No 8 bus from the Station. A short walk from the get-off stop brought us to the remarkable feat of engineering. Strolling languidly across its full 412 metre length, we marvelled at the depth of the Avon gorge that it spans. At the time of Brunel’s designs in around 1830 it was the longest proposed of any such bridge. The river is about 100 metres below so a remarkable engineering achievement. An imposing tower at each end support the massive cables and mechanisms within both of these edifices allow movement of the cables in proportion to the load the bridge is handling at any time. A memorable visit to a remarkable structure.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 June 2024
- MikeLondonSE13London, United Kingdom10,938 contributionsWell worth visiting from below and make your way up the steps to cross it, return and see it from above! Enjoy!23/2/24 Friday afternoon This is submitted six months after my visit I walked from the centre of Bristol along the river road to get a different perspective from underneath. Mind the overflowing litterbins report on 'lovecleanstreets' or 'fixmystreet' app. The main road was very busy so crossing it from the embankment side to the steps up to the top was more difficult than the climb! I walked up the steep steps to the park by bridge with interesting views of the gorge on the way. Obviously I crossed the bridge itself and returned although I had heights and it was a bit wobbly!! Views were great at sunset from near the camera obscura building at the top of the hill above. The display of the unusual endemic plants in the gorge were interesting as some had been translocated when the bridge was built on the insistence from Brunel's wife! Well worth visiting from above and below!Visited February 2024Travelled soloWritten 13 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
7,855 reviews
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nicola E
Bristol, UK36 contributions
Nov 2019
The bridge and its history are brought to life by the visitor centre which is well worth a visit for 30 minutes. Little ones enjoy the upstairs where they can use wooden 'bricks' and shapes to try and reconstruct the bridge. Excellent histories and information on the walls that I have often recalled and repeated!
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CarolineWR
U.K.282 contributions
Feb 2020
Last visited this bridge 40 years ago and it's just as fab as I remembered. Be warned, it does close in high winds, so visit in good weather if you can. Don't miss the Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitors' Centre on the far (Leigh Woods) side - really informative time line of the bridge construction. And a swift half at the Coronation Tap nearby to finish the visit!
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mnel
Estoril, Portugal153 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
It is well worth crossing it, but watch out because it only accepts some contactless cards or coins. We tried 4 of our international cards (Visa and Mastercard) and none was accepted. A long queue of cars accumulated behind us until a nice local driver paid for our £1 fare
Written 6 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smilgaki
London, UK2,408 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Designed by Brunel in 1835, this bridge is possibly the most iconic sight in Bristol.
It's a toll bridge and a crossing by car costs £1 a go. You can also cross the bridge on foot (for free), offering great views across the river and Avon Gorge.
It's worth climbing up to the Clifton observatory for even better views.
It's a toll bridge and a crossing by car costs £1 a go. You can also cross the bridge on foot (for free), offering great views across the river and Avon Gorge.
It's worth climbing up to the Clifton observatory for even better views.
Written 29 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
emanmahmoud1
Newport, UK293 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
Looked it up first online then drove to BS8 3PA. we managed to find free parking on the road easily. It was Sunday morning of August bank holiday weekend. The bridge was quite busy but at s so we’ll organised via the one way system, it doesn’t make you scared . Free to cross it on foot and £1/car. Magnificent view while crossing. The height is breathtaking. At the bottom of the other side, you can climb up to the Clifton Observatory Point. You can pay to enter or walk around to have even better view of the bridge, boats and the city. There were some ice cream vans and cafe up there, also free public toilets at the bottom. It is a must see in Bristol.
Written 29 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
castle1_10
Leeds, UK1,926 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
Calling off Sunday afternoon on our way back from Devon the weather was set fair we thought Clifton suspension bridge.
Now parking east side of the bridge is near impossible so we crossed the bridge in the car £1 toll fair enough then looked for a place in Clifton to park again easier said than done eventually after much huff and guff we found a spot around 10 minutes walk to the bridge... well for once it’s free parking sundays.
It’s well worth it fantastic structure and the views are spectacular to say the least sun proviso (always looks better with the sun out) !
I suppose if I’m going to grip the council has put up large metal fencing both sides of the walkway that slightly restricted photography I suspect it’s in place to stop anyone thinking of jumping off the structure.
Busy here plenty of onlookers recommended if your around the Bristol area
Now parking east side of the bridge is near impossible so we crossed the bridge in the car £1 toll fair enough then looked for a place in Clifton to park again easier said than done eventually after much huff and guff we found a spot around 10 minutes walk to the bridge... well for once it’s free parking sundays.
It’s well worth it fantastic structure and the views are spectacular to say the least sun proviso (always looks better with the sun out) !
I suppose if I’m going to grip the council has put up large metal fencing both sides of the walkway that slightly restricted photography I suspect it’s in place to stop anyone thinking of jumping off the structure.
Busy here plenty of onlookers recommended if your around the Bristol area
Written 3 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tobias R
London, UK1,826 contributions
Aug 2020
We stopped by on our way from Cardiff to Bristol because we heard it is really nice. It shouldn't disappoint. Crossing the bridge with the car costs £1 but you can also walk over the bridge for free as I understood.
There is parking available. You need to pay for it though. A little walk up the hill and you will get to the top with lovely views towards the bridge. There is even some kind of Grotto which you can go inside and have a totally different experience. Can't judge on it because we didn't do it because of the queue.
If you are in that area I would highly recommend to stop by. There is a small cafe where you can get hot drinks and a little to eat as well. Even if you only have 30 minutes to spare. Do it.
There is parking available. You need to pay for it though. A little walk up the hill and you will get to the top with lovely views towards the bridge. There is even some kind of Grotto which you can go inside and have a totally different experience. Can't judge on it because we didn't do it because of the queue.
If you are in that area I would highly recommend to stop by. There is a small cafe where you can get hot drinks and a little to eat as well. Even if you only have 30 minutes to spare. Do it.
Written 7 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ceri B
Walsall, UK46 contributions
Oct 2021
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is free to walk across, and there is a pedestrian lane on either side of the bridge. It is also free for cyclists and horse riders.
Motorized vehicles must pay a £1 toll each way. There are cycle lane signs that direct you around the barriers and back to the road so it is clear where everyone needs to go.
Each side of the bridge offers a wonderful view across the river and is well worth walking across to see. The bridge itself is best viewed from a distance, I would recommend viewing from the Clifton Observatory, a five minute walk down the road at Clifton Down.
Motorized vehicles must pay a £1 toll each way. There are cycle lane signs that direct you around the barriers and back to the road so it is clear where everyone needs to go.
Each side of the bridge offers a wonderful view across the river and is well worth walking across to see. The bridge itself is best viewed from a distance, I would recommend viewing from the Clifton Observatory, a five minute walk down the road at Clifton Down.
Written 26 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DottyP
Bristol, UK17 contributions
Aug 2019
This is a landmark in Bristol. It speaks for itself as it's a suspension bridge. You can walk across this in either direction. I didn't see it as part of a tour. I passed by whilst completing the Gromit Trail. We were on the Clifton side of the bridge & walked across to the other side to see the statue, which was part of the trail. It was a warm clear day & we had great views of either side of the bridge.
There isn't anything there other than the bridge, but on the Clifton side there is agreenery, a small park & coffee shop a short walk away at the Clifton Observatory.
There isn't anything there other than the bridge, but on the Clifton side there is agreenery, a small park & coffee shop a short walk away at the Clifton Observatory.
Written 9 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chief of the village
Bristol, UK48 contributions
Aug 2021
Hi the Clifton Suspension Bridge is the one of the most iconic tourist sites in the city. Built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel construction started in 1831 it took 33 years to build, sadly he did not get chance to completed the job. The walking path on the bridge starts on the left side which give you amazing views of the Avon Gorge below Hotwells Clifton Village an the Portway below, then you get to the end tower cross over the road to the other side of the bridge then you have a amazing views of the mountains, look out for Goats i have seen one before take some binoculars. please everyone if new to the city or if you live already in the city, go there it is really nice safe, lost of history one of the best and expensive area of Bristol massive houses, flats and missions check out my YouTube channel Crazy Bristol to see my local tours of the city
Written 5 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it safe to walk across the bridge? Are there high railing my friend and I are visiting Bristol and she is scared of hights? And would want to feel save where as I want to see the view! She is scared!
Thanks
Written 19 August 2019
Yes your friend will be fine, there are railings all round, it is also worth a visit to the Visitors centre.
Written 2 October 2019
Besides the weight limit implications, you need to consider the width of your vehicle quite seriously. Cars and the odd van get through reasonably easy. But the extra width might make this more of a steering and control exercise than you wanted.
Written 22 February 2019
How far is the walk across the bridge?
Written 15 July 2018
Hi, It's a 5 minute walk. There's no doubt though that you'll want to stop to take pictures etc
:-)
Written 16 July 2018
Hi, is is Bridge free to walk over? How much is parking? Can you get into a valley to view from below. ?
Written 11 June 2018
Bridge is free to cross on foot and £1 by car. Parking varies as there are some spots where you can park free but others are pay and display. You would have to view from the Portway to see it from underneath looking up.
Written 13 June 2018
Hi, is is Bridge free to walk over? How much is parking? Can you get into a valley to view from below. ?
Written 11 June 2018
The bridge is free to walkers.
And yes there is a path that you can walk to the road below.
The parking is not plentiful. But it's reasonably priced. You can pay for it over the phone or buy it at the machine.
It was around £2.50 2 hours if my memory serves me right.
Written 12 June 2018
Can I get upto the bridge using public transport? The wife has difficulty walking and climbing.
Written 21 March 2018
There are buses that run from college green in Bristol that drop you in Clifton village. It’s a 10-15 min walk relatively on the flat to the bridge. If you are concerned maybe s taxi is best! It’s great to visit so well worth it!
Written 7 April 2018
brionymetcalfe
Weston super Mare, United Kingdom
Hello just trying to Find out whether you can actually get married on Bristol suspension bridge. Is this possible? Thank you in advance
Written 8 September 2017
I don't think you can, however you could get married at The Avon Gorge Hotel and have the suspension bridge as a backdrop
Written 8 September 2017
My niece and I will be staying 2 1/2 days in Bristol (3 nights), arriving from London. Would like to spend 1 day in Bath (via the bike trail) and 1 day in Cheltenham and arrival day in Bristol. Sufficient time to enjoy all locations?
Written 22 January 2017
I would rate Bristol above Cheltenham and on a par with Bath for history and attractions but if your schedule is tight then so be it..
As one other person said Bristol is quite a large City and the attractions are spread out.
I would go for a trip round the docks in a ferry boat, stopping off at the SS Great Britain for a tour, then go to the Suspension Bridge if you only had half a day.
Written 31 January 2017
Usually do a day visit into Bristol centre when in the Somerset area. Thinking of visiting the bridge and spending time in Clifton this time for a change. Any hints on a) parking and b) things to see/do, eateries etc?
Written 26 July 2016
Parking in Bristol / Clifton is a bit of a nightmare. You could try using the Avonmouth Park & Ride just off Jct 18 of the M5. The frequent "bendy buses" then take you along the Portway through the Avon Gorge and under the suspension bridge to the City Centre.
Written 27 July 2016
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