Once an Anglo Saxon trading City, Bristol is brimming with a rich nautical heritage

Playing host to some of the finest and most feared characters of maritime History, Bristol is definitely the place to improve your Maritime knowledge, and explore the many Museums on offer; here are a few we thought were worth a visit.

SS Great Britain

The SS Great Britain is both a museum, and former steamship rolled into one. Standing as the longest passenger ship in the world from 1845-1854, she was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and was the first iron steamer to cross the Atlantic. This wonderful relic allows you to set foot on this maritime masterpiece, whilst soaking in the history, feeling and conditions which would have once been experienced by sailors many moons ago.

Being Brunel

Attached to the SS Great Britain, Bristol provides the Being Brunel Museum, an exploration of the life and legacy of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Here you will find the most significant collection of one engineering’s greatest minds. With the admission covered under the SS Great Britain entry fee, you would be a fool not to soak up this extra knowledge and experience after a morning spent aboard the SS Great Britain.

Underfall Yard

The Underfall Yard is not your typical museum. Expect to explore the fascinating story of Bristol’s harbour through hands-on displays. Here one can see the electric pumps which once powered the port, keeping Bristol’s docks running for over 100 years. With pump demonstrations running throughout the day, expect to get in amongst at the action whenever is convenient. 

M Shed 

M Shed tells the History of Bristol through film, photography, objects, interactive displays and memoirs. This exhibit takes place in a trendy 1950’s warehouse on the wharf, and to top it all off, its completely free.