Clifton Suspension Bridge

Definitely come along for a visit!

Thank you, we're so pleased!

Book a Tour at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Delve under Bristol's iconic landmark, or join onto a free weekend tour. There are lots of ways to see the bridge!

The Lantern Tours are all booked up for this year, but there are still a few spaces to explore the vaults on our other experiences before we close them in October (don't worry, tours start again in April 2026) 🦺 🎩

cliftonbridge.org.uk/bookatour

Line of people in hi-vis vests and hard hats holding up Victorian-style lanterns to see by. The photo has been taken in the dark so the only light is from the lanterns and it is warm and soft. A Guide stands nearest the camera with his back to it. All the people in the group look interested in what he is saying. The Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards logo has been added to the bottom left of the image.

We're excited to announce that #CliftonSuspensionBridge Museum is up for an award at this year's Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards! Our Underground Lantern Tour is a finalist in the Active & Learning Experience of the Year category. We couldn't be more proud of the our team of storytellers!

Hand-colouring was popular in the early 20th century and involved applying pigment (from watercolours, oils or dyes) to a black and white image. The process resulted in unique, individualised works of art that were especially popular as souvenirs 🖌🎨

Black and white photo of the Clifton Suspension Bridge taken from Observatory Hill taken in the early 20th century. The Avon Gorge is full of leafy trees and a Paddle Steamer sails underneath the bridge in a full River Avon. The photo has been hand-coloured, as was the style, so the trees appear a muted green, both towers of the bridge and the abutment are red and the caps on the towers are yellow. It appears to have been done in a hurry or by a relatively unskilled person, as the lines are not crisp and the colours quite simple.

A postcard featuring a highly-colourised image of the #CliftonSuspensionBridge with a paddle steamer underneath. The postcard is from our archive and a digital copy can be found here: bit.ly/3IPoZ8H

On one night in 1564 the skies above Bristol were said to have filled with colourful beams of light. At the time this was seen as an omen heralding the return of the plague to the city but it’s now theorised it was likely the aurora borealis being visible unusually far south.

Aerial photograph looking down at the Clifton Suspension Bridge and surrounding area. The sky is a dark grey, with lots of clouds giving it a rainy, autumnal vibe.

Anyone else feeling the end of summer blues? 🌧

📷 Jonny Gios

Stack of nature-themed books sitting on a woolly, plaid scarf again a brick wall backdrop. The book are, from bottom to top, Trees and Woodland in the British Landscape by Oliver Rackham, A Spotter's Guide to Countryside Mysteries by John Wright, Treasury of Folklore: Woodlands and Forests by Dee Dee Chainey and Willow Winsham, The Wisdom and Trees by Max Adams, and The Little Book of Foraging by Kitty Greenbrown sitting upright on top with the cover facing out. There is a small, orange velvet pumpkin sitting on top of the books.

As the weather gets cooler (rainier) it's the perfect time to crack open an old favourite or dive into something new.

Visit our online shop to browse our selection of books inspired by nature (and Brunel, of course) and use code READABOOK for 10% off all books this weekend 🎩

📚 bit.ly/3UUPKeo

A diversion route will be signed using Bridge Valley Road, Brunel Way and A369 Rownham Hill. Traffic following the official signed diversion routes from the bridge during these times will be exempt from Bristol City Council’s Clean Air Zone.

During this closure contractor, Taziker, will be undertaking scaffolding works, preparation works to the chains and painting the chains from the roadway. The Trust will also take advantage of the closure to conduct inspections and general maintenance.

Photo taken from the scaffolding erected around the Clifton Suspension Bridge chains, high up towards the Clifton Tower. You are looking across the bridge and the Avon Gorge from this vantage point towards the Leigh Woods Tower. There are two people on the scaffolding, with their backs towards the camera. They are wearing orange hi-vis with Taziker on the back and white hard hats. The trees in the gorge are lush and green, the river is half full with water and there are cars driving across the bridge.

📣 Bridge Closure 📣

The #CliftonSuspensionBridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic this weekend from 7:00pm on Friday 5 September until 7:00am on Monday 8 September. Pedestrians will still be able to walk across the bridge using the north footway and the museum will be open as usual.

A funny sign, that looks like a worksite safety sign, listing regulations for the site which read: Warning, Neat and tidy work in progress, Gnomes only beyond this point, and Hot tea must be consumed. It is attached to a black iron gate, with real safety signs behind and the Clifton Suspension Bridge Leigh Woods Tower in the background.

The Gromit sculpture for the Gromit Unleashed 3 Trail in support of the Grand Appeal Charity. The sculpture is called The Bristol Barker and is painted in a graphic style with red, blues and pinks. There are also specific local words painted on it, such as Brizzle and Gert Lush.

It's the final weekend to come and visit The Bristol Barker at the #CliftonSuspensionBridge! Pick up a Grand Appeal 3 trail map from the museum and see how many you can check off 🐶

Looking across the Clifton Suspension Bridge from the Leigh Woods Abutment to Clifton. The line of the roadway and fencing gets smaller and smaller as it disappears into the Clifton Tower. The River Avon is at high tide and the sun is just appearing from behind the Clifton Tower. Everything is bathed in the golden light of dawn.

Are you more of a sunrise or sunset person? 🌅

📷 Lee Pullen

Take a closer look behind (above?) the chains of the major, once-in-a-generation project at the #CliftonSuspensionBridge

Looking towards the Clifton Suspension Bridge from the pavement near the Chapter & Holmes coffee wagon to the right and The Bristol Barker Gromit sculpture to the right. In the background you can just see the top of the Leigh Woods towers, but there is fencing in the way to protect the work site. A grey car is driving past.

Looking for an all-ages family day out? Stop by the #CliftonSuspensionBridge Museum and pick up a free #GromitUnleashed3 Trail Map before saying hello to The Bristol Barker and Mr. Darcy up on Observatory Hill.

Then see how many of the Clifton sculptures you can check off the list! 🐾

Did we mention that the vaults are always 13 degrees? A bit of a reprieve from the growing heat... ☀️

Inside the Clifton Suspension Bridge vaults, looking up towards the vaulted ceiling. A person in yellow hi-vis and a blue hard hat it up on a ladder, which is leaned against the side wall, which is made of the Avon Gorge. Loads of stalactites hang from the ceiling.

Did you know that you can go inside the #CliftonSuspensionBridge? 👷🌉

Booking available throughout the school holidays until Halloween.

cliftonbridge.org.uk/bookatour

See also: how to not provide relevant information while also championing a historic landmark.

Thanks, Google AI?

Really appreciate it!

Photo of the Clifton Suspension Bridge in the early morning, with a golden glow over the landscape. Many colourful hot air balloons are flying through the sky in the distance. The photo is taken through foliage, so leaves are prominent in the foreground corners.

One more day to go until the #BalloonFiesta! Anyone getting up early tomorrow to see the balloons? 🎈

And an even more important question, who's volunteering to get up early to take pictures of balloons over the #CliftonSuspensionBridge so our social media person doesn't have to?

📷 Jarred Kyle

The bridge is open as normal throughout the rest of the Fiesta.

We hope you understand our reasons for closing the bridge and that we have to make your safety our priority. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Although the bridge is over 150 years old and consists of many original components which are able to safely deal with the demands of modern traffic, large numbers of pedestrians on the bridge walking in the same direction at one time can cause a problem.

Clifton Suspension Bridge from Observatory Hill, in sunlight with the Avon Gorge full of green trees. There are 17 hot air balloons flying overhead in the distance, so they only appear as small dots in different colours.

📣 #BalloonFiesta Bridge Closure

If you're from Bristol, you already know what's coming, but just in case... The #CliftonSuspensionBridge will be closed to everyone (vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians) Friday 8 Aug. and Saturday 9 Aug. from 6:00pm until midnight for the Night Glows.

📷 Nathan Riley

A wide view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Avon Gorge, Sion Hill and the colourful houses of Hotwells. The bridge, gorge and houses are reflected in the water of the river and the sky above is blue with grey clouds giving the photo a high-contrast look.

Bridge Closure 📣

The #CliftonSuspensionBridge will be closed to vehicles and cyclists all weekend from 7:00pm tonight until Monday at 7:00am. Pedestrians will still be able to cross using the north footway, but the bridge may be busier than normal.

📷 Keith Rodgerson

The Latin inscription on the Leigh Woods tower of the Clifton Suspension Bridge reads “SUSPENSA VIX VIA FIT”. There are several ways of interpreting this phrase and could mean “Road suspended with great difficulty” or a more alarming translation is “Road is barely suspended.”

Clifton Suspension Bridge from Observatory Hill at the tail end of dusk. The sky is almost completely dark, except for a small strip of pink and orange sunset. The bridge is lit up and a long exposure lightstream from car headlights trails on the portway below.

Counting down the days until the #CliftonSuspensionBridge is lit up again 🌇

📷 Zikang Zhou

Group of people in blue hi-vis vests and white hard hats walking towards the Leigh Woods tower of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. There is also a Tour Guide in an orange hi-vis vest and orange hard hat who is speaking to a few members of the group as they walk.

Group of three people in blue hi-vis vests and white hard hats inside of the Clifton Suspension Bridge Vaults. There are leaning against a wooden railing, looking at one of the brick walls inside the vaults. The person on the right is pointing at something.

Looking for something to check off your summer bucket list? We've added more weekend dates for our award-winning Hard Hat Tours!

Does it help if you know the vaults are always 13 degrees even on the hottest day of the year?

📆 August 2 and August 30
🕰️ 12:00pm and 2:00pm

🎟️ bit.ly/44Quxbr

Sepia-toned photograph taken circa 1865. The image was taken from the Leigh Woods abutments of the Clifton Suspension bridge, looking across to the Clifton Tower. There is a man with a large moustache and top hat leaning against the bridge railing from the footway while another person walking past appears as a blur. Looking down there is a two-story building, which was part of Hotwells Railway Station.

A very early photograph of the #CliftonSuspensionBridge featuring a gentleman with a glorious moustache/hat combo. The image can be generally dated by Hotwells Station underneath, which opened in 1865.

🔗 maps.bristol.gov.uk/kyp/?ma

Life-size statue of Wallace from Wallace and Gromit sitting on a park bench. He has been painted to look like Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, including top hat and is holding a large cup of tea. The bench in situated near the Clifton Observatory, so you can see the top of the Clifton Suspension Bridge towers and chains in the background.

Don't think you need that cup of tea Mr. Darcy!

How did you manage in the heat this weekend? Were you melting or a bit more Colin Firth in the lake circa 1995?