SS Great Britain

Since I arrived to Bristol two years ago, I have visited many museums in the city but for no reason, I kept postponing the visit to the SS Great Britain. When I wrote "Walking on the riverside" last 17th January, I wouldn't have imagined the museum would contact the blog to offer me a couple of tickets to go visit the museum. I was very pleased and flattered because it means that my blog has more impact than I expect, and I accepted the tickets with no hesitation. 

Despite the fact that I received the tickets at no cost, they have never asked me to write a positive review in return. Not even to write a review about my visit. In this post, I reveal my very own impressions about it.

The SS Great Britain was a passenger steamship designed by the symbolic engineer of Bristol: Isambard Kingdom Brunel. She (the ship; they refer to the ship as a lady) was the longest passenger ship in the world between 1845-1854, linking Bristol with New York in just 14 days. After having navigated miles and miles through the Atlantic and carried thousands of immigrants to Australia, she was retired to the Falkland Islands where she was used as a warehouse, quarantine ship and coal hulk until she was sadly scuttled in 1937. 

In 1970, the ship was returned to where she has been built, to the dry dock in Bristol, and she has been converted into a museum that receives many visitors a year.

There are four different areas to visit in the SS Great Britain museum. Let's get you on-board!

1. OUTSIDE THE SHIP

Once you got your ticket, you are able to walk along the dock and admire the magnificent ship from the outside.

2. THE MUSEUM

The museum brings you back in the history, from her final days to the initial days. I found the way of presenting the story very original, starting from her return to Bristol following back in time until it's build.

During the journey, there were certain areas where you were supposed to stamp your "ticket" which makes you feel you are travelling. 

There are also many interactive areas and games for kids (and young patients). I came across a young couple was playing with the wheel of ship simulation and they couldn't manage to redirect the ship anyhow.

The most surprising thing was to find a Rolls Royce engine belonging to a Concorde in the museum! I agree it is an item of collection because there are few in the world... but why in the SS Great Britain museum? 

Something to highlight: I would recommend watching the emotive video of how they manage to bring the SS Great Britain back to Bristol (right as you enter to the museum. Explanations of items from the ship are also very interesting although some of them are not correctly illuminated. The museum has this dark atmosphere which makes it challenging to read some of the tags. 

3. BELOW THE SHIP

This was something unexpected! The ship seems to be floating on a port, surrounded by water, except for the fact that you can go "under" the water and see the keel and the rudder of the SS Great Britain with your own eyes. Hey, keep safe! Although it is well indicated, some areas are very slippery!

Something to highlight: If you like engineering, read about the innovative rudder of Brunel.

4. INSIDE THE SHIP

This is the most astonishing part of the museum. I would recommend spending inside the ship half of the time you want to dedicate to the museum. There are many things to see and it would be a pity not to have enough time to see it properly. 

They have completely rebuilt the entire boat to give to the visitor the real flavour of how passengers used to travel, sleep, eat, rest... (during those 14 days that the journey used to take. It is a very detailed reconstruction of First Class luxury cabins and the massive turning engine room. You are free to walk and explore the sights, sounds and smells on board. 

I must apologize for the quality of the pictures. Due to the lack of light, the pictures are not very good. I suppose you must visit the museum now! ;)

Something to highlight: Check out the animal area. There is an area where they used to keep the luggage and animals. Even the smell of the room seems real!

During my visit, the museum was not packed. There were some families with kids and young couples as well. It was perfect to be able to walk around the boat as you please. Conclusion: very recommendable museum!

The general admission is £13.75. Students have a discount (£10.95) and tickets cost £7.70 for children aged 5-17. The museum is open between 10am and 4.30pm everyday except 24 and 25 December and the second Monday in January. In summer, the closing time is 5.30pm.

The only thing I was not able to find any explanation about was... what does "SS" mean?

WEBSITE: http://www.ssgreatbritain.org/