Welcome to the Clifton Suspension Bridge

Welcome to the Clifton Suspension Bridge website. For Crossing Cards, click here, or phone 0117 973 8008 Mon - Fri 8.30am to 12.30pm.

Application for Toll Increase:  The Trustees submitted an application to the Department for Transport on 1 May 2012, requesting consent to increase the cash toll to £1.  If approved, the Trustees will improve the discounts offered with pre-paid crossing cards.  The Economic Case for the increase can be viewed using the link at the foot of this page.  The Trustees are preparing a Statement of Case which will be submitted to the Department for Transport by 1 May 2013.  This will also be made available here on that date, and at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitors Centre and the Clifton Public Library in Princess Victoria Street.  The Statement of Case will take the opportunity to bring the financial information in the Economic Case up to date.

A Visitor Information Centre is situated at the Leigh Woods end of the bridge. It contains information and images of the plans submitted for the bridge design competitions of the 1800s, and a timeline and DVD showing the construction and completion of the suspension bridge, and how it is maintained today. Books, postcards and souvenirs are on sale. The Visitor Information Centre is open 10am-5pm daily throughout the year except for Christmas eve, Christmas day and Boxing Day. 

We also run guided tours of the bridge. There are free weekend and bank holiday tours for the public between Easter and October, but paid tours for organised groups and schools can be booked all year round. You can also book a talk for your club or community group. This year our tours begin on 23rd March and finish on 27 October.

We are pleased to announce that we have been granted £595,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund for a new Heritage and Learning Centre. Further information coming soon!

A short history

The Clifton Suspension Bridge, spanning the picturesque Avon Gorge, is the symbol of the city of Bristol. For almost 150 years this Grade I listed structure has attracted visitors from all over the world. Its story began in 1754 with the dream of a Bristol wine merchant who left a legacy to build a bridge over the Gorge.

24 year old Isambard Kingdom Brunel was eventually declared the winner and appointed project engineer – his first major commission.

Panoramic look-around the Bridge >>

Photo courtesy of South West News Service.

Work began in 1831 but the project was dogged with political and financial difficulties and by 1843, with only the towers completed, the project was abandoned.

Brunel died aged only 53 yrs in 1859 but the Bridge was completed as his memorial and finally opened in 1864. Designed in the early 19th century for light horse drawn traffic it still meets the demands of 21st century commuter traffic with 11-12,000 motor vehicles crossing it every day.

For details of Guided Tours click here >>