Exploring
Brunel’s ‘SS Great Britain’ museum ship and former passenger steamship, set in
Bristol’s historic dockside allows visitors to step into the shoes of a
Victorian sailor and climb the huge mainmast (while strapped into a harness) in
the attraction. Go Aloft!
We
got a warm welcome from the ferry crews who took us from Temple Meads Quay to
the SS Great Britain through Bristol’s historic harbour…sheer delight! The
location is very charming with full visitor reception and well laid out site
aka the massive ship in the original dry dock in which she was built and is now
resting and its conservation are impressive in their own right, but the
presentation and interpretation make it accessible and fascinating. The
separate museum is alongside and full of diagrams, models and working exhibits.
The themes of technological innovation and social history run through the
exhibits and made for a great experience for me and I would say it’s worth a
trip to Bristol on its own. The flow of the visit – ‘underwater’ view, museum
and then the ship itself, is amazingly effective, the audio guides work well,
and we also loved the opportunity to climb the rigging and go out a yard in the
end (at a height of something like 100 feet over the deck - but with a safety
harness!).
SO REALISTIC
It
is truly a fascinating ship with lots to see and do. Imagining the long
crossing to Australia cooped up in cattle class is an eye opener, the more
senior members of the crew did not exactly have a luxurious crossing. My
favourite bit was going below the ‘water line’ to see the hull and visit the
really cleverly restored decks within the ship with everything in place that
gave the flavour of a voyage in the first large ship to cruise the oceans in
total luxury with a moving massive steam engine amid ships. This really was an
unexpected treat , though I had been told by numerous people how good it was
but as always one wonders how much hype is involved, and now even I Highly this
wonderful attraction as you can actually walk in the footsteps of the early
mariners and passengers. You are not looking at the ship from behind a glass
screen, but actually walking, sitting and standing on and below the decks. As I
mentioned above, for the more adventurous, there is an opportunity to climb the
rigging. Absolutely realistic and interesting! First class travel these days,
is nothing like the era people sailing on the SS Great Britain experienced. The
working model of the turbine engine is terrific and so interesting, along with
all the artefacts that were found on the ship…so if you are in London to make a
trip to Bristol just for this! Go Aloft people!
FAST FACTS
WHERE? Great Western Dockyard, Gas Ferry Rd, Bristol BS1
6TY, United Kingdom
CONSTRUCTION STARTED: July 1839
LAUNCHED: July 19, 1843
WEIGHT: 3,679 tons
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