
Book a Tour at the Bridge
Delve under Bristol's most iconic landmark or join a weekend bridge tour: there's lots of ways to experience the Clifton Suspension Bridge! Public tour tickets are released throughout the year.
This calendar shows availability for all of our Underground Experiences (which run each year between Easter and October), as well as the Weekend Bridge Tour.
Please note: the Weekend Bridge Tour DOES NOT include access into the vaults.
Tickets for April and May Underground Vault Experience have sold out. Tickets will be available for tours June-October in April. Subscribe to our eNewsletter to be the first to know.
Underground Vaults Visit – Relaxed, Interactive, Educational:
Partially guided tour of the Clifton Suspension Bridge’s Underground Vaults. You can explore the chambers at your own pace. Minimum age 7+.
Did you know the Leigh Woods tower is built on top of 12 massive vaults? Put on a hard hat, climb down the ladder and explore two of these unique chambers for yourself. This tour comes with an illustrated map. You will be accompanied by a White-Badge Certified Learning Facilitator. There will be plenty of time to take photographs and ask any questions you might have to our friendly and knowledgeable guides.
Visit Clifton Suspension Bridge and experience it like never before on this must-do tour! Don’t miss the chance to tick our Vaults Tour off your Bristol bucket list.
One Hour Hard Hat Tour – Fully Guided, Historical In-Depth:
A fully guided tour of Clifton Suspension Bridge’s Vaults. Participants must be a minimum age of 7+, but this tour is recommended for adults. Private group tours are available by arrangement.
Many of the bridge’s secrets, like the vaulted chambers sealed inside the abutment, were lost when Brunel died. Join our knowledgeable volunteer guides, as they lead you through the uncovered history of the bridge on this 1-hour historical tour. The tour begins on the abutment at street level. Find out some of the most interesting facts about Clifton Suspension Bridge, whilst seeing it like never before!
Two Hour Hard Hat Tour – Fully Guided, Comprehensive, Over and Underground:
This fully guided experience includes both the Clifton Suspension Bridge Tour and the Vaults Tour. Participants must be a minimum age of 12+, but this tour is recommended for adults.
This is our most comprehensive experience to discover the history and maintenance of Bristol’s famous Clifton Suspension Bridge! It begins at the toll house on the Bristol side of the bridge. Our friendly guides will then walk you across to our museum on the far side. Don a hard hat at the museum, then descend the ladder into the hidden vaults.
Underground Lantern Tour – Fully Guided, Atmospheric, Immersive:
This is a fully guided tour of Clifton Suspension Bridge’s Vaults. Experience it the same way as the engineers who built the bridge by using our Victorian-style lanterns to explore the space.
In our immersive Lantern Tour, you can reveal the secrets of Clifton Suspension Bridge by the flickering light of your lantern. Our knowledgeable guides will transport you to the era of the bridge’s construction. Once inside, imagine yourself in the boots of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the labourers who made this engineering marvel a reality.
Our Lantern Tour promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of Clifton Suspension Bridge for all visitors alike. Don a hard hat and descend the ladder to reveal the stories hidden within these historic vaults.
Weekend Bridge Tour: Guided tour of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. No minimum age limit; above ground only. (Private group tours are also available by arrangement.)
This is a guided tour of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. There are no age restrictions on this tour. All content is family friendly. This does not include the Vault Tour.
Join our knowledgeable volunteer guides as they share their facts about the history and maintenance of the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge! Tours begin at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Toll House on the Bristol side of the bridge. You will then cross the bridge before finishing at the museum. Join us to learn about all things Bristol, Clifton Suspension Bridge and Brunel!
Our weekend tours last between 45 minutes and 1-hour. They run on weekends and bank holidays throughout the year. Dates and booking information can be found on our events pages.
If you are able, we have a recommended donation of £5 per person. The Clifton Suspension Bridge Charitable Trust is a charity. We do not receive any financial support from either local or national governments. The support of our donors allows us to maintain the bridge so it can be enjoyed by visitors and commuters alike. It keeps our museum free and accessible to all. It also helps us to provide science and engineering activities and resources for families and schools. Thank you for your continued contributions.
Bringing a group? Private tours are available for large organised groups and coach parties. Please contact us to make arrangements before your visit.
Underground Tour Restrictions:
Please ensure that all ticket-holders are aware of the following restrictions. For safety reasons, we may not be able to allow you access to the Vaults if you have not complied with the following:
- All attendees must be 7+ and 12+ respectively. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
- Minimum height limit of 1.2m.
- Shoes with good grip, such as hiking boots or trainers, are required. You will not be allowed to join the tour in heels or open-toed shoes.
- This tour includes climbing a vertical ladder and passing through a low corridor. Please ensure that you are physically capable of doing so.
- All cameras, phones, and devices must be able to fit in your pocket or bag so that you have two hands free to climb the ladder.
- Only small bags worn over both shoulders or bags with cross-body straps are permitted. Everything else can be stored in the Museum during your tour.
- Please wear weather-appropriate clothing as tours will go ahead even in poor weather and ensure that cameras or mobile phones are protected from the calcite saturated water which may fall from the ceiling.
- Although we will do our best to accomodate late arrivals, this may not always be possible due to the nature of the tour.
Tickets for our underground tours are available from Easter to October and are released throughout the summer season. Private tours can be booked for groups of up to a maximum of 15 people, although there is no minimum. Should you wish to bring a larger group, it is possible to run two tours on the same date with start times one hour apart.
Our volunteer Hard Hat Tour Guides are winners of the 2023 Heritage Collaboration Award, a national celebration of the UK’s best heritage volunteers.
Making a Group Booking? Contact us to find out more.
If you'd like to bring a group to the bridge for a celebration, educational visit or large family day out, please contact us directly to make arrangements.
Emily Larsen, Front of House and Marketing Manager
In This Section
What You Can See and Do Underground Vault and Bridge Tours Weekend Bridge Tours Clifton Hub Our AwardsAt a glance
Weekend Bridge Tour
Saturday, Sundays and Bank Holidays
2:00pm - 3:00pm
£5 suggested donation
Fully guided tour of the bridge. *Does not include the vaults*
1hr Hard Hat Tour
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday and select weekends
10:30am - 11:30am and 2:30pm - 3:30pm
£15, 7+
In-depth, fully guided tour of the vaults.
2hr Hard Hat Tour
Last Wednesday of the month
2:00pm - 4:00pm
£20, 12+
In-depth, fully guided tour of the bridge and vaults.
Vaults Visit
Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays and select weekends during the school holiday
Adults £10, Children £8
7+
Partially-guided visit to the vaults.
Underground Lantern Tour
Select Wednesday and Thursday evenings
6:30pm - 7:30pm
£17, 12+
Fully guided tour of the vaults using Victorian-style lanterns.
Further reading
Underground Vaults Access Guide 2025
PDF File: 957.2 KB