As the more observant among you may have noticed, I mostly seem to feature museums and historical events in the London area. We do have the occasional interesting stuff going on here in Bristol as well, but I think that if I couldn’t get to London this blog would probably die a very quick death as we’re not particularly blessed with cool historical events over this way.
HOWEVER, there are a few things in Bristol that make my history loving heart beat just a little faster and the jewel of them all is the SS Great Britain, which can be visited in Bristol harbor. In fact we probably visit at least once a month because my five year old is totally obsessed with the Titanic and BIG SHIPS and absolutely loves the SS Great Britain with all his heart.
To be honest, we thought we’d seen and done it all but when the opportunity came up to buy tickets to visit the ship at night as part of a special event for Bristolians came up, I couldn’t resist buying some and I’m really glad that I did as it was brilliant. I should really know by now not to underestimate the unique perspective that seeing even a familiar place at night brings.
Of course, it was still daylight when we arrived but dusk soon began to fall and there really was something magical about standing on the deck watching the light shimmer and turn to gold over Bristol and we stayed outside for as long as we could before venturing down into the bowels of the ship.
My husband, being rather more intrepid than I am, has been hankering to climb the rigging of the SS Great Britain ever since they launched Go Aloft a few months ago and so hastened to the ticket booth to basically fling a tenner at them before scurrying off to be kitted out for his vertigo inducing adventure. If you’re considering following suit, rest assured that they take safety VERY seriously and Dave was provided with harnesses and a helmet and then made to take ALL of his piercings out, which caused a bit of grumbling as he has rather a lot.
He then made his way up the rigging to the viewing platform, which is at over 26 metres above ground level and then inched his way out nine metres across the main yard (the bit that sticks out at the side), which apparently was rather nervewracking but he did it anyway with great aplomb so you’d never have known that he was having a bit of an inner freak out as he made his way across. Sadly he wasn’t allowed to take his phone or camera up there with him but apparently the view was great and it was well worth doing.
After he had come back to down to earth again, gibbering a bit because apparently he is scared of heights and was just doing it to test himself (how did I not know he was scared of heights – he’s the one who always has to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower whenever we go to Paris for God’s sake!) we hastened below deck to explore the SS Great Britain in the gathering gloom and had an awful lot of fun poking around in cabins, taking selfies with Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the other models scattered about the ship and just generally enjoying the dusky, candlelit ambience.
Always a brilliant place to visit with children anyway, they really outdid themselves that evening by providing a chocolate coin hunt with glistening treats hidden all over the ship for children (and some greedy adults) to find. These were generously replenished throughout the night, to the point that we eventually had to stop our children picking them up as they were swiftly descending into a crazed sugar rage and it was all getting a bit too Fear and Loathing for my liking.
The main draw for me, of course, as always was the engine room as I love nothing more than spending ages just staring at the massive wheels and pistons doing their thing. It’s really quite hypnotic and as the ones on the SS Great Britain are so massive, really awe inspiring too. I love it.
The SS Great Britain is open all year round (except for the 24th and 25th of December and second Monday in January) and costs £13.75 for adults and £7.00 for children. Once bought, tickets can be reused for twelve months so you’re effectively buying a season ticket – yippee.
Go Aloft is on every day and costs £10. I’m terrified of heights so won’t be attempting it but I’m informed that it is well worth doing!
******
Set against the infamous Jack the Ripper murders of autumn 1888 and based on the author’s own family history, From Whitechapel is a dark and sumptuous tale of bittersweet love, friendship, loss and redemption and is available NOW from Amazon UK and Amazon US.
‘Frothy, light hearted, gorgeous. The perfect summer read.’ Minette, my young adult novel of 17th century posh doom and intrigue is now 99p from Amazon UK and 99c from Amazon US. CHEAP AS CHIPS as we like to say in dear old Blighty.
Blood Sisters, my novel of posh doom and iniquity during the French Revolution is just a fiver (offer is UK only sorry!) right now! Just use the clicky box on my blog sidebar to order your copy!
Follow me on Instagram.
