20 Attractions to Explore Near Brunel's SS Great Britain

Bristol Floating Harbour is located in the heart of Bristol's urban center. It is a large man-made standing body of water fed by the River Avon. . Now you can walk around a complete circuit of a substantial part of the old docks – a fine Local Journey with plenty of things to see on the way. It is often called the Floating Harbour as the water level remains constant and it is not affected by the state of the tide on the river.

Spike Island is an international center for the development of contemporary art and design, home to a gallery, café, and working space for artists, designers and so more. Spike Island offers visitors a year-round program of exhibitions, events, and family activities in the expansive, well-lit gallery spaces, as well as providing artists’ studios and commercial workspace for both new and established designers and creative businesses.

Brandon Hill Nature Park is located in the city center and is a haven for wildlife. It is a hilly park and popular picnic spot with a nature reserve and views from Cabot Tower. During spring and summer, there are many beautiful flowers that blossom here in the park, which give the park some colour. There are many activities around the park – children’s playground, workout areas and of course, Cabot tower – Bristol’s best viewing spot, climbing up many steep steps to reach the view 105ft up.

A majestic tower in Bristol set in the gorgeous parkland of Brandon Hill near Park Street in the West End is a 105ft tower built-in 1897 to commemorate John Cabot's famous voyage from Bristol and the continent of North America four hundred years earlier. From the top of Cabot Tower, the whole of Bristol unfolds into the distance – making the steep climb well worth it, especially on a clear day.

Millennium Square is a location in the center of Bristol, England. It was built as part of the At-Bristol development and has become a popular public area. It is home to a BBC Big Screen and a large water feature. A bronze statue of Bristol-born actor Cary Grant by sculptor Graham Ibbeson was unveiled by Grant's widow in 2001.

College Green is a public open space in Bristol, England. The 35,300 sqm estate contains 62 terraced-houses with 248 fully-equipped rooms. A community of students from more than 50 countries is staying in College Green at any one time. Its convenient location, coupled with well-equipped facilities and serene landscape have fostered a conducive living environment for NUS graduate students, especially students from the LKY School.

Bristol Cathedral is one of England's great medieval churches which was originated as an Augustinian Abbey, founded c. 1140 by a prominent local citizen, Robert Fitzharding, who became first Lord Berkeley. The eastern end of the Cathedral, especially in the choir, gives Bristol Cathedral a unique place in the development of British and European architecture.

The Georgian House Museum is an 18th century, six-story townhouse just off Bristol's famous independent shopping area, Park Street. It includes a drawing room, eating room, study, kitchen, laundry, and housekeeper’s room house has been restored and decorated to its original glory, and is the perfect way to step back in time and imagine what life was like in this affluent area of the city hundreds of years ago.

Bristol Aquarium is the only aquarium in the UK to feature a giant botanical house, teeming with hundreds of exotic plant and tree species from around the world – there are even bananas growing in this urban jungle. You can explore more than 40 naturally-themed displays and spot the thousands of amazing aquatic creatures, including rays, seahorses, pufferfish, piranhas, and so many more.

Underfall Yard is a historic, working boatyard that welcomes visitors. There is an ever-changing landscape of boats to enjoy thanks to the skilled maritime businesses that call the yard home. Underfall Yard has been designated as a scheduled monument and from the 1970s onward many of the buildings at Underfall Yard have earned Grade II Listed Building status.

Park Street is a major shopping street in Bristol. It boasts a great selection of trendy boutiques, music and book shops, bars, clubs and restaurants, as well as being perfect for sightseeing with their iconic buildings. By night Queens Road and Park Street offer a selection of hip pubs and stylish speakeasies, plus plenty of lively nightclubs to dance the night away.

M Shed is a new kind of museum, one that challenges traditional ideas. It works with the people of Bristol to create displays which make everyone want to come and see. It explores the city’s history from prehistoric times to the 21st century. Stories about the city and its people have been discovered through working with experts and communities across the city – a process that will continue for the life of the museum.

Pero's Bridge is a pedestrian footbridge that spans Bristol's floating harbour, and was named in honour of Pero Jones, an enslaved African who lived in Bristol. The bridge was designed by the Irish artist Eilis O'Connell, in conjunction with Ove Arup & Partners engineers and opened in 1999. The most distinctive features of the bridge are the pair of horn-shaped sculptures which act as counterweights for the lifting section.

Pyronaut is a specialized form of fireboat known as a fire-float. It was built in 1934 by Charles Hill & Sons Ltd. Originally powered by two Petter Atomic diesel engines rates at 55 bhp each. Two Merryweather & Sons three-cylinder reciprocating pumps capable of delivering 500 imperial gallons of water per minute.

Arnolfini is a center for contemporary arts based on Bristol’s harbourside in the heart of the city. It presents an ambitious programme of visual arts, performance, dance, film, music, workshops and family events. One of the iconic attraction in this area and it will be a new experience.

Bristol Harbour Railway was built by the Great Western Railway in the 1870s and extended in the 1900s. After a century as a goods railway, it was handed over to the museum and has run as a heritage railway ever since. It was now a historical monument and gives information about the transportation facilities in that time.

The Wills Memorial Building is a 2-story building at the top of Park Street is a true Bristol icon and makes a dramatic and inspiring venue. The view from the top of Wills Tower, some 68 meters above Park Street, is unparalleled and tour guides give a unique insight into the history of the building, which was opened by King George V and Queen Mary in 1925 before being badly damaged during the Blitz in 1940.

The Tobacco Factory is the last remaining part of the old W. D. & H. O. Wills tobacco factory site on Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol. The building was used to process tobacco until 1985-6 when Imperial Tobacco, which W.D & H.O. Wills had latterly been a part of, relocated production. . It is now a multi-use building which houses animation and performing arts school, loft-style apartments, a café bar, offices and a theatre.

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery tells the story of our world in every display, from the beginning of time to the present day. It comprises of 19 galleries over 3 floors that reveal fascinating cultures, ancient civilizations, human invention, and creativity. The art gallery contains works from all periods, including many by internationally famous artists, as well a collection of modern paintings of Bristol.

Bristol Ferry is the best way to get around in Bristol by boat. It provides a scheduled waterbus service around Bristol’s unique Floating Harbour 364 days of the year come rain or shine and have done for 40 years. Visitors and locals alike can hop on and off their boats at any of their 17 stops.