Clifton Suspension Bridge
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is the bridge over the Avon Gorge in Bristol, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in 1864, five years after his death; it is the symbol of the city. It links the suburb of Clifton with Leigh Woods on the other side of the gorge.
In practice
Brunel won the design competition as a young engineer in the 1830s, but money ran out, and the bridge was completed after his death by fellow engineers as a memorial to him. It hangs high above the river at the edge of Clifton, a hilltop suburb of Georgian terraces and crescents. Pedestrians and cyclists cross free; drivers pay a small toll. A visitor centre on the Leigh Woods side tells the story, and the bridge is lit at night.
Why it matters to newcomers
The bridge appears on everything from city logos to wedding photos, and the walk across it, combined with the Downs and Clifton Village, is a classic Bristol weekend. In August, hot-air balloons from the Balloon Fiesta often drift over it.
Related
- SS Great Britain - Brunel's other Bristol landmark
- The Downs - the open land above the gorge
- Balloon Fiesta - the balloons over the bridge
Source: Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust.