Bristol Dockyards

02/09/2026

Bristol Dockyards is home to the remarkable legacy of Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel - but engineering is far from history. Join us this autumn for a special Home Education Day where you can meet real-life engineers from Babcock and Bristol Dockyards, discover what they do, and take part in hands-on STEM activities. You'll also have the chance to learn more about Brunel and explore our newly opened museum dedicated to his most famous ship, the SS Great Britain.

Date & Time
Monday 21st September 2026, 10am-3pm

What’s included?

Whole site access to The Brunel Institute, Being Brunel Museum, SS Great Britain Experience and historic dockyards.

Additional tours and workshops are available to add to your ticket. Book your place: bristoldockyards.org/whats-on/home-ed-day

01/09/2026

That’s a wrap! UWE Bristol Tom Taylor has been part of the Bristol Dockyards crew for the last month on an internship. Tom joined us from the Filmmaking BA and has been creating trailers to promote Bristol Dockyards as a location for commercial filming.

Bristol Dockyards is home to a variety of unique locations including industrial yards, towers and corporate spaces (not to mention, the ship itself!). Some locations are not open to the public and can be very difficult to navigate, making it hard for prospective film crews to recce them in advance - Tom's work is invaluable for showing off these spaces in an easy and accessible way.

Tom applied his keen sense of creativity to capture the trickiest of spaces, working efficiently and collaboratively with colleagues from across the Bristol Dockyards team. A big thank you Tom for his hard work – we are wishing you all the best for the future.

27/08/2026

It's your last chance this year to climb aboard to find out what life was really like on board led by a Victorian costume guide!

Ending on August 30th and now with extra time slots due to popular demand, Voyager Voices lets you marvel at the experiences of those who dared to venture across the world in search of fame, fortune and fresh beginnings.

The tour will last 50 minutes and cover all three decks of the SS Great Britain. Online booking is recommended, though tickets can be purchased in house, subject to capacity on the day.

Further info & tickets: https://www.bristoldockyards.org/whats-on/voyager-voices-tour

26/08/2026

Shaun the Sheep is back with a new movie - Sky Original film, Shaun The Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, in cinemas September 18 - and this time he's gone full mad scientist. To celebrate, you can visit Shaun’s mad-science lab at the home of SS Great Britain, where he needs the help of you and your flock to complete a string of baa-rilliantly bonkers challenges to help power up Shaun’s machine.

Get it right and you'll earn your title as an official Ma-ad Scientist. Rain or shine, indoors or out, there's challenges to be found across the site - and it's all included in your ticket!

On Wednesday 28 October, under the expert teaching of one of Aardman's experienced and creative model makers, you will learn how to make a model of Shaun using the same materials used in your favourite Aardman animations. And the best bit? You get to take your model home with you!

Workshop tickets available now: https://www.bristoldockyards.org/whats-on/aardman-workshops

Ma-ad Science Mayhem runs at Bristol Dockyards from 26 September to 1 November.

More information can be found here!
https://www.bristoldockyards.org/whats-on/ma-ad-science-mayhem

24/08/2026

It's the last week of Kids Go Free!

It's your last chance to head down to the dockyards and take part in interactive challenges around site inspired by the global voyages of the SS Great Britain.

Here’s a taste of what’s in store in its last week:

Jar Fishing: Child passengers would dangle jars into the sea to catch fish – without even being able to see what they'd caught! Now it's your turn.

Jump Rope: Swing into action with our giant jump rope – a favourite from the streets of New York City. How long can you keep going?

Good Shout: Head down to the engine room and listen out for your orders – called out through the speaking trumpets just like the real crew. How many commands can you get right?

Who Made All the Pies? Race to make three fruit pies in the ship’s galley before anyone else! Flip cards to build your desserts, based on a real menu from 1863.

Find out more and plan your visit at: www.bristoldockyards.org/whats-on/ships-and-giggles

One child free for every paying adult – from now until 2 September. Come back as many times as you like at no extra cost: One ticket, a whole year of adventures.

24/08/2026

Ever taken a stellar photo of the SS Great Britain? Now is your chance to get the praise it deserves by entering the National Historic Ships Photography competition!

It's the FINAL WEEK to enter with cash prizes of up to £1000 to be won, plus the chance to be featured in their 2027 calendar!

See the details below and enter by midnight on Monday 31st August, for a chance to win.

📢 FINAL WEEK to enter the National Historic Ships UK Photo Competition!

Cash prizes of up to £1000 to be won, plus the chance to be featured in our 2027 calendar and a Historic Dockyard Chatham exhibition.

Send in your best historic vessel and traditional sailing images, as well as pictures of the people who maintain, operate and sail them, by midnight on Monday 31st August, for a chance to win.

www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/photocomp

CATEGORIES:

TIME - our 2026 competition theme, interpret it however you choose
* £500 cash prize, courtesy Trinity Buoy Wharf

CLASSIC BOAT AWARD - for traditional sailing images
* £250 cash prize, courtesy Classic Boat

FACES OF THE SEA - for pictures of people working, volunteering, sailing and engaging with our historic vessels * £250 cash prize, courtesy Maritime Heritage Trust

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR - for new entrants to the competition
* £250 cash prize, courtesy Shipshape & Bristol Fashion

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD - voted for by the public
* £250 cash prize, courtesy Fat Beehive

OVERALL WINNER - for the best image from all entries
* £500 cash prize, courtesy Dennett Boat Builders

Winners will also take home a specially commissioned trophy, courtesy Beckett Rankine and a maritime-themed book, courtesy Bloomsbury Nautical.

19/08/2026

We were pleased to welcome Pressgang Mutiny, a sea shanty band all the way from Toronto that draws connections between sea shanties, with unexpected genres such as hip hop, ska, and dancehall

The dry dock provided the perfect acoustics for them to warm up and entertain visitors before their show at Bristol Folk house later that evening.

Thanks for stopping by and best of luck with the rest of the international tour!

Are you and your crew interested in the SS Great Britain & historic dockyards as a backdrop for your creative project? Find out more or get in touch at: www.bristoldockyards.org/venue-hire/commercial-filming-and-photography