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SS Great Britain and Aerospace Bristol

Two Design Icons – Brunel’s SS Great Britain in Bristol Docks and

Concorde plus other historic aircraft at Aerospace Bristol

Wednesday 16th September 2026 

The Arts Society Corinium are delighted to offer a visit to Bristol with a guided tour around Brunel’s masterpiece, SS Great Britain at dry dock in Bristol, this will be followed by a visit to Aerospace Bristol (just 30 minutes away).

Originally scheduled to run in April, this visit will allow us to enjoy the massive £1million redevelopment project transforming the site’s former Dockyard Museum into a brand-new state of the art museum experience (due to open in July 2026).  Whilst the iconic ship remains the star, the new exhibition will include immersive recreations, interactive exhibits and newly uncovered historic artefacts.

On arrival at the Bristol Docks, our group will be divided in two, with one tour starting at 10.45 and the other at 11.00am. Please be aware that the Drydock area is very uneven so extra care must be taken.

There is a good café (The Boardwalk Café) offering sandwiches, hot food, salads or an outside seating area should you wish to bring your own lunch.

We will leave at around 1.30 to travel to Aerospace Bristol where there are two tours on offer – you can opt to do none, one or both – please indicate on your email which you would prefer. The tours are an extra £7.00 each. The Heritage Tour is an opportunity to take off on a journey through more than 100 years of Bristol’s remarkable aerospace history. Find out how a small, pioneering company manufactured some of the earliest aeroplanes at Filton, evolved over the decades to influence the

course of aviation history and shaped the world we see today. With an expert guide and this stunning collection as a backdrop, we will discover how Bristol changed the world.

The Concorde Tour will take us on a journey from Concorde’s beginnings in the 1950s to its final flight in 2003, including the chance to step aboard the last Concorde ever to fly. Learn about Concorde’s amazing engineering and luxurious passenger experience, the end of commercial supersonic fight, and look ahead to what the future of supersonic passenger travel may bring.

We will also have the opportunity to see the meticulous restoration of Europe’s last remaining Bristol Freighter Type 170. From July this year, this massive aircraft will be moved outdoors to form the centrepiece of a brand-new, live outdoor exhibition and we will witness a dedicated team of up to 50 highly skilled volunteer engineers actively weatherproofing, removing corrosion, and reassembling the aircraft in real time. The new July installation will feature elevated viewing platforms and direct cockpit access points.

In addition, you can opt for a Red Arrow Simulator ride (£3.00 payable on site).

Members £55 (£62 or £69 for extra tours).   Non Members £65 (£72 or £79 for extra tours)

Basic price to include coach and 1 guided tour around SS Great Brittain.   Depart Beeches Car Park at 9.00 am (please arrive by 8.45am).  Return approx. 5.30pm (depending upon traffic).

The optional two tours around Concorde and the Heritage Museum are £7.00 for each tour per person.  Please indicate preference, if any, when reserving your place.

It is advisable that you complete and bring with you an “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) form on the day.  The ICE form can be downloaded by clicking on the button below. The form is a note of your essential medical details in the unfortunate event of an accident, or illness during the visit, when it would be passed to paramedics.  It is not read by any of our Society.