Maybe you’ve already seen the bridge illuminations as the lighting trials have been carried out, but we are pleased to say that the two-year refurbishment project to paint the bridge’s 180-year-old suspension chains is in its final stages. Here’s what it means for you, the illuminations are back on!

We're a bit early, but as we're winding down at the #CliftonSuspensionBridge museum for a bit of time off over Christmas, it felt like the perfect time to share our 2025 wrapped to shout about what we're proud of! 💫

Winter sunshine >

Why not gift an experience this year? A small number of Hard Hat Tour Gift Vouchers are now available and will give the recipient early access to pre-booking for 2026 tours. cliftonbridge.org.uk/giftvoucher/

Thank you Select Electrics who took some truly spectacular photos of the #CliftonSuspensionBridge, while working onsite during the 29 October bridge closure 🌉 During the closure vital monitoring equipment, which protects the bridge from overloading by overweight vehicles, was overhauled.

SS Wheatplain approaching the Cumberland Basin, 1924-1930, with the #CliftonSuspensionBridge in the background. The steam cargo ship Wheatplain was built in 1924 for the Spillers Steamship Co. Liverpool as part of the well-known bakery and pet food manufacturer. Photo from #KnowYourPlace archive.

A tug boat passing the Hotwells Landing Stage with the #CliftonSuspensionBridge in the background. The photo was taken in the 1950s and is from the Public Relationships photography collection. Photo is from the #KnowYourPlace digital archive.

#CliftonSuspensionBridge in autumn 🍂

We’re thrilled to be joining in on #MuseumShopSunday this year! It’s the perfect chance to celebrate museum shops like ours. So why not add a bit of the #CliftonSuspensionBridge to your décor and support a local museum at the same time. 🛍 shop.cliftonbridge.org.uk/collections/christmas

It's been 11 years, but we'll never be over the fireworks display to celebrate 150 years since the #CliftonSuspensionBridge was opened. It would be incredible to do something like this again, maybe for the 200th anniversary 🎆 📷 Ed Norton

A group of men stop to have their picture taken on the #CliftonSuspensionBridge. You can see that the chains have already been installed and the original toll booths are under construction. c. 1863

View of the Leigh Woods Tower of the #CliftonSuspensionBridge from Observatory Hill. 📷 Michael McKay

We have a research question to put to the group about this photo of #Brunel that no one on our #CliftonSuspensionBridge team has seen before. We can't seem to find the image or mention of it online anywhere. Have you seen it before or know anything about it?

We're recruiting for a Bridge Attendant to join the team based at Clifton Suspension Bridge. This is a full time shift-based role that's customer focussed & involves assisting bridge users, alongside some heavy lifting and minor maintenance. Find out more here: cliftonbridge.org.uk/about-us/job...

We're excited to announce that #CliftonSuspensionBridge Museum is up for an award at this year's Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards! Our Underground Lantern Tour is a finalist in the Active & Learning Experience of the Year category. We couldn't be more proud of the our team of storytellers!

A postcard featuring a highly-colourised image of the #CliftonSuspensionBridge with a paddle steamer underneath. The postcard is from our archive and a digital copy can be found here: bit.ly/3IPoZ8H

On one night in 1564 the skies above Bristol were said to have filled with colourful beams of light. At the time this was seen as an omen heralding the return of the plague to the city but it’s now theorised it was likely the aurora borealis being visible unusually far south.

Anyone else feeling the end of summer blues? 🌧 📷 Jonny Gios

As the weather gets cooler (rainier) it's the perfect time to crack open an old favourite or dive into something new. Visit our online shop to browse our selection of books inspired by nature (and Brunel, of course) and use code READABOOK for 10% off all books this weekend 🎩 📚 bit.ly/3UUPKeo

📣 Bridge Closure 📣 The #CliftonSuspensionBridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic this weekend from 7:00pm on Friday 5 September until 7:00am on Monday 8 September. Pedestrians will still be able to walk across the bridge using the north footway and the museum will be open as usual.

It's the final weekend to come and visit The Bristol Barker at the #CliftonSuspensionBridge! Pick up a Grand Appeal 3 trail map from the museum and see how many you can check off 🐶

Are you more of a sunrise or sunset person? 🌅 📷 Lee Pullen

Take a closer look behind (above?) the chains of the major, once-in-a-generation project at the #CliftonSuspensionBridge

Looking for an all-ages family day out? Stop by the #CliftonSuspensionBridge Museum and pick up a free #GromitUnleashed3 Trail Map before saying hello to The Bristol Barker and Mr. Darcy up on Observatory Hill. Then see how many of the Clifton sculptures you can check off the list! 🐾

Did we mention that the vaults are always 13 degrees? A bit of a reprieve from the growing heat... ☀️

Did you know that you can go inside the #CliftonSuspensionBridge? 👷🌉 Booking available throughout the school holidays until Halloween. cliftonbridge.org.uk/bookatour

See also: how to not provide relevant information while also championing a historic landmark. Thanks, Google AI?

One more day to go until the #BalloonFiesta! Anyone getting up early tomorrow to see the balloons? 🎈 And an even more important question, who's volunteering to get up early to take pictures of balloons over the #CliftonSuspensionBridge so our social media person doesn't have to? 📷 Jarred Kyle

📣 #BalloonFiesta Bridge Closure If you're from Bristol, you already know what's coming, but just in case... The #CliftonSuspensionBridge will be closed to everyone (vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians) Friday 8 Aug. and Saturday 9 Aug. from 6:00pm until midnight for the Night Glows. 📷 Nathan Riley

Bridge Closure 📣 The #CliftonSuspensionBridge will be closed to vehicles and cyclists all weekend from 7:00pm tonight until Monday at 7:00am. Pedestrians will still be able to cross using the north footway, but the bridge may be busier than normal. 📷 Keith Rodgerson

The Latin inscription on the Leigh Woods tower of the Clifton Suspension Bridge reads “SUSPENSA VIX VIA FIT”. There are several ways of interpreting this phrase and could mean “Road suspended with great difficulty” or a more alarming translation is “Road is barely suspended.”

Counting down the days until the #CliftonSuspensionBridge is lit up again 🌇 📷 Zikang Zhou

Looking for something to check off your summer bucket list? We've added more weekend dates for our award-winning Hard Hat Tours! Does it help if you know the vaults are always 13 degrees even on the hottest day of the year? 📆 August 2 and August 30 🕰️ 12:00pm and 2:00pm 🎟️ bit.ly/44Quxbr

A very early photograph of the #CliftonSuspensionBridge featuring a gentleman with a glorious moustache/hat combo. The image can be generally dated by Hotwells Station underneath, which opened in 1865. 🔗 maps.bristol.gov.uk/kyp/?ma

Don't think you need that cup of tea Mr. Darcy! How did you manage in the heat this weekend? Were you melting or a bit more Colin Firth in the lake circa 1995?

📣 New product alert 📣 Hand made and painted ceramic ornament locally made in small batches exclusively for the #CliftonSuspensionBridge Museum. Buy online or visit us at the bridge to take one home with you. 🛍 bit.ly/3IjXljx

A very special delivery to the #CliftonSuspensionBridge for the Gromit Unleashed 3 Art Trail. But wait, it can’t be, it looks like a Norbot has joined the refurbishment team. This can’t end well.

The #CliftonSuspensionBridge Museum will be closed tomorrow for cleaning. The bridge and the Gromit Unleashed 3 Art Trail will be open as usual. We will reopen on Thursday 10:00am-5:00pm.

The #CliftonSuspensionBridge is just over one year into a once-in-a-generation refurbishment project. While some visitors are disappointed to not see the bridge in it's full glory, we can't help but admire the incredible scaffolding work 🌉

The #CliftonSuspensionBridge is hiring a Shift Supervisor to support our 15 Bridge Attendants who provide 24-hour attendance at the bridge You will be based at the Toll Houses or in the offices at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Job description and how to apply: bit.ly/3P1dxDP

The person who runs this account was away for the last few weeks getting married, so to ease back into things around here have a nice picture of the #CliftonSuspensionBridge from Balloon Fiestas past 🎈 📷 Nathan Riley

Looking for #adventure this weekend? We've just released new timeslots for our popular Vaults Visits, a partially guided tour of the underground vaults, suitable for age 7+. £8 children, £10 adults. Book here: cliftonbridge.org.uk/underground-...

🎉🐶🛠️🧀🚀🧶🐔🌷🎉 www.bristol247.com/news-and-fea...

The #CliftonSuspensionBridge is closed to vehicle traffic and cyclists from tonight at 7:00pm until Monday at 7:00am. The footway will remain open to pedestrians 🚶

Watercolour of Clifton Suspension Bridge from Avon Gorge by William Clark, possibly the Bristol photographer? @brunelsbridge.bsky.social

Good luck to everyone running in the Great Bristol 10k & Half Marathon on Sunday! A reminder that due to related road closures the #CliftonSuspensionBridge is likely to be busier than usual and queues may form 🌉

Hotwell House (pictured left c. 1860) was built in 1822 and named the Royal Clifton Spa. It was demolish (pictured right 1867) in order to widen the river, allowing even larger ships to access the docks. You can see between the first and second photos the #CliftonSuspensionBridge was finished!

Anyone up for a walk? ☀️

One year into the #CliftonSuspensionBridge refurbishment project and workers have been busy completing ‘snagging’ tasks (such as paint touch-ups) and smaller maintenance tasks on the north side of the bridge. Most significantly, they have completed the painting of the lower section of the chains.

The design of the Clifton Suspension Bridge was decided by a competition in which engineers and amateurs alike submitted ideas. This ornate design, from 16 year old William Butterfield was rejected in the first round because it was calculated that the structure could not support itself. 1/2