Clifton Suspension Bridge

The Clifton Suspension Bridge was designed by the pioneering Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Although he won the design competition in 1831, the bridge was not completed until 1864, several years after his death. It stands as one of his most enduring engineering legacies.

The bridge spans the picturesque Avon Gorge, linking the Clifton area of Bristol to Leigh Woods in Somerset, England. It hangs roughly 75 meters above the high-water mark of the River Avon below. It remains a major toll road and iconic landmark for the city of Bristol.

The total length of the Clifton Suspension Bridge is 412 meters (1,352 feet), with a main span of 214 meters between the two towers. The wrought iron chains that support the deck are actually repurposed from a previous Brunel project, the Hungerford Bridge in London. Its massive scale was considered a marvel of the Victorian era.

The bridge officially opened to the public on December 8, 1864. Its construction was funded by the sale of the iron chains from the demolished Hungerford Bridge, along with money left in Brunel's will. It has been continuously in use ever since, carrying millions of vehicles across the gorge.