Bridge · Bristol, United Kingdom
Clifton Suspension Bridge
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Avon Gorge and the River Avon, linking Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somer. Built 1864.
Photo: Gothick via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Bristol, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Type | Bridge |
| Built | 1864 |
| Architect | Isambard Kingdom Brunel |
| Height | Height: 72 m |
| Coordinates | 51.4549° N, 2.6279° W |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Clifton Suspension Bridge is known for
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Avon Gorge and the River Avon, linking Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somer.
About Clifton Suspension Bridge
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Avon Gorge and the River Avon, linking Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset. Since opening in 1864, it has been a toll bridge, the income from which provides funds for its maintenance. The bridge is built to a design by William Henry Barlow and John Hawkshaw, based on an earlier design by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
History
It is unknown when the first bridge was constructed across the Avon in Bristol, but the first stone bridge, Bristol Bridge, was built in the 13th century. It had houses with shopfronts built on it to pay for its maintenance. A 17th-century illustration shows that these bridge houses were five storeys high, including the attic rooms, and that they overhung the river much as Tudor houses would overhang the street.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Clifton Suspension Bridge website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Bristol |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Bristol Filton Airport (FZO) |
| Distance from the airport | 4.7 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Bristol Airport (BRS) · Bristol, United Kingdom · 6.3 miles away
- Cardiff International Airport (CWL) · Cardiff, United Kingdom · 31.1 miles away
- Birmingham Airport (BHX) · Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom · 78.5 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in United Kingdom
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Frequently asked questions
What is Clifton Suspension Bridge?
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Avon Gorge and the River Avon, linking Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somer.
Where is Clifton Suspension Bridge located?
Clifton Suspension Bridge is in Bristol, United Kingdom. Its coordinates are 51.4549° N, 2.6279° W.
How do I get to Clifton Suspension Bridge?
The nearest town is Bristol, and the nearest airport is Bristol Filton Airport (FZO), about 4.7 miles away (straight line).
When was Clifton Suspension Bridge built?
Clifton Suspension Bridge was built 1864.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton_Suspension_Bridge — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162170 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://cliftonbridge.org.uk/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.