Grand Designs
Design, science and technology - three days with creative geniuses
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Day 1
The Grandeur of Bath
Where the city's building blocks are regarded as a masterpiece of human creativity.
Museum of Bath Architecture
Begin the exploration of this unique city with this splendid museum which shows how a sleepy provincial town was transformed into the world famous Georgian Spa and a paragon of urban design.
The city’s enduring world reputation is largely down to the vision of architect John Wood. His lasting legacy was not only the beautifully designed buildings but their positioning within the green landscape of the city.
VENUE INFORMATION Walk Car En route 10 mins 5 mins
Stroll through the city (up Hay Hill and Alfred Street) past the Assembly Rooms - the centre of Georgian social life - to the magni cent John Wood designed Circus.
No. 1 Royal Crescent
Before entering the museum, take a moment to marvel at the sweeping elegance of the Royal Crescent, one of the nest examples of Georgian architecture anywhere in the world which has been virtually unchanged since it was built in 1767.
Inside, explore the house which recreates how Georgian daily life was spent, both for the fashionable members of society upstairs and those toiling below stairs.
VENUE INFORMATION Walk En route 15 mins
Travel down Bartlett Street and the pedestrianised Milsom Street, and window-shop as you pass by the wide variety of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Herschel Museum of Astronomy
William Herschel and his sister Caroline lived in this modest Georgian terraced house when in 1781, using a telescope of his own construction, he discovered the planet Uranus and subsequently became the rst President of the Royal Astronomical Society.
The house has now been fully restored to its original 18th century condition and celebrates the wide-ranging Herschel family achievements in astronomy, science and music.
VENUE INFORMATION Day 2
Bristol: an industrial engineering test bed
A day with Isambard Kingdom Brunel: 'the man who built modern Britain'.
M Shed
Start the day at M Shed, the museum housed in a dockside warehouse, that tells the 2,000-year-old story of Bristol and its people in a thought- provoking and fun way. Using everyday and rare objects, lms, photographs and music, learn about the history and building blocks that make up this unique city.
On the weekends there is usually a chance to see the old docks working once again with steam trains and a chance to climb into the cranes - check the M Shed website for details.
VENUE INFORMATION Walk Cycle En route 15 mins 5 mins
Walk or cycle along the harbour and stop o for one of Brunel's Buttery's famous bacon sarnies and a cup of tea.
Brunel's SS Great Britain
Brunel was part genius, part showman, and at this museum visitors can discover not only the key to his successes but also his mistakes. Sitting as part of the beautifully-restored SS Great Britain, Being Brunel houses six galleries with over 150 personal artefacts, evoking the sense of wonder and invention associated with this brilliant engineer. Enjoy an audio visual - and (with the waft of cigar smoke) smellable - experience of his life and work. This is an opportunity to get inside the head of Brunel - literally!
VENUE INFORMATION Boat Bus En route 5 mins 20 mins
Outside the SS Great Britain take the very short ferry crossing to the other side of the Harbour (£1), then walk 10 minutes to St. Augustine’s Parade from where the No 8 bus goes to Clifton.
Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre
Designed by Brunel but not completed until after his death, the Clifton Suspension Bridge is Bristol’s most iconic landmark. Spanning the Avon Gorge, the views over the city are stunning.
Walk over the Bridge to the Visitor Centre and nd out about this famous landmark's history and the people who built it. The Visitor Centre o ers guided tours and opportunities to explore the Bridge’s huge vaults.
VENUE INFORMATION Dine in Clifton Village
Finish the day in this famously opulent area of Bristol, where elegant streets are with lined with bustling cafes, ne dining restaurants and traditional pubs - try the Coronation Tap, a ciderhouse and Bristol institution.
Day 3
Take To The Air
The region has been a centre for the aerospace industry since the very beginnings of powered ight. (Note: this itinerary requires driving). Aerospace Bristol
The stunning centrepiece of this museum is the rst ever supersonic airliner, Concorde, designed, built and tested in Bristol. Stepping inside the huge hangar where it is now housed really does take the breath away.
In another aircraft hangar is an excellent hands- on display of the history of aviation in Bristol, including planes, missiles and satellites, from the earliest imsy contraptions to sleek examples of the supersonic jet age and space exploration.
VENUE INFORMATION
Car En route 25 mins
Take a short drive down the M5 to the coast at Clevedon, a charming Victorian seaside town. Clevedon Pier
This beautiful example of Victorian engineering, the only Grade 1 listed pier in the country, was built with iron left over from one of Brunel’s railway ventures. It’s a wonderful spot for lunch with the glass walled Ti n restaurant o ering far- reaching views over the sea.
VENUE INFORMATION
Car Bus En route 20 mins 30 mins (X5)
From one seaside town to another - travel down the coast towards Weston-super-Mare. The Helicopter Museum
Just before reaching Weston-super-Mare, turn o at the airport roundabout for The Helicopter Museum - a unique collection of over 80 aircraft. Highlights include the American Huey used in Vietnam, and a Russian gunship seen in the skies in Afghanistan, plus the 30 foot ‘Bristol Bloodhound’ Missiles made just down the road in Banwell shortly after WW2. There’s a hands on feel with regular open cockpit days that give you a chance to climb aboard and have the controls explained to you by an expert.
VENUE INFORMATION
Fish and chips by the sea
No visit to the English coast is complete without sh and chips on the beach!