VIP Experience Launched

Fans of maritime history, engineering and Brunel can now bag themselves the ultimate behind-the-scenes VIP experience at Brunel’s SS Great Britain. At £250 per person, the new experience supports the conservation charity in its work saving the fragile iron hull for the nation and inspiring future generations of engineers. But it also offers a truly unique day out in the company of the world’s leading maritime and Brunel experts. 

With exclusive access to the entire ship and both museums before visitors arrive as well as heading behind-the-scenes in the Conservation Suite, this private tour provides a very special day out. 

While the ‘access all areas’ approach takes participants off the museum tour routes, it’s the exclusive access and time spent with experts that makes this VIP experience truly memorable. Tim Bryan is a leading Brunel biographer and Director of the Brunel Institute; Joanna Mathers is Head of Collections, overseeing archives of 70,000 fascinating objects including Brunel letters and diaries; James Boyd is Head of Research, delving into the global context of the ship’s movement of people and cargos; Nicola Grahamslaw is the Ship’s Conservation Engineer, revealing the secrets behind the ship’s ongoing care and conservation. 

During the day, participants can even choose an intriguing collection item to view up close in the Brunel Institute, perhaps attempting to decipher some of Brunel’s notoriously complex short-hand or reading a 150-year-old passenger diary written on board. 

Of course, the VIP treatment continues with great food and drink, starting with coffee and pastries as well as a sumptuous mezze-style lunch with fizz – private-dining with stunning views of Bristol’s Floating Harbour. And each participant receives a VIP goody bag from the shop featuring exclusive items from the SS Great Britain ranges including a hand-crafted replica peepshow of Brunel’s Thames Tunnel. 

This very special tour can be booked at ssgreatbritain.org/experiences 

For travel trade 

The exclusive behind-the-scenes tour is available for travel trade to book on request. Contact our travel trade and groups team to find out more, email: groups@ssgreatbritain.org; tel. 0117 926 0680