Reviews of Clifton Observatory. (Museum) in Bristol (Bristol).

Clifton Observatory

0 Reviews

392 Comments

Museum

Observatory

Litfield Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3LT, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Clifton Observatory, Museum in Bristol (Bristol)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

We don’t have any review or comment on this place.

Map

Open hours of Clifton Observatory

Popular times

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Reviews of Clifton Observatory

S. B.

It is so worth the visit. The ground surrounding the Clifton Observatory is extremely pretty with some stunning views. I would highly recommend visiting the observatory itself. It is a small price to pay for what you get to see. The panoramic real time camera is a work of science and is an amazing experience. The views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and River Avon from the top of the observatory are stunning as well. Make sure you walk through the Giants cave if you are able. The cave is a little narrow again amazing views when you reach the other end of it. Luckily we visited on a sunny day.

N. A.

It is a nice place to hang out with friends and family, with the majestic view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

W.

Lovely place. Don't miss the cave 🦇

L. K.

The observatory is well worth the walk for such a spectacular view. There’s a cafe serving drinks and some snacks during the daytime. We walked up and then got the bus back into the city. On a clear day the view is well worth it.

J. M. R.

I went to the Giants Cave, that you can access through the Clifton Observatory for 2.5£. It's a nice view, I believe it's worth it, since it's so cheap.

D. A.

Fantastic few hours spent here in the summer. My grandchildren loved it. The ability to see so much of the Suspension Bridge and the Gorge was brilliant. Views are amazing. There was only one toilet available. Considering there was only one toilet is was clean. There's a small cafe. My grandchildren and j enjoyed the cakes and drinks. Staff we spoke to were friendly and polite. Unfortunately the caves were closed on the date of our visit. If we had been able to see them I think I would have given 5 stars. I have already recommended to local friends to visit.

B. F.

Amazing Bristol venue for our wedding. Not only are the building and grounds stunning, but the staff were amazing on the day and with all the planning beforehand. Cannot thank Jade and the team enough, and have already made recommendations to guests who want to use the observatory for their venue too!

T. S.

Lovely little building teaming with history. Its fascinating to read all about how many times the building has been destroyed and the development of the fist photographs. At the top there is a camera obscura which projects light from outside onto a blank canvas in a dark room. I was really surprised at how clear the images were of outside, it was as if we were watching a live HD stream of Clifton Suspension Bridge, when in reality it was incredible Victorian science at play manipulating light through lenses

R. U.

Great place to grab some snacks and drinks and enjoy the ever changing sky along with the Clifton Bridge. They do dog's ice-cream too, in case you wanna treat your doggy after the climb.

k. c.

Worth a Visit and the cave path to the viewing platform is a Great experience

T. P.

Interesting building with great views of Clifton Bridge.

M. M.

Breathtaking view..you must visit if you are coming to this city...you can see the bridge and the whole city. Free entrance Parking avaliable around the park ( paid unless weekend)

J. C.

This is a really interesting place sitting high above the famous Clifton suspension bridge. The views from the observatory are stunningly beautiful, especially as the sun goes down. I was privileged to attend a private function held here and it was brilliantly serviced by the staff.

N. F.

Taken during a early morning moody weathered walk around the green surrounded the Clifton observatory, birds galore, the views aren’t too bad either. Get up early and go walk out those morning blues 💚

G. R.

Just amazing! The view from there is breathtaking

B. M.

Very good views from the observatory and situated in a lovely park The only downside is the lack of toilets

R. P.

I think this is a must see...you are best climbing to the top first and then going to the cave but be careful steps are steep..

A. T.

Don't missout taking a coffee from the restaurant and taking a bench overlooking the Bristol suspension bridge.. you can't go wrong.

K. W.

Went to a candlelit live music event. Absolutely fantastic. A member of the public was rude to me during the show and staff were so kind and apologetic and made me feel so valued.

B. N.

A uniquely Bristolian attraction. Note that kids have to be four years old to explore the caves, we’ll be back in a couple of years!

R. K.

Great views of the Avon Gorge via the camera obscura and the viewing platform.

J. V.

My bf and I went for the Candlelight concert event so it was lovely to see it in a different light. Will definitely be back to visit it in its normal form.

L. R.

We had our wedding at the Clifton Observatory and had the best day. All of the staff were fantastic but a special mention to Jade who helped us plan the day and set everything up for us. Nothing was too much trouble and we can't thank her enough. The venue is stunning and our guests all commented how special it was. Our wedding surpassed our expectations and we are so happy with how it went and that we chose this venue. Thank you to all involved!! Tom and Laura x

C. G.

The tower is good so you can see above Bridge but the camera is not worth it the cave is scary but it's good views the netting stops you taking photos but I enjoyed it

林.

cool obscular

A. S.

Offers great views of the area from the grounds without needing to pay. The giant's cave and camera obscura are also worth a visit costing £5 for the two.

s. H.

Absolutely spectacular views! the highlight of our visit was the upstairs seating area overlooking the suspension bridge. The cafe was temporarily closed during our visit, and a serving hole was available with good covid security. The wait times were very long, but understandably. The drinks were a fair price. The museum was very pleasant, not crowded at all and vey cheap to visit. We will certainly be back again!

C. S. C.

Truly a hidden gem. There is a cute cafe with awesome views of Bristol and the bridge up the top!

C. P.

Great place to visit giants caves are worth a visit but steps down are steep and wet, sensible shoes required

S. W.

Definitely worth a visit also the cave which isn't easy to access if you are tall but is worth it for the views

A. M. T.

Located on the top of the hill that overlooks the bridge. The observatory itself does not offer much but the view of the bridge and the valley from here is amazing. There is a tunnel from the observatory that takes you to a cave hanging on the cliff and you need to pay 2.5£ which in my opinion was worthwhile.

A. S.

Did the two for one offer, camera obscura was fun and with some interesting photographic background. Never made it to the end of the giants cave however, while they warn steep narrow steps it was definitely not covid friendly, at least 20-odd people dispersed throughout with no passing spots so got very hairy as people coming up met people coming down in a 2 foot wide tunnel of wet steps and low ceilings so gave up and turned around as it was getting uncomfortable.

M. U.

Beautiful viewing point to have a picnic for outdoor socialising

L. S.

One of the best spots for observing the bridge. You can make amazing photos from here, and it is for free. There's some secret spots in there, such as the lockers from the lovers in the wall, and a slippery stone, on which you can take a shortcut descending the hill.

D. L. H.

Go on a clear bright day to get the best out of the camera obscura. Mind your head in the tunnel down to the Cave.

M. B.

Well worth the £5 to see the camera obscura and the cave. Very steep steps down to the cave but lovely view. (And also nice and cool on such a hot day that I visited!) The cave has a good view of the suspension bridge. The camera obscura is nice to see and also has alot of information about the building and its uses. We spent around 45 minutes to an hour here. Cant fault that for a fiver.

G. P.

Brilliant! My parents used to bring me here as a boy, now I take my daughter. She finds Giants Cave exiting and the camera obscure is fun to look at and interact with. Reasonable prices as well. Didn't go in the cafe as it was packed but the roof terrace looked lush to enjoy with a hot choc.

A. A.

Best place to spend some time! Very affordable price to enter to Cave and the Camera Obscura and such an interesting walk down the stairs in the Cave.

V. R.

This place was worth the visit! Walking up and down the cave was great great fun! Must visit place for a great adventure time.

B. F.

Great little find this and well worth visiting.Great views of the bridge from the observatory itself but also from the viewing platform in the rock face excusable via long narrow and steep passage if you think you're fit enough.

W. R.

Beautiful views, one of the nicest spots I the city.

S. V.

Good visit at a great price. I visited the observatory on a lovely sunny afternoon. It’s well worth a visit, I would recommend doing the Camera Obscura and the ‘Giants Cave’, for the £4.50 fee it’s an hour well spent. Not at all recommended for anyone with any sort of mobility issues. There are a lot of stairs up to the top of the tower to use the camera. But these are the easy ones, there are 130 steps down to the cave, these are uneven and with quite restricted headroom. The view at the end is worth is though. On a good sunny day the images viewable on the camera was great.

K. H.

Spent a lovely couple of hours at the observatory and the cave. Nice surprise as only charged half price, weather meant the camera wasn't picking much up. But the hidden viewing platform was a treat. Would love to go back and see the camera in action. Enjoyed a stroll the grounds and a cuppa in the glass fronted cafe 🙂

J.

Incredible views of the bridge!

C. T.

Visited today for the first time for my daughters birthday. Unfortunately today is the only day of the week with bad weather but was the only day we could come. However, the weather did lend itself perfectly to 1 of the best hot chocolates I’ve had in ages, if not ever!! 👏🏻👏🏻 Wife had some carrot cake and said that was amazing too! 🤤

A. B.

Great visit with amazing views, Camera Obscura is fascinating and the tight squeeze steps to Giants cave are worth it for the view at the end!

S. G.

Had a great Easter egg hunt at the observatory / cave. A little on the expensive side and the cafe was not open but if its good weather then with the play park it makes a nice family day out with amazing views. NOTE the cave is no good for children under 4. It a 130 very steep steps.

D. T.

Good views but lots of steps and I bumped my head a couple of times in the tunnel :(

v. p.

Great views of the the bridge and gorge. Would definitely steer clear of the caves though, unless you are very fit not at all claustrophobic, pregnant, heart condition etc, there is almost no way of passing if someone is headed in the opposite direction. Didn't see any warning!!

D. W.

We had the most fantastic wedding ceremony at Clifton Observatory. The staff were exceptionally friendly, helpful, and well organised. The staff went above and beyond to help us create a special day, even moving the date at the minute. Our guests really enjoyed exploring the tower and caves and we particularly loved having drinks on the rooftop terrace with the stunning view!

N. B.

Popped here to check out the place and it was a lovely small cafe with a great selection of sandwiches, salads and cakes, all from Bristol. The coffee was local as well which was lovely. Friendly staff and a great view from the rooftop of the suspension bridge. Would visit again!

P. S.

A must-go if you are in Bristol as this view point will give you an almost 360 panoramic view of the city including the bridge as well as the Gloucestershire hills. The ascension to the observatory is steep though so beware of this if you have difficulty walking up. There is an option to go up the tower but you are already high enough on the hill to get a good view. There is a good amount of historical information though as you go up so if you are into that then pay the fee to go up. The caves though were disappointing as these aren't really some but rather a long corridor taking to the edge of the cliff.

D. B.

Set in lovely parkland with views over Clifton Gorge. The observatory visit has two components, the tower and the cave with viewing balcony below. The tower has interesting historical displays on several levels and the camera obscura at the top. You stand in a darkened room and rotate the machine to look in all directions around the tower including the bridge and people on the lawns below. The cave and viewing platform are fun but be aware that the steps are many and steep so people with mobility problems may struggle. Covid separation was well managed.

S.

Great place where you can walk through the caves and get a great view of the Bristol suspension bridge and the river below

T. C.

Nice place. Strongly recommend to visit

M. H.

Sadly cave was closed due to an accident but we had the opportunity to enjoy and visit the camera obscura. Fantastic to talk with the nice woman from the ticket desk. She is very friendly :)

D.

Visited midweek in October. It had been raining earlier and the roof terrace was near empty, but the wire stools were already dry. Great views from the roof. Vegan and non vegan sandwiches served, and the coffee is good. Friendly service too. Order downstairs then carry upstairs. Recommended.

J. C.

The observatory now has a cafe on the roof which is really good to have at this picturesque spot, especially when all the benches are occupied. The view across the gorge is great, although you're a little exposed to the wind. A variety of cold, hot and alcoholic drinks are available as well as food, all at prices that are reasonable for the area. Normal seating and deck chairs are available. Staff were polite.

S. R.

This is one of the must visit place in Bristol. The view here is perfect. You’ll see the beauty of the city. This can also be a perfect place to meditate, relax and jog. There is a cafe but I haven’t been there, maybe on my next visit. I really enjoyed the day I went here, one fine summer day overlooking the south part of the city.

C. C.

Great views from the observatory. Well worth the visit

D. T.

Good view of the bridge... a very impressive feat of engineering

s. m.

Nice venue, was a bit windy on the day; don't sell pints or it would have been 5 stars.

M.

Great little gem to visit. Cafe had an okay flat white - nothing special but welcome on a rainy day. Good to visit when not many people around as squeezing passed people in the narrow passage might be challenging. Toilet there but was grubby.

Z. A.

It is the most beautiful and calming spot in Bristol for me. I always enjoy coming here with friends and enjoy a little picnic here. The views are incredibly beautiful and the bridge lights up at night which makes it one of the most popular places for photography

S. M.

The observatory was good although I arrived at the wrong time for the camera obscura (too much cloud - couldn't really see much!) although I imagine it would be good on a sunnier day. The Giant's Cave (underneath the observatory) was a steep walk down stairs and into a narrow cave (watch out, low ceiling!) - comes out onto a metal balcony with great views of the suspension bridge. Probably not good for you if you're scared of heights though, as it's entirely metal and you can see through the floor to the traffic and rocks below..!!

M. B.

This feels like a missed opportunity, it is a very interesting attraction but aspects of the exhibits were dilapidated. The cave was a wonderful experience but very narrow with few passing points. Not expensive but also not worth recurring visits.

W. E.

Decent, bit out of the way but good to get to on a scooter. Sunset lighting was something special.

J. L. (.

Love it. I didn't pay to go to the top, but I enjoyed the views from where the statue of Brunel, (Wallace & Gromit stylee) sits. There's a lovely cafe downstairs overlooking The Downs side, where the manager plays cool music, you can watch the many dogs walking by or relax surrounded by nature.

C. Y.

It's a great location, but the observatory itself is a missed opportunity. There's not much here, except for the camera obscura and the walk down the slightly scary steps through the caves to the side of the gorge with it's fantastic views. The cafe is ok but has limited choice, again not taking the opportunity of its location to become a destination in its own right.

L. M. C.

A beautiful place to visit. Everyone can take a ride down Bristol's famous rock slide.

S. H.

Camera Obscura was very fun to use, allowing you to spy on unsuspecting people in the park. Giants cave provided an excellent view of the Cliffton suspension bridge, but beware this cave is not easy to traverse if you are tall (despite its name) or have knee problems.

E. P.

Went down to the Clifton Bridge viewing platform even though I have a fear of heights. If you're claustrophobic or have trouble walking on uneven surfaces/stairs or bending, maybe give this a miss as the way up and down is very narrow and may require some ducking depending on how tall you are. However, when you get down there, people who are afraid of heights have plenty of space to keep back from the edge and still see most of the view - you're not dangling from a balcony or anything! Great place to get a good view of the bridge and surrounding area. But please don't graffiti 🙄

A.

Good view the cave is very steep,cramped and slippery so bare that in mind

H. B.

Came to see a concert here I didn't even know this place existed. It was absolutely stunning the views are unbelievable

R. F.

We went Saturday afternoon 15-08-20. Lovely location and scenery. The Cafe however was not set up to be as Covid safe as it should have been. I understand that staff do not have to wear a mask but most places we've have eaten at staff do wear a mask or face shield. I would of expected the waitress who interacts with customers via taking orders and serving food, would/should definitely wear a mask or face shield. The waitress failed to respect the appropriate distance as she stood right next to us! Also, it's best practice at the moment to not have multiple customers touching items and salt and pepper should be in single use satchets and not a pepper grinder and salt pot that many others have handled! UPDATE. Excellent response via email from the boss. The food was quite nice and the coffee's were lovely. But whilst there was a drinks menu, there was no sandwich or cake menu/list and of course no price list. The waitress struggled to remember the sandwich types and any other foods available. All in all, under normal times we would of been happy with the service as it was polite and friendly. Menu and prices should be easily available. But in Covid times, we felt the safety aspect fell short of what is required.

J. W.

What a fascinating place lived in Bristol all my life and never been there until my nephew asked to go. Sadly it was an overcast day so the optical zishan at the top of the building was very limited but they took that into consideration when taking payment to visit the attraction which I thought was fantastic. Has sturdy walking shoes on and a firm grip as it's 60 steps up to the top and back down and 130 steps of stone or steel twisting and fairly steep and occasionally narrow steps down to the caves below but it's well worth the journey for the views at both levels. An under promoted amazing great value for money attraction

l. g.

Good view from the top, sadly was a cloudy day so the camera obscura wasn't in use. If you decide to visit the giants cave beware the tunnel to it is quite narrow and low in parts. Looks like many people take a marker and sign the mouth of the cave.

J. W. C. K.

This place is great to view the Clifton Suspension Bridge. There is a bike rack there if you are a cyclist buy only few slots. There is also bike rack at the entrance to the suspension bridge which is about 2-3 minute walk down the trail from the observatory. Private booking and catering was going on when I visited so couldn't go in but must visit site if you are visiting suspension bridge because it is very close.

j. w.

The Clifton observatory is a fantastic place to take children from an educational point of view it is also a fantastic place to get amazing views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Because it is situated within parts of the grassy landscape there is no specific parking 4 the building and as parking in Clifton Village and the surrounding area is very limited be prepared to walk a little way but it is well worth it. Just be mindful when taking small children here as there are 30 steps up to the top which require climbing back down 30 steps. If you go down to the caves and a lower observation platform these can be steep, uneven and occasionally damp with over 100 steps in its Direction as I recall. But even on an overcast day well worth the climb in both directions.

H. M.

Really worth the visit. Camera Obscura was fascinating, and the Giants Cave was worth the steps!

A. G.

Awesome value, great views and a lovely thing to do if you're in the area.

R. C.

Mind you head going down to the cave and the balcony where the views of the river and the suspension bridge are well worth the short walk. Don't miss out on the camera obscura either. While it doesn't take long to go around it is worth the small admission fee.

E. S.

Didnt visit observatory this time but it is fun to spy on people without them knowing and the cave in the gorge gives spectacular views. We went to the cafe on the roof. So tranquil with amazing views. Def worth a visit if you can face the climb#

K. B.

Wonderful view...loved the obscura camera and the dungeon part. Wear good shoes for lots of steps! Very special and unique. Had great carrot cake and a drink too.

F. R.

1st customers on a rainy Sunday morning (10am opening) to the very tasteful glass tea room. Polite staff, nice hot chocolate, superb Lemon Drissal cake in an immaculately clean establishment. Well done folks you guys must work hard to maintain the shop as you do allow dogs. My sister picked up the tab, but I know it was very reasonable and I would definitely return.

L. W.

If you are visiting Bristol this is a must! Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to go to the Camera however I went downstairs through the cave which comes out to a balcony on the cliff-face - quite scary but definitely a great experience! Great for Halloween!

T. C.

One of those add places that The Victorians did so well. Upstairs is a camera obscura that reflects an image of outside onto what looks like a large white bowl. Was probably amazing in the days before TV and cinema. Downstairs is a long tunnel down (with steps) to a cave looking out over the Avon Gorge and the suspension bridge. After all that, buy an ice cream from the ticket booth to eat on the grass outside.

t. m.

Spectacular views of the Clifton suspension bridge

s. h.

Wonderful views across the valley. Full of history and underground adventure.

A. I.

Its perfect to visit on a sunny day as you can see a reflection of the suspension bridge on the ceiling of the room or you could walk the path to the cave. Thats pretty much it though but is cute to go on a date outdoors

l. p.

Amazing placed next to the suspension bridge ,the view from outside is breathtaking and plenty of seating to enjoy the views , observatory is great fun and the kids love it to , the cave has sketchy steps to get down to it but well worth it , really good day out.

M. T.

great views from the cave as well as the observatory

P. S.

The good and the bad. First of all a cheap and interesting attraction. In a fabulous location. Worth the money if only a quick visit for the charge. The bad. Young ish gentleman on reception seemed completely uninterested and not wanting to engage when I spoke to him. Also when asked about toilet access code, he directed me to the cafe for it ( even though after going down the cliff tunnel viewing point you will have dirty rust marks on your hands !! ) This tunnel is very much a fit / flexible persons visit very strap, tunnel very narrow and low. Anyone over 4ish ft will need to contort or go down parts backwards. In a medical emergency it would be very difficult (please consider your health. I'm 6ft 4in and lower steps were very difficult but nice visit at bottom if àll the above suit you. Cafe. Nice but very young ladies on counter, coffee not very warm so more training may be needed, poor selection of snacks on a Saturday bank holiday. On arrival to observatory cafe the A frame sign to cafe roof terrace was sites past the entrance to cafe directing you away from terrace (so you need to ask cafe staff for directions !) Cafe terrace large and comfy (careful carrying your drinks up). In review more management input needed for staff training for coffee making, reception customer service training, review of signage (and staff knowledge of A frame position. More accurate discription of physical requirements to climb down tunnel both on web site and at reception. Better integration of both sites in regards to toilet code. This review is for constructive criticism and hopefully taken that way for the on going success of a interesting local visit. Signage required for observatory entrance location from cafe for 1st time visitors.

J. M.

Great place to visit. Views amazing - just do it ☺️

S. M.

The camera obscura was an interesting attraction because it is rare and also because it is a lesson in optics. You get to move the lens and control what you get to see on the screen. Apart from that, the gorge viewpoint from a cave was scenic. The walk down to the viewpoint is not recommended for claustrophobes.

J. W.

I enjoyed the caves more, but a brilliant place to visit. If you are not good for cramped places, or are very out of shape, maybe something to avoid. If you are in shape and fine in tight places, then make sure to do it.

M. D. E. H.

Liked it 😁✨😌!!!

C. O.

The Giants Cave is very exciting but also a little claustrophobic. Very much enjoyed our visit. Lovely views when the weather is nice.

J. J.

Delightful views, great experience, I would think twice if you're anything over 6ft though! Must be quote athletic for all the stairs and the very short and narrow cave/walkway.

k. d.

Lovely to visit, view's are fantastic, nice café with toilets

I. B.

Great views from here of the Clifton Suspension bridge. Trip to Giant's Cave is worthwhile for further views but beware the trip down the steps to the cave the is challenging, especially if you are tall.

C. K.

Great views from the grounds around the observatory (free). The observatory itself offers: (1) a camera obscura, and (2) the caves, which carry you down to the lookout you can see peeping out from the rockface as you cross the Suspension Bridge. I really recommend the lookout! The camera obscura is also good, but is better when it is a clear day and when there aren't too many people do you get a go at orientating it. Neither of these are good for people with mobility problems.

K. W.

This place is really nice , you get the perfect spot for picnics, see beautiful panorama and you can go inside. Inside you can see some really interesting things, and if you get thirsty or hungry you can get something to eat or drink.

H.

Nice and cheap and very informative, the photo- obscura is wonderful and the trip to giants cave was refreshingly cool on a hot day. Great views from both the viewing room and the cave mouth.

A. G.

It is ok, nothing like other Camera Obscuras I have been to. This is a DIY visit, where you get a hold of the mirrors and project what you want, with no instructions at all. It would be much better with a guide, like camera obscuras in other places: a tousit attraction that gives you a nice view of the city while giving important facts. Also, the mirror/projector system itself would need to be refurbished, and allow you to higher or lower the "projector-semishpere screen" Nevertheless, the view is lovely. And the park around it is a great environment to attract people on a sunny day.

E. A.

Located very close to the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, up a zig-zag path is this place, which contains a Camera Obscura and a tunnel down to a opening in the cliff face offering excellent views of the bridge and the Avon Gorge some 75 metres below - well worth the visit.

H. V.

You get the best view of Clifton suspension Bridge from here. Nothing much of entertainment here but it's worth to visit Clifton caves. Breathtaking 5 minutes walk through narrow and dark caves

K. J.

Great views. Fun going down to the cave.

F. S.

The park is beautiful with a stunning view on the suspension bridge. The observatory itself it's very interesting, the giant cave is not so amazing, but it's worth a visit.

G. S.

Nice place. Loved the Camera Obscura. Fantastic.

А. З.

I visited both the cave and the observatory and definitely recommend checking the place out if you drop by in Bristol. The view is breathtaking.

H. P.

Definitely worth it for the beautiful view but beware if you are tall or have mobility issues - the ceiling in the cave to the viewing platform is quite low and jagged and the steps are very steep. Take your time! The upstairs is a museum and there is a camera projection of the surroundings at the top that is projected onto an indented table. Best viewed in absolute darkness! Around the observatory is a nice park and it’s close to some good pubs and shops.

D. P.

Brilliant view on a sunny day. Lovely walking trails around and a play area for kids nearby. There are also lawns to have a nice picnic. Highly recommended.

M. S.

Lovely place and view. There's also a cave walk that takes you into the gorge and includes a fantastic view of the bridge from halfway down the cliff.

n. c.

Excellent experience well recommend it to one and all

C. K.

Beautiful! Great small museum, ending in an interactive surprise at the top floor! I would definitely recommend visiting the Giant's Cave, and the small roof café, as well!

M.

Lovely walks, and the views of Brunel's Bridge are the best! Located on Durdham Downs and was open to the public for many years, though the last time we visited the place was closed.

G. C.

Great for picnics! Good area to go if you are a runner or walker. Very romantic spot with stunning views of Bristol and the Avon Gorge

M. B.

When visiting make sure to go into the cave which has an amazing view to the bridge. Your knees and back might hurt as you have to walk through a really narrow corridor.

G. H.

great place for photography and long walks

W. A.

Shame they charge an entrance fee to see the caves but great views along the path.

J. P.

Beautiful view up here. Nice little cafe to restore your energy after the walk up the hill. Great place for a picnic on a sunny day too.

L. G. P.

As a Wedding photographer i can definitely recommended this Beautiful wedding venue 📷

B. C.

Lovely place, shame about the menu. Nothing was on the menu that was on the website version so recommend phoning first if you’re after something particular.

B. A.

Fantastic views over the gorge. Well worth £4 entry to view and visit the cave..mind your heads and take some water as lots of stairs to climb.

J. A.

Great place. Nice view from the top. There is a cave and observatory top point too.

D. H.

A great little find. Loved the camera obscura - like Victorian high def CCTV. The Giants Cave was bit of a trek and gives a great view of the suspension bridge.

S. T.

Iconic building with Camera Obscura and Giants Cave. Views of Suspension Bridge and Gorge. Car serves great coffee.

R. H.

It's great, I love to go up and look at the gorge.

S. M.

Worth the short walk to sample Georgian visual entertainment. The optics are still quite bright and give you views over the chimney pots and rooftops of Clifton that are probably little changed for a couple of hundred years (ignoring the TV aerials...). From outside you get the best views over the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

N. B.

A fabulous view out over Bristol and the suspension bridge. If you struggle with confined spaces and heights the giants cave may not be the best option but is definetly worth a trip down.

A. A.

Nice place to walk. Great views of the bridge. Can park on the road for£1/hr

D. B.

Keep forgetting about this place. Really interesting and beautiful scenery. Beware if you are planning to go to the cave, there are a LOT of steps. Very low ceilings too.

A. Z.

Observatory is being closed off without a warning when the remote is too high. The views from the top very nice.

P. S.

Excellent views of Clifton, the suspension bridge and Bristol. The Observatory has a great cave walk as well as the Observatory Viewer.

M. D.

What a litre star - unexpected and stumbled upon as we went to look at the bridge next to it. I was blown away by the “cctv” installed a hundred years ago - what fantastic technology! Lovey coffee shop included.

J. O.

I just love this spot! It offers such a perspective (literally and over your life)

K. S.

Beautiful views, lovely day, little cafe is quaint and yummy. Perfect place for a walk alone or with friends

F. B.

Nice place, peace in the morning and evening

B. M.

Was a good experience, enjoyed the giants cave, just don't expect to stay here all day

K. M.

My favourite bridge in Europe. On top of the hill the oldest camera obscura plus a spooky cold cave beneath. Absolutely worthwhile.

c. s.

Wonderful view… 😍

M. G.

Beautiful place, with great views

A. K.

Best to pick a sunny day for a visit

K. H.

We went to the observatory, following a visit to Clifton Suspension Bridge. What an interesting place. The live link, to the bridge was brilliant and the giant's cave was great. Lisa was so friendly and helpful. Well worth a visit.

T. A.

Haven't had the chance to go in yet but the grounds are nice and a nice view the bridge

D. G.

The Giants cave has very steep steps but is definitely well worth it because of the stunning views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge

R. L.

Don't take young children, health and safety very bad

J. T.

It's the entrance to two attractions, a "camera obscura" and a walkway to a viewing gallery in the rockface. The camera obscura is intriguing but 5 minutes and you're done! The best bit about this bit of Clifton is the views of the bridge and that's free!

S. H.

Very cool place the view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and surrounding area via the camera obscura is really good just make sure the door is closed

G. W. R. L.

We have the pleasure of providing zero to landfill waste services to this cafe with the perfect view. Jade is always keen to do more for the environment and the staff are lovely.

T. K.

Would highly recommend it, nice little cafe on top but the key attraction is the view of the Clifton suspension bridge and the whole gorge.

F. W.

Very interesting- loved the cave but that's not for the faint hearted as it is a steep climb with reduced headroom.

A. M.

Small park with an amazing view of the city, cliffs and most importantly the beautiful suspended bridge. Perfect spot for a picnic.

l. m.

Gorgeous view and on such a beautiful sunny day. The little cafe and observatory were great too.

J. H.

Great for a day visit. Camera obscurer and the giants cave are both worth checking out. Set in beautiful park lands right above the Clifton suspension bridge.

M. D.

Nice building to look at when walking through the park.

P. K. S.

Nice views of the city and the Clifton Suspension Bridge from the observatory. A small cafe is also there. Great picnic spot.

W. D.

Very interesting. Super view of the bridge but the descent through caves is not good if you have clostraphobia!

C. N.

Beautiful view

E. M.

Lovely views. Excellent price and great information about the history

l. r.

Great place to visit, really enjoyed the cliff face and going up the observatory. Unfortunately the bad weather hit so we couldn't experience the telescope.

J. S.

Only visited the cave, it's really worth having a look from different view. You'll walk through a narrow but excited stairs to the end of the cave.

M. H.

Stunning location. My sister rented out the venue for her wedding reception. Amazing evening.

A. H. P.

One of the iconic place in bristol

B. W.

Well worth a visit. The view from the caves and the way of getting there is great fun for all ages.

M. B.

Worth visiting as you get a really nice view of the bridge and surrounding area.

D. P.

Best vantage point to view the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Small entry fee. Do check out the cliff-side balcony.

B. S.

The observatory was cool and the caves were amazing, for such a low price! A fun way to spend half an hour if you are visiting the bridge

A. B. (.

Great views to bridge from nearby cliff, but ticket to caves and observatory itself is not that exiting, although at low price

J. L.

Great learning experience and a view right across the city. Definitely worth going into the cave as well. Good value for money.

R. M.

Definitely climb up the park to have the best snaps of Clifton Suspension Bridge. There is a little cafe shop.

N. Z.

The dark room at the top of the tower is really amazing. According to information on the tower it is one of the very few roons which survived. And it IS STILL FUNCTIONING! Just as clear as a web cam.

J. C.

Incredible view of Bristol and the bridge.

A. Z.

Very nice

R. B.

£4 to go see a piece of Bristolian history and a lovely view from Giant's Cave! Lots of stairs though.

S. R.

Well posh. We went to a rooftop Vivaldi concert with view of suspension bridge = super classy. It just feels unwelcoming to paupers.

C.

The place is really nice. I hope I can visit this place with big sun shine.

F. P.

Lovely old building. Very nice cafe with friendly staff. Amazing views over the gorge.

H. W.

This is my favourite place to come to in Bristol. The views are incredible and clifton in general is a great place to walk through, very historic.

D. T.

Quirky and quick little tourist opportunity. Camera Obscura and cave for £4 adult. Well worth it for the views.

A. M.

It's good place to walk around see a few good views something to eat and sit and enjoy the peace and quiet when it's not busy

d. t.

Visit the Giant's Cave, it has a lot of steep stairs but gives another view of the bridge. There is also a camera obscura.

M. H.

Great views, interesting historic observatory with working camera obscura, as with most places not the most friendly/helpful serving staff

J. E.

Amazing view and easy to get to!

j. m.

Beautiful views of Avon gorge. People come from all over the world for pictures of the views of the iconic suspension bridge mop

G. M.

Very fair pricing for seeing the caves and the observatory. Mind your head in the caves though, can be quite a squeeze.

M. P.

Great place with very nice view

G. G.

Great view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge

G. V.

Amazing view for a price

N. S.

The park and the view are amazing, but the cafe is small and the staff have an attitude.

A. D.

Visited the cave some time ago, was not impressed. On the upside, it has a nice view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

P. P.

The tower isn't really spectacular, but grotto is a great place for taking a picture below the bridge!

R. L.

Great place done the cave great views The grand kids loved it try it and a walk across Bridge

N. I.

This place is amazing I would recommend you try the cafe as they do amazing hot chocolates and the views are stunning.

S. U.

Lovely location to have a picnic and get a great view of the suspension bridge

J. H.

Great view over the Clifton Suspension Bridge. You can buy drinks and food in the cafe.

H. P.

Went to the Cafe only! Which served good coffer by friendly staff. Good views and dogs allowed which is a + for me. 😊

F. A.

Beautiful place, awful and very rude customer service from the front of desk admission lady. Very rude. But the building and cave are incredible!

L. P.

I am a wedding photographer and shot a wedding there yesterday, Sophie was there running the wedding and was so great to work with and super professional, the day ran so smoothly and would highly recommend to any couple looking to book their wedding there. You wont be disappointed stunning venue, wonderful staff.

E. H.

Only one member of staff working so long wait for 2 hot chocolates but lovely to sit outside and admire the views

s. n.

Closed to visitors because of coronavirus Been here before really interesting, also take a look from the viewing platform down the steep steps.

E. M.

Found out the election had been called for Joe Biden while in the queue here. Made a nice hot chocolate even more special!

a. m.

View at night is amazing.

G. G.

Perfect for a sunny day on The Downs. Worth a visit for locals and tourists alike. A great Bristol oddity.

O. H.

Very nice view on the valley and suspension bridge. Make sure to have a jumper with you.

V. M.

The steps to the rock cave are quite something, but worth it when you get down. Easier on the way back up too!

K. B.

Beautiful views, cute cafe. Be careful it can get very hot and sunny.

a. S.

Such a historical place to visit and the views are amazing

D. G.

Great place for a couple of hours with the kids. One of my favourite places to take visitors to Bristol

N. A.

Visited the Clifton Observatory on our first proper weekend excursion following the lockdown easing in May. Really enjoyed the spectacular views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Definitely a place to visit when in Bristol.

J. N.

So gorgeous with epic views.

P. K.

Quite fun. I haven't been there in past even tho I've walked by it. Cost a few pounds and is definitely worth it.

A. K.

The underground tunnel to the viewpoint half way down the cliff face is awesome. But mind your head and only for the fit.

R. T.

Some amazing views, bit steep on the price to get in but glad we did it regardless.

N. M.

I really enjoyed going down the tunnel. It was scary but the team encouraged me and I made it to the view point.

J. B.

Wonderful view of the bridge and gorge, worth climbing down the tunnel for the views

M. N.

Absolutely stunning place. Went here on a first date with a lovely girl and I was not dissapointed.

J. C.

Great place, a spot of unknown Bristol

A. G.

Great views of the suspension bridge and city, the observatory is interesting to visit but maybe a bit expensive for what it is

D.

For 8£ we saw the dark room and the Giant's Cave. It's worth it,even it can be seen in 10 min.

M. D.

Lovely little spot to chill out in the sun, Café open serving through a hatch and also seating available. Also something for the kids (in no way is this linked with the Observatory) but there is a natural slide near by which has been created by many bums sliding down the rocks and polishing them to a high extent! Ride at own risk but many people were and were absolutely fine.

T.

A stunning place (especially on a sunny day). A monument that is 💯% worth a visit. We walked the city streets and inclined to the top. A 38min walk from the city centre, great for anyone who wants a ‘leg day’. The Clifton Bridge structure is a Beautiful piece of engineering 🌁 and the surrounding areas compliment it very well. The Clifton observatory is a nice little addition with a cave to climb down the 130 steps for a view from the cliff side. Well worth it. Very narrow and very steep but definitely worth it. Alongside this there’s also an option of going to the top of the tower where’s there’s a huge 200 year old periscope which reflects onto a circular piece of concrete giving you a live view of the bridge, an amazing bit of science still going today. Designed by the Chinese. A dark room which enables you to get a great view. Both options, the cave and the periscope experience are £10 together. Definitely worth it and highly recommended. One of the many things to put on your list if you visit Bristol. 🌉 The tower can also often be used for weddings. We had the privilege of experiencing a wedding whilst at the top. How beautiful! 👰🏻‍♀️🤵🏼‍♂️ A ‘must see’ site. 💯

A. P.

A must see if you are visiting Bristol! I also recommend getting a drink at The White Lion.

T. H.

Lovely place to go for a walk. Historic site and worth taking the tour!

A. B.

Lovely views of the bridge but can get busy

G. P.

Great spot in the sun to chill and look over the city. Best spot to see the bridge too.

L. J.

Fantastic afternoon tea, couldn't eat it all but delighted to be able to take the rest home.

V. v.

One of my favorite places to be. You have a great view of the Suspension Bridge

J. B.

Gorgeous place, with scenic views. It is a nice get away from the noise of the city.

A. W.

Lovely place to visit. Fab views of the Suspension Bridge!

C. D.

Must check out the dark room Camera Obscura

D. L.

Lovely views across Bristol. Cafe on the roof was a nice surprise on a sunny day.

S. C.

Nice place to have a coffee or breakfast, but expensive to visit.

Y. M.

Very nice view

A. D.

Nice spot with good view.

a. j.

The camera-obscura is fascinating. Great views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge...and anyone in the area!

M. T.

Fantastic views of Avon gorge.

L. N.

Great well looked after place with breathtaking views. Pity the café turned out to be 3 shelves with sweets and juices...

O. P.

Pretty views and a lovely cafes with very friendly staff.

J. F.

Great place. It's a must to in Bristol. You can see the bridge and the city

E.

There was an amazing view but i wasnt able to go in because it wasnt sunny enough which was a shame

E. S.

Lovely open space, with great views and vibes of the bridge.

A.

Amazing place to visit

K. D.

This place is SO GREAT. It has one of only 3 camera obscuras in the country and it's so worth the visit. It's a private room that can fit up to 10 people but frequently you can go in as a private group and have it to yourselves. The views are amazing. The climb down to the view point is small and step and not for the faint of heart but the view when you arrive is absolutely worth it. It's also only £4 per activity for an adult. We had a really lovely hour here and theres loads of history of the city and its connection to the development of the camera. Such a nice little adventure.

F. E. S.

Absolutely fabulous view...

A. T.

Beautiful views over the Clifton Bridge and tje river.

J. S.

Best place to relax and enjoy the view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

i. a.

It's a great walk around!

C. H.

Fabulous view of Clifton Bridge and an excellent coffee on the rooftop terrace.

S. G.

Nice place, 10:50am and coffee shop isn't open, we detoured specifically to grab a coffee here and we're surprised to find it closed!

J. L.

The iconic suspension bridge in Bristol

P. H.

Great place to relax and visit. Nice coffee shop and lots if open space!

A. M.

Great!

A. S.

A great little rooftop café with stunning views. Very relaxing place to just be

c. h.

A fantastic park with an observatory. We went to the zoo and took a ten minute walk here as we'd already paid for parking in the zoo. The walk isn't bad at all and not too steep. Fantastic views of the Clifton Bridge and surrounding areas.

S. N.

I found this place interesting, especially that camera inside

S. B.

Loved every moment . Thank you

J. C.

Fantastic views, didn't have time for the tunnel but wish I could have.

G. S.

Great tourist attraction in Clifton, really interesting to use the old mechanism and a altogether a really good experience

L. T. (.

Fantastic views and a couple things to do with a great little Cafe

L. A.

Best location to sit down with coffee and cake and get a great view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge

S. C.

Amazing views from the observatory. You should go and visit the caves as well.

E. W.

Lovely views and great place for a coffee and a chat in very relaxed surroundings

A. N.

You can observe the whole area of Clifton bridge from this observatory tower

G. M.

Excellent view. Avoid the caves if you're claustrophobic though!

L. R.

Excellent place to view the suspension bridge and River Avon. You can enter the observatory £2.50 and go down through the caves - 130 steps and come out at the side of the cliff onto a balcony. The outer bit is open grid so you can see right down. Slightly nerving but it's strong and steady. Pay £2.50 and climb to the top of the observatory for a obscura camera, but this was out of order today due to it being wet and overcast.

C. E.

Lovely overlooming suspention bridge.good views

Ł. C.

Amazing views, great place for a family picnic!

S. H.

Nice to stop for a tea on a long walk.

m. b.

Lovely food, lovely staff. The view is great too!

J. J.

Beauty views next door to a charismatic Brunel Bridge of historic and cultural value.

J. G.

Very nice view on a good day, new cafe is great

J. M.

An interesting place with a unique cave system, amazing views and a Victorian camera obscura.

r. h.

Great views of the gorge. The cave was interesting, but tiny.

S. M.

Beautiful views of Clifton Suspension Bridge and surrounding areas

J. D.

Fantastic view and beautiful place to eat dinner would recommend

A. H. S.

It's a wonderful viewpoint constructed at an elevated place to give an amazing view of Clifton bridge and Avon Gorge. It also houses one of oldest camera obscura and opening to cave to give visitors magnificent views of Avon river, gorge, bridge and city.

S. L.

Great view, friendly service and great food and drinks.....especially the mocha

M. M.

Amazing view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. A great spot.

L. C.

Huge queue of 1:45 even though only about 20 people in front of us. Obviously due to COVID but there was no updates or signage.

y. z.

Very nice view

N. C.

Excellent view over the gorge and clifton suspension bridge.

J. S.

A great spot for beautiful views of the suspension bridge and Bristol

L. A.

Great views, nice place to go to burn a few hours.

G. S.

Lovely place with great views of clifton Bridge.

L. D.

Lovely views of the bridge

T. S. (.

Great views, fascinating history.

E. H.

I work for a Bristol based company and come to the city on a bi-monthly basis but never seen everything the city has to offer so in the Easter holidays I took my two children for the day to explore. We started off walking round the city and then headed up to the observatory in the mid-late afternoon. The walk up was not as bad as I had thought if you go up from Clifton heights rather than constitution hill. the view of the suspension bridge and across the city were amazing. We paid the couple of pound to go to the top of the observatory where my "science mad" son loved the camera obscura which is best described as a periscope style device and projects what's happening outside into a concave bowl. Again the views were fantastic. I wanted to explore the cave below too but the children were too scared so missed out on this occasion. After we had taken in the views we headed back down in the direction of Clifton village, I had heard of the rock slide but not 100% sure where it was and it wasn't sign posted anywhere but we came across it. I am not sure the council/ owners want people to go down as there is a fence there but the children (and adults if you like) can easily get through. To watch you can walk round the path which leads to the foot of the slope. The kids had great fun sliding down and wanted to stay there all day but we had to continue our journey. BEWARE through the rock is incredibly slippy and so if you are coming up from the bottom make sure you choose your footing carefully. I would defiantly recommend visiting this place on anyones trip to the city, even if you live there and have never been. It's a peaceful place to sit and have a picnic as well as just sight seeing.

m.

Nice place. But do not use cafe

H.

Such a great place to visit and great views!

P. E.

Lovely views of the Clifton suspension bridge and the Avon gorge

R. P.

Coffee and cake at the top of the observatory, combined with a fantastic view of the suspension bridge.

S. K.

don't forget to visit the cave that has amazing view of clifton bridge and avon gorge.

m. t.

Great views over Bristol and Clifton suspension bridge.

M. W.

It's worth a visit if you are in the area. Café is good too.

G. M.

Amazing place to chill out on the grass and idillic pictures of the suspension bridge

D. B.

View is impressive

V. G.

good coffee great view over Clifton Bridge and Bristol City

P. s.

The essential Bristol tourist spot and photo location. Take in stunning view after view of the majestic Clifton suspension bridge at various spots around the observatory. If you want you are feeling adventurous and are looking for a quick adrenaline rush there is a rock slide as well that is fun. Just make sure you have a strategy to brake before embarking on this heart stopper. I would avoid anything that you would need to pay for as everything that is beautiful was free.

M. E.

Loved walking down to the Giants Cave. A telescope on the gantry would be good 😀

C. Y. C.

An amazing view down to the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Bristol town!

M. T.

Lovely view, amazing fresh air and ambiance

c. c.

a lovely place great views over the avon gorge

J. B.

Great views from the tower and really impressive camera obscura.

B. K.

Fantastic Veiw and great feeling of community with lots of people in the park

R.

Absolutely beautiful view on the Clifton suspension bridge.

G. M.

Highest point in Bristol with nice view over the bridge and city.

M. B.

Beautiful views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge!

A. N.

Cheap to enter great views lots of stairs😁

A. T.

For £5 you can go up and view the camera obscure which is fascinating. Then go down 130 steps through a cave out onto a viewing platform above the river Avon and view the Clifton suspension bridge. Excellent 👍🏻

D. A.

Lovely place to visit with amazing things to do!

C. P.

We've been here a few times and each time it still remains fascinating!

E. W.

In a nice field with big horizons and views over Bristol and the gorge

A. G.

Nice point to have great views of the suspension Bridge of Clifton

J. M.

A reasonable vantage point. Equally you could just veiw bridge from grassy slopes

S. M.

Ideally you want to be here on a sunny day for the camera obscura to work.

m. s.

This is located on the vantage point above the Bridge. Worth checking out for the views alone.

C. B.

Well worth a visit, great views and cafe.

J. C.

An absolute must see place in Bristol the bridge is magnificent.

A. Z.

Just beautiful

C. C.

When in Bristol A beautiful place to visit and explore. Fantastic views of Brunel's suspension bridge and everyone can take a ride down Bristol's famous rock slide. From here you can walk into Clifton village or onto Clifton downs. A lovely place for all the family.

N. T. C.

Super nice view

H. C.

Beautiful scenery.

n. v.

Great experience. You get to see the camera obscura (a lens which projects the scenery from outside onto a flat surface). Then you have the cave that takes you down where you can see the breath taking sight of the clifton suspension bridge. The cave is quite steep at times. Hence would give you a bit of an adrenalin rush. The way back can be a bit taxing, given the number of steps.

T. A.

Wow we've had trips to Bristol many times but found the Clifton Observatory on this visit. Easy parking on a public road with a short walk to the top. Stunning views of the suspension bridge and the surrounding area. We were a little disappointed by the cafe /bar in the observatory as hot drinks were served in disposable cups and cold drinks from cans or bottles. Would have been nice to grab a beer on tap or a coke with ice and in a proper glass. But that's just my personal gripe because the position and surroundings were so perfect .

E. R.

Great view from the observatory. Perfect place to see the suspension bridge. Relaxing place after a walk in the park. I didn't visit the cave nor the camera obscura so I cannot judge. At the bar unfortunately there is no restroom. From Bristol you can get to the observatory with bus 8 which takes around 40 min and costs 2£ single ticket.

T. E.

The Observatory is really interesting. I thought it would be a viewing platform but it's not that at all. At the top of the building is a Camera Obscura which is a projected image of the outside (of the bridge) that you can manouver. Fascinating. And you can also go down through the caves to get to a viewing platform that gives a great view of the bridge. Not for the claustrophobic but worth it.

V. C.

A nice place to spend 30 minutes around the Bristol Suspension bridge, with the familly. You can find beverages and snacks at the main desk. The observatory has actually two activities to offer: the tower and the tunnels. The tower is filled with explanation on the site itself and the history of the Bristol paper. At the top of the tower you can enjoy a black room with a periscope. The tunnel will bring you to the side of the cliff where you can embrace the full view of the suspended bridge built by Mr Brunel.

R. F.

Visited the Camera Obscura, and even on a cloudy day it was a clear image and it took a while for your eyes to adjust, £2.50 seems a reasonable price if this is to be kept open to the public. Lots of stairs to climb. Shame there isn't an observatory still here, but with all the light pollution it's not surprising it went some time ago. Didn't visit the caves that's an extra £2.50. If you go up to see the image produced, do make sure you pack the room, it's easier to pass the handle around and you're less like to have the doors flung open by someone wanting to get in.

k. l.

A nice Carrot cake 🍰 and coffee lovely staff, the best views

S. A.

Major flaw, there's only one khazi. Head to the bushes guys! Rest of it is very good. Great view over the Avon gorge and the iconic Clifton Suspension bridge. Don't miss the camera obscura at the top of the tower with plenty to discover about part Bristol played in the discovery of photography. The exciting tunnel and steps to the viewing point is not to be missed but be warned, the steps are steep and the roof is low.

K. H.

Was worth the climb up the hill to catch a gorgeous view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge from here. It was so peaceful and calming. Was slightly alarmed people sliding down the rocks on the hill though, I think they should put something up to stop people doing that before someone gets hurt. Nice little café here to stop and refuel oneself too; reasonable prices. Loved it.

S. S. N.

Established in 1766, Clifton Observatory is an iconic landmark and an integral part of the Bristol landscape. The observatory has had a long and varied history, but one thing has remained consistent over the centuries: the spectacular and unforgettable views of Bristol, Avon Gorge, and the Clifton Suspension Bridge. In 2015, incredible project of restoring Clifton Observatory was done. Over the past few years, they have worked hard to transform the observatory into a venue as unique as its views. Today, Clifton Observatory is home to the 360 café, a museum featuring a rare Victorian-era Camera Obscura, and the atmospheric and mythical Giant’s Cave.

C. F. V.

We found this little place up on a hill close to the Bristol's suspended bridge, and we didn't expect that we where going to see a very nice place. Inside you have the chance to see the Obscure Camera up in observatory or the Giant's cave down inside the cliff, or both at a convenient price. If you go to see the suspended bridge, you must go to see the Observatory too, it's worth it!!

L. B.

An amazing place to visit with one of the most beautiful and most picturesque views in all of England. I didn't go into the observatory itself or the café, but coming here just for the view of the suspension bridge and gorge below was still well worth it.

K. W.

This is most definitely worth the small hike up the hill as the view is absolutely stunning! We had a beautiful day which made for amazing photos. The observatory was closed when we arrived but we still had a lovely time walking around and enjoying the views.

R. A.

Fab little place! Amazing rooftop cafe area and we loved the giants cave and the camera obscura!!! My 7 and 9 year old girls had a great time. Rocky road was awesome too 😁

F. H.

Great location just up from the Suspension Bridge. Has a cafe, roof terrace, Giant's Cave and more! Staff in the Observatory were really friendly and helpful.

M. C.

A lovely little cafe with wonderful views of the suspension bridge and the gorge - surely one of the best spots for a coffee and cake in Bristol!

P. W.

We visited the Observatory but didn't go in as it was such a wonderful day!. There were some construction works being carried out when we were there. Great position to view the Clifton bridge.

E. S.

Great views from the bridge, you can easily spend an hour walking on the bridge and taking photos.

D. S.

Called here at 4: 45pm and it was to close at 5 but the lady on the till said she was in no rush if we wanted to go down the cave so we did and it was another great view of the bridge. Has lot's of steps down but worth it.

M. H.

Beautiful place. This is amazing. It's a shame that you can not park here. the car park is below the hillside. pleasant walk. we were there on Sunday. parking was free. awesome

Y. T.

TRULY AMAZING PLACE. Get down the cave! Need £2.5 entrance fee (adult) but totally worth it!! The stairs are quite small and steep, elder and children need to be careful. Taking a lunch box with you and having a great lunch here!

A. D.

I've been here a number of times with family. The large green grass makes it perfect for picnics, plus there is a cafe that sells cakes and hot drinks.

C. J.

Lots if information inside about the observatory. The cave had very steep stairs going down and a bit slippery. A brave experience for some.

G. C.

The Clifton Observatory is one of the best attractions in Bristol. It is a must-do if you are in Bristol. It has mainly two attractions with excellent views of the suspension bridge (one is a cave and the other is observatory).

G. P.

Went to a function here. On first entry there was a problem with drainage and the whole place was a bit smelly but it was promptly fixed! Aside from this, stunning views of the Clifton Suspension bridge and Bristol. Lovely place to spend an evening.

S. A.

Not all of it was open due to weather conditions but fabulous views from outside & had a nice coffee in the cafe

V. B.

Great idea but needs work. The walk up to the Obscura was nice and can see the potential when the museum is finished. The Giant's Cave gave us issues - a light off in the tunnel meaning having to use the torch light on our mobiles to safely walk through, no health and safety notices anywhere and the tunnel is small, low and often only 1 person width. Once in the cave it was semi light so coming back towards the steps back out I came down off a step onto uneven ground and turned my ankle and fell. Long painful walk out and a trip to A&E and I had broken it :-(

D. W.

A 30 to 45-minute walk from Bristol city centre. Quite a steep walk up but it was worth it. Simply breathtaking views and a nice place to chill. Could bring a book along to read or just enjoy the view at the park/garden nearby.

H. I. L.

Clifton Observatory from this viewpoint you can see the rope bridge with impressive views, it is worth visiting

P. C.

Fantastic views of the Clifton suspension bridge. The cafe sells lovely home made cakes

S. L.

Great views of the suspension bridge from the tower when you're outside. The museum part was quite boring. The caves were interesting, a little scary to walk down and not great if you have claustrophobia

C. K.

Shame the cafe was closed, but still fun! Camera obscura is worth the visit, didn't do the caves this time.

G. H.

Had some time on my hands today and was in Bristol close to the bridge, took walk up to the observatory. £4 entry fee to go up tower and down the cave. Well worth it.

M. S.

Great place to go for locals and visitors. Definitely get the observation and cave tour ticket.

H. P.

Even on a day like today (day after storm Eunice so wet and windy) it was lovely. Very interesting museum and the giants cave was great fun but at 5.5 even I need to crouch down whilst going down the steps! Stunning views so worth it!!

M. H.

Amazed by the technology invented such a long time ago. Great location as well as the views of the suspension bridge.

D. K.

Amazing views from this place as well as the bridge and the vally. Just stunning when you get here and Bristol is blessed city where this place near the city centre. Must visit here for all!

M.

A wonderful place to spend a few hours and relax: listening to music, studying, having a walk or a picnic. There is a huge green park around the observatory and the view is breath-taking, especially at sunset time. I did not have the chance to enter the observatory but I hope I will one day as from the outside and from the reading I can only imagine how nice it would be!

O. D.

Very pretty place, wonderful at night for a drink with friends

J. B.

Lovely green area to sit and admire the view

C. M.

A must see for anyone visiting Bristol! Stunning views and my favourite cafe/bar in the city. Don't miss it

E. C.

Good views of the Clifton suspension bridge, access to the Giant's Caves. Entry is quite expensive.

n. t.

Beautiful walk and scenic views of the bridge and water!

J. S.

£5 good value for an interesting visit. Started with the Camera Obscura & great views from the observatory. Then down to the cave which was a wonderful experience.

a. h.

This place has some 2000 year old history and apparently pre historic structures are present here. It is a must visit if you want a scenic view of the bridge and the area around it.

C. W.

Well worth a visit. I had to kill a couple of hours whilst in Bristol, so I took my daughter here as it was nearby and looked interesting. It cost less than £10 for full access for both of us. The museum was interesting, plenty of historical facts, images, models and things to read. It took a few moments to adjust to the dark to see the Camera Obscura. We then did the Giants Cave. Not sure how Giants lived in there lol. 129 steps down but you've got to come back up. Gets a bit cramped halfway down, but then I'm not a small unit. I didn't have the courage to go out onto the viewing platform as I'm no good with heights, but the view was stunning. The cafe was warm and welcoming, free WiFi too.

M. H.

What an amazing view of the bridge from the Observationy. Loads of different age groups relaxing, having a drink or a picnic

I. K.

Beautiful location with full view of Clifton suspension bridge, café and WC for customers.

M. S.

My wife and I had a party at the Observatory in December to celebrate our wedding earlier in the year. Covid had meant that many friends could not attend the wedding day. The Observatory was the perfect setting. The staff were superb and the place was beautifully laid out. A thoroughly great time was had by all who attended.

J. M.

Beautiful views of the Avon Gorge, suspension bridge and surrounding area.

J. F.

With the observatory so well placed it would be very easy for it to serve average food at above average prices. Instead our food and drinks were freshly made, prepared quickly despite the demand and really really nice. We enjoyed them while sat looking over the suspension bridge.

S. H.

Good value for what it is and interesting facts about the camera, not very big but a nice little addition to seeing the suspension bridge

M. D.

This place is very close to Bristol Suspension bridge. Beautiful view of suspesion bridge from here and also entire Bristol view. Must visit with Bristol suspension bridge.

J. G.

Pretty, it's worth paying the £5 to have a look around the cave and Observatory. Great views of the bridge. Its a shame the cafe was closed for a private function and they don't have outdoor covered seating. The place would of made a killing because of the rain and people were trying to find shelter.

A. K.

Amazing views with lovely green space - perfect for a picnic.

C. W.

A lovely viewpoint even on a damp evening. Lots of young groups socialising in the evenings though...

K. T.

Really interesting and such a impressive place to visit the camera obscura is amazing how clear the image is as and being able to turn the camera difrent directions and get to look across the bridge with it and seeing people drive and walk across really clear. For the best image it's better to visit on a sunny day. There is lots of steps wich some may fined difficult so bare that in mind when planning your visit.

M. J.

A beautiful place. Get up early for a gorgeous misty experience

a. l.

On a good day...a grand view....worth the effort to go and see it.

Z. N.

Amazing views from the top of the hill. The camera obscura was well worth it and the cave was exciting to go down into. Shame there was hardly any food being served at the cafe but I had a lovely tea on the terrace with the 360 view of Bristol and it was amazing. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area!!

A. D.

Great place to check out the bridge. Either from up high or down in the giant's cave. Not a bad little cafe too

G. L.

Stunning place.

P. W.

I've always like the clifton suspension bridge. It's been a dream that one day I will get married there. After finding out the price of it I have to look into somewhere else 😭

P. J.

Both Camera Obscura and St.Vincent's Cave offer another view to Clifton Suspension Bridge. Really worth to visit.

M. M.

A visit to the Bristol Observatory is a must for any visitor. The absolutely stunning views at any time of day or year… it’s a location that you will want to return to. The cafe has a lovely roof terrace with views of the suspension bridge, and a great selection of drinks, all reasonably priced. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly. We are really looking forward to our next visit!

A. R. L.

Lovely place to visit. I've enjoyed the cave and the gorgeous views from the viewing platform. The climb down the cave can be a bit tricky for some, but it's not too long and doable for most. Mind your head though ⛑. It's quite low in places. The platform overhangs the Avon gorge a bit so you can enjoy some exposure or simply look down the Avon without looking down. All together you can experience it in 15 min or a bit longer if there is not many people waiting.

S. A.

Pretty view over the bridge, must do if you’re in Bristol!

J. M.

Cracking place spend an hour. Steep stair descent to the giants cave rewards you with a fabulous view out over the gorge, if you are brave enough to step out onto the ledge. Keep your head down on the stairs as it's not built for 6 footers! The camera obscura gives a somewhat hazy view but the displays give a fascinating insight into early photography.

Contact

Photos