Access
See the
website for full details.
Visitor Info
On foot: About 10mins from the centre or 15mins from Temple Meads.
From the city centre, turn right behind Arnolfini over the Prince Street Bridge and right again past the Museum of Bristol (MShed), walk along the harbour, past Olive Shed, Brunel’s Buttery and The Point (residential apartments) to the Maritime Heritage Centre and the SS Great Britain. Turn left onto Gasferry Road and walk on to the junction with the main road (Cumberland Road). Turn right and the main entrance to Spike Island is 100 yards on your right.
By boat:
The Bristol Ferry Boat Company provide services from various stops around Bristol including Temple Quay (for interchange with Bristol Temple Meads train station), City Centre, Castle Park (for Broadmead/Cabot Circus) and the SS Great Britain (the stop for Spike Island). From the city centre, the ferry takes approx. 10 minutes, running approx. every 40 minutes. For the most up-to-date timetable visit
www.bristolferry.com. From the SS Great Britain drop-off, follow the above walking route to Spike Island.
By bicycle: About 4mins from the centre
Follow the walking route along the harbourside (beware of old train tracks though) or, alternatively, a cycle path runs all the way down Cumberland Road from Wapping Road. Bear right onto the main road just before the cycle path bears left onto the ‘chocolate’ path. Spike Island is just 200 yards on your right. There are plenty of bike racks outside the main entrance.
By bus:
The 506 service links Spike Island with Bristol Temple Meads train station and Cabot Circus. It runs every 30 minutes Monday through Saturday.
By car:
From the city centre, take Wapping Road over the Prince Street Bridge behind Arnolfini and turn right onto Cumberland Road. Spike Island is about 1/2 mile on your right. From other directions, follow brown signs to SS Great Britain. On-street parking is sometimes available around the perimeter of the building or a pay and display car park is available on Gas Ferry Road.
Blue badge parking (3 spaces) is available directly outside the main entrance of Spike Island.
By train:
Closest station is Bristol Temple Meads (15 min walk from train station – follow signs to the SS Great Britain – Spike Island is half way up the Cumberland road running parallel to the river). The journey from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads takes approx 1 3/4 hours and approx 1 1/2 hours from Birmingham Stations.
By coach:
Closest station is Bristol, Marlborough Street bus station. To walk from the bus station will take approx 30 mins. Take the far end exit from the bus station, turn left down the hill and right at the junction towards the centre. From there walk to Spike Island following the ‘on foot’ directions as above.
Opening Hours
Galleries open 11am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday
Café open Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm