Where is Clifton Observatory?

Clifton Observatory is in South Wales, United Kingdom (postcode BS8 3NA), in the parish of Bristol, City of, unparished area.

How do I get to Clifton Observatory?

The nearest railway station is Butterfly Junction, about 1.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode BS8 3NA.

Is Clifton Observatory a protected site?

Yes — Clifton Observatory is part of the Avon Gorge SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Severn Estuary SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.

How do I get to Clifton Observatory?

The nearest railway station is Butterfly Junction, about 1.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode BS8 3NA.

Museums · South West England

Clifton Observatory

In or near Bristol.

Free admission♿ Wheelchair: limited

Clifton Observatory — a museum in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Clifton Suspension Bridge in 1930 - geograph.org.uk - 3092372 — George Baker — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit: 1.5 h–3 h
Best time of year: Year-round
Nearest railway station: Butterfly Junction · 1.2 km

Free entry
Family-friendly
Limited wheelchair access

Clifton Observatory is a museum in wales-south, United Kingdom, listed in the Wikipedia register of British heritage and tourism sites. See the linked Wikipedia article for full details.

Photo gallery

Official information

Clifton Suspension Bridge is a historic landmark in Bristol, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Visitors can explore the bridge and its museum, which features displays about its construction and maintenance.

Protected designations

Site of Special Scientific Interest: Avon Gorge SSSI
Site of Special Scientific Interest: Severn Estuary SSSI

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

Place summary

Clifton Observatory is a museum located in South Wales. It features a unique camera obscura and offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. The observatory is a notable landmark with historical significance in the region.

AI-generated from the structured facts on this page (operator, designation, listing, era). Not a substitute for visiting.

Background

History

The building was erected, with the permission of the Society of Merchant Venturers, as a windmill for corn in 1766 and later converted to the grinding of snuff, when it became known as 'The Snuff Mill'. This was damaged by fire on 30 October 1777, when the sails were left turning during a gale and caused the equipment to catch alight. It was then derelict for 52 years until in 1828 William West, an artist, rented the old mill, for 5 shillings (25p) a year, as a studio. By 1842 West had converted the building into an observatory incorporating reflecting and achromatic telescopes and a camera obscura, charging one shilling for visitors or an annual membership of 10s. 6d. In 1977 the Merchant…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates: 51.4566, -2.6264
District: Bristol, City of
Parish: Bristol, City of, unparished area
Postcode: BS8 3NA
Parliamentary constituency: Bristol Central
Established: 1766
Nearest railway station: Butterfly Junction — 1.2 km
Opening: Museum daily 10am–5pm; bridge open 24/7
Official site: www.cliftonbridge.org.uk

Sources

wikipedia: Clifton Observatory (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Other places nearby

Nearby

📷 3

Archaeological sites · South West England

Clifton Down Camp

Clifton Down Camp — a archaeological in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Free🐕👶↗ cliftonbridge.org.uk

📷 3

Caves · South West England

Ghyston's Cave

Ghyston's Cave is a cave in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕👶↗ cliftonbridge.org.uk

📷 5

Vineyards · South West England

Clifton Down camp, Clifton

Clifton Down camp, Clifton — a UK vineyard in wales south, producing English or Welsh wine from cool-climate grape varieties.

Ordnance Survey Cut Mark - geograph.org.uk - 6358938

📷 4

Gardens · South West England

Dorset House, Bristol

Dorset House, Bristol — a garden in wales-south, United Kingdom.

🐕↗ cliftoncollegeuk.com

📷 4

Memorials & monuments · South West England

Hester Thrale

Hester Thrale — a memorial in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Free🐕↗ cliftonbridge.org.uk

📷 5

Historic bridges · South West England

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Clifton Suspension Bridge is a historic bridge in the United Kingdom.

FreeGrade I🐕👶↗ cliftonbridge.org.uk

Where to eat & stay near Clifton Observatory

📷 7

Historic pubs · South West England

The Portcullis

The Portcullis in Wales South, United Kingdom.

📷 5

Cafés · South West England

East Village

East Village — a café in wales south.

Free↗ eastvillagecafe.co.uk

📷 5

Historic pubs · South West England

Adam And Eve Public House

Adam And Eve Public House in Wales South, United Kingdom.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Clifton Observatory?: Clifton Observatory is in South Wales, United Kingdom (postcode BS8 3NA), in the parish of Bristol, City of, unparished area.
What is Clifton Observatory?: Clifton Observatory — a museum in wales-south, United Kingdom.
How do I get to Clifton Observatory?: The nearest railway station is Butterfly Junction, about 1.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode BS8 3NA.
When was Clifton Observatory built?: Built or established in 1766.
Is Clifton Observatory a protected site?: Yes — Clifton Observatory is part of the Avon Gorge SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Severn Estuary SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
How do I get to Clifton Observatory?: The nearest railway station is Butterfly Junction, about 1.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode BS8 3NA.