Discover how you could win Bristol's iconic SS Great Britain for an exclusive 1-night party of a lifetime

The SS Great Britain Trust is inviting people to take part in an ultimate endurance competition where competitors will go head-to-head to see who can keep their hands on the deck of the legendary SS Great Britain for the longest.

The last person standing will win a unique money-can’t-buy prize: exclusive access to the SS Great Britain (for a night) to host the party of a lifetime.

Participants will also endure a series of distractions, including Mr Brunel himself doing everything he can to deter even the most determined competitors from winning his beloved ship.

The event forms part of the SS Great Britain Trust’s ‘All Hands on Deck’ fundraising appeal, to raise £180,000 in just six weeks, to complete the reinvention of the Dockyard Museum.

With the Trust securing £1.3m in investment, it is now urgently calling on local businesses, community groups, and the general public to ensure the new museum can open its doors.

The new experience will bring to life the fascinating personal stories of some of the passengers on the SS Great Britain as she travelled to New York, San Francisco, Australia, India, and The Falkland Islands.

If the fundraising target is reached, the new museum will open in July 2026, showcasing never-before-seen research and objects uncovered by the Trust.

The fundraiser will also be used to complete the community hub, a new space which will be open to local groups as a safe and accessible place for gatherings, research and workshops.

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Director of People and Development at the SS Great Britain Trust, Louisa Pharoah, said: “This is an exciting chance to potentially win the ship all to yourself, whether it is for a milestone birthday party, or to simply experience life as captain for the night!

“It won’t be easy, but what a brilliant way to rally together as a community to support one of Bristol's most important cultural icons.

“The new museum will be incredibly special as it’s been created by the people of Bristol. It will showcase the untold stories of those who travelled on the ship, from more than 50 different nationalities. What’s more, many of these stories were uncovered by researchers from local Bristol communities.

“The museum was established more than 20 years ago and has received very few changes since then, so this is going to be a much-needed makeover. Not only will it reveal stories from more of the passengers on board the SS Great Britain, but it will also allow today’s audiences to resonate with her history in an entirely new way.

“The new community hub will open as part of our community programme, which aims to engage people whose communities were historically impacted by the journeys that the SS Great Britain took.

“Ultimately, we want this museum to reach all corners of the community, and there are so many ways to get involved. We urgently need people in Bristol and beyond to support us so we can open this summer. This really is all hands on deck.”

Visitors to the SS Great Britain will also be able to donate to take part in other ‘All Hands on Deck’ activities as part of a regular visit to the ship during the Easter holidays.

The All Hands On Deck public event will take place on March 21 at 9:30 am. To sign up, or to find out how you can support, visit: https://www.ssgreatbritain.org/things-to-do/all-hands-on-deck-challenge/