Bedminster's Cameron Balloons to open doors to public

Free tours of Cameron Balloons – the world's largest hot air balloon manufacturer, based here in Bedminster – will be available as part of Bristol Doors Open Day 2011.

Cameron Balloons, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, will take part in the Doors Open Day for the first time on Saturday 10 September 2011.

The tours will last around 40 minutes and must be booked in advance. The number to call is 0906 711 2191; calls are charged at 50p per minute plus any network extras.

Another Bedminster-based business taking part this year is Bristol Blue Glass South West, where you can have a look around the glassblowing workshop and museum. There will be sand casting, taster glass blowing and bubble and liquid experiments to enjoy on the day. 

Other Doors Open Day venues within an easy walk of Bedminster are:

• M Shed, Princes Wharf Wapping Road – recently opened in the old industrial museum on the dockside, you can book on the day at reception for behind-the-scenes tours of the museum's industrial and maritime collection

• Aardman Animation HQ, Gas Ferry Road – have a look around the state-of-the-art, award-winning sustainable offices (Advance booking essential. Call 0906 711 2191; calls are charged at 50p per minute plus any network extras)

• Brunel Institute, Great Western Dockyard – book on the day in the ss Great Britain's ticket office for tours of the Archive Vault, Conservation Suite and Library to view the Trust's books, films, photos, ship plans and models

• Spike Island Art Space, Cumberland Road – once a tea packing factory, this is your opportunity to see how it has been turned into a gallery and studio spaces for artists and designers

• Old Dock Cottages, Cumberland Basin – once home to dock workers and their families, two of these quaint quayside cottages will be open to the public (No.s 1 and 4 Old Dock Cottages)

• Deal Cottages, Sea Cadets, Cumberland Basin – there will be demonstrations of knot-tying and seamanship at these Victorian dock workers' cottages

• The Underfall Yard on Cumberland Road – now a base for boat and harbour maintenance (Brunel's 'Underfall' sluice method is still in operation today), the Yard also houses a fascinating collection of Victorian workshops where you can see the machines at work and shipwrights working   

• Create Centre, B Bond Warehouse West Wing, Smeaton Road – the Centre is part of Bristol City Council's drive for a 'greener' city where you can see displays, exhibitions and have a look around an energy-saving Ecohome.

• Bristol Record Office, B Bond Warehouse East Wing, Smeaton Road – 800 years of Bristol's archives and records are held in this 100-year-old former tobacco warehouse; to book a behind-the-scenes tour, call 0117 922 4224 or email bro@bristol.gov.uk

• St Mary Redcliffe Church – the first port of call for sailors wanting to give thanks for a safe journey, this Gothic church was described by Queen Elizabeth I as the "fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England", and on Doors Open Day, there will be tours to the roof and bell chamber 

• Redcliffe Caves, Phoenix Wharfe – an opportunity to explore these mine workings, which were in use from the 15th to the 18th centuries and extend for a few acres under Redcliffe ... don't forget to take a good torch and wear sensible shoes!

Admission to all venues on Bristol Doors Open Day is free. You can download the leaflet here for further information. All venues are open from 10am to 4pm unless otherwise stated.