Walking to the top of the Cabot Tower this afternoon, I felt an unmistakable rush of adrenalin. It wasn’t fear of heights, or that the wind would blow me off the top of the 105ft-tall tower, but the thrill of being one of the first people to again climb up its 109 steps and admire the breathtaking view from the top.

Cabot Tower, built on top of a medieval fortification on Brandon Hill, is one of Bristol’s most iconic buildings.

It is wonderful news that after a £400,000 restoration project, it is back in full working order, ready to once again feature on the itinerary of things to do when friends and family visit Bristol.

Officially opened by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress this morning and due to open to the public at 1pm, as Great George in the Wills Memorial Building nearby struck 1pm and I was approaching Cabot Tower, I could already see some early visitors inside.

For so long, the tower has remained empty, boarded up and covered in graffiti. It was in a very sorry state before the intervention of Bristol City Council and English Heritage.

So it was a marvellous sight to see the front door open and once again have to squeeze past people on the narrow stone staircase to almost the top, and then an even narrower stone staircase to right to the top.

At about 1.15pm, there was about a dozen of us straining to get the best views of Bristol and beyond, and being very polite and English as we bumped into each other on a viewing platform not made for too many people, but which everyone can now once again enjoy.