Getting Around Bristol
Bristol is a major employment, retail, culture, and education hub in south-west England. As a visitor, you'll find several transport options to navigate the city and reach key destinations. The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) oversees transport policy across Bristol and surrounding areas.
Walking in the City Centre
Most locations in central Bristol, including the Harbourside and Old City areas, are reasonably easily walkable. This makes exploring the heart of the city straightforward on foot, with many attractions within comfortable walking distance of each other.
Buses and Rapid Transit
Public transport within Bristol is largely bus-based. The majority of local bus services are operated by First West of England. Bristol bus station is located on Marlborough Street, near the Broadmead shopping area, and serves both coach services and longer-distance buses. Most local buses run to or through the Centre.
metrobus is a bus rapid transit system offering dedicated routes across the city. All-day service routes connect key areas including:
- m1: Cribbs Causeway to Hengrove Park, passing through the University of the West of England Frenchay campus, the city centre, and Bedminster
- m2: Long Ashton park & ride to the city centre via the Bristol Guided Busway
- m3: Emersons Green and Lyde Green park & ride to The Centre, via Hambrook and UWE Frenchay campus
- m4: Cribbs Causeway to The Centre via Bristol Parkway Station and UWE
An express peak-hour service (m3x) also operates from the Emersons Green and Lyde Green park & ride sites via the M32 motorway.
Rail Network
Bristol has two principal railway stations. Bristol Temple Meads is in the city centre, approximately 15 minutes' walk from the heart of the city, and handles both inter-city and regional services. Bristol Parkway is located several miles north in the suburbs and principally serves suburban residents rather than visitors.
High-frequency commuter services run between Bristol and Bath, stopping at intermediate stations including Keynsham and Oldfield Park. The Severn Beach Line to Avonmouth and Severn Beach still operates, serving the western areas of the city and beyond.
Long-distance trains depart from Bristol Temple Meads, with connections to London, Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Manchester, Plymouth, Southampton, Swansea, York, and many other UK cities. Great Western Railway and CrossCountry provide all train services.
Recent and ongoing rail improvements include the reopening of Ashley Down railway station in 2024, and the opening of Portway Park and Ride railway station in August 2023 on the Severn Beach line, which serves the existing Portway park & ride site west of the city close to the M5 motorway.
Water Transport
Two companies—Bristol Ferry Boats and Number Seven Boat Trips—operate scheduled passenger ferry services in Bristol Harbour in the city centre. These services run the length of the harbour from Hotwells to Bristol Temple Meads railway station, passing SS Great Britain and The Centre, and serve 15 landing stages. Ferry services are used for both commuting and leisure purposes.
Taxis and Other Options
Taxis are available throughout the city. Car club operators including Co Wheels and Zipcar provide vehicle-hire options for visitors who need flexible car access. Electric scooters are also available for hire through Tier (as of June 2023), and can be rented by anyone with a provisional driver's licence over 18 for a fee.
Cycling
Despite being hilly, Bristol is one of England's prominent cycling cities. The city benefits from numerous urban cycle routes as well as links to National Cycle Network routes connecting to Bath, London, Gloucester, Wales, and the south-western peninsula. Named routes include the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, Concorde Way, Festival Way, and various greenways throughout the city. Improvements to The Centre have created new cycle paths to better connect radial routes together.
Getting to Bristol Airport
Bristol Airport (BRS) is located approximately 8 miles (13 km) south-west of the city centre and offers scheduled flights to major European destinations, with nearly 80 destinations served. It is a major base for budget airlines including Easyjet and Ryanair.
There is no direct train link between the airport and the city. However, several bus options connect the airport to Bristol's city centre and transport hubs:
- A1 Flyer bus: Runs up to every 8 minutes and takes approximately 35 minutes. Adult fares are £9 one-way to the city centre or £15 for an adult return ticket (valid for up to a month). Family returns cost £25. Student discounts are available with valid student photo ID. This service takes you to Temple Meads station and then to the bus station at Marlborough Street.
- Falcon service: A cheaper Stagecoach option costing £8.10 for a return ticket when booked a week in advance via Megabus.com. This service terminates at Bond Street.
- U2 service: A First bus service costing £3 for a single ticket under the England bus fare scheme. The service departs from The Airport Tavern, a 10-15 minute walk from the terminal, and reaches the city centre. Check the timetable before travelling, as service varies by day.
- WESTlink service: An on-demand bus service costing £2 for a single fare. This covers the airport terminal and some limited areas of south Bristol and North Somerset. Pre-booking is required.
For taxi or private vehicle pick-up and drop-off, Bristol Airport charges £8.50 for up to 10 minutes at their Drop Off & Pick Up Car Park. Alternatively, you can use the free waiting zone and take a free airport shuttle bus.
Alternative Airport Options
Visitors can also consider arriving via other airports and travelling to Bristol by train, coach, or car:
- Heathrow Airport: About two hours' drive from Bristol via the M4 motorway. The RailAir express bus service runs every 20 minutes and connects with the London to Bristol rail service at Reading station, with a total journey of slightly over two hours. Alternatively, take the Heathrow Express to London Paddington and then a train to Bristol Temple Meads, or use direct National Express or Megabus coach services (taking two to two-and-a-half hours), which terminate at Marlborough Street coach station in the city centre.
- Birmingham Airport: Offers quicker and often cheaper access than London's other airports. Rail services connect Birmingham International to Bristol every 30 minutes at peak times (with a change at Birmingham New Street), taking 2-2½ hours. By car, the journey takes about 2 hours.
- Gatwick, Stansted, and Cardiff Airports: Also offer coach and train connections to Bristol, though these typically require longer journey times. Coach services from Gatwick and Stansted take approximately 3½ hours.
Coach Services
National Express and Flixbus operate budget coach services to Marlborough Street Coach station in the city centre from throughout the UK. Journeys from London to Bristol take approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes, and fares are often significantly cheaper when booked in advance online.
Arriving by Train from Outside Bristol
If arriving by train from other UK cities, Bristol Temple Meads station is the main destination. The station is about 15 minutes' walk from the city centre. If you have luggage or are tired, take bus number 8 from the bus stops at the station forecourt, or use a taxi.
Cycling to Bristol
The Bristol-Bath Railway Path is part of the National Cycle Network and provides a cycle route between the city centres of Bristol and Bath, taking approximately 90 minutes. The path is relatively flat with only 2 road crossings, making it a safe route. Note that morning and evening hours are busy commute times.
Clean Air Zone
Bristol operates a Clean Air Zone which charges drivers of more polluting vehicles. Cars, vans, and taxis are charged £9 per day. However, approximately 71% of vehicles entering the zone are already compliant with emission standards. If you're hiring a vehicle, confirm it meets emission requirements. Motorcycles are exempt from charges.