Getting to/around Bristol

GETTING TO BRISTOL

AIR

Bristol Airport is approximately 25 minutes south of central Bristol and offers direct scheduled flights across Europe and connections worldwide. Bristol Airport Flyer express bus runs a frequent service, or taxis are available from departures.

BUS

National Express and Megabus both run services from across the country to Bristol’s bus and coach station and Bond Street in the city centre. Regional bus services terminate here too. Falcon runs a service from Plymouth to Bristol 24 hours a day with various stops including Bristol Airport.

TRAIN

There are regular train and bus services between the two stations. High-speed services from London are operated by GWR. You can catch a ferry or walk from Temple Meads (Temple Quay landing) into the City Centre and Harbourside attractions.

GREAT WEST WAY®

Bristol sits at the Western end of England’s Great West Way®. As well as travelling by bicycle, walking the landscapes, relaxing on waterways, or taking the road, you can also take advantage of the Great West Way® Discoverer pass from GWR offering unlimited train and bus travel along the route from London to Bristol – see more online.

ROAD

Visitors are encouraged to use public transport to get to Bristol, wherever possible. Bristol has Park & Ride services at Portway, Long Ashton, Brislington and Lyde Green. Check online for fares and operating times.

GETTING AROUND BRISTOL

BUS

There are several bus operators in Bristol and the surrounding area. A handy journey planner is available via TravelWest. Day tickets are usually the cheapest option for getting around. See page 53 for more detail on the Tootbus hop-on, hop-off Open Top Bus tours.

TRAIN

The mainline stations are Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway; you can access many rural stations from these. Bristol has local stations which are convenient for getting around the city and the surrounding areas. The historic Severn Beach line connects the city centre with the coast and the Severn Way walking route.

BOAT

Bristol Ferry Boats (below) offer a year-round service with stops all around the Harbourside from Temple Meads station to Hotwells. Number Seven Boat Trips offer a similar service during weekends and school holidays. There is a cross-harbour ferry running from Hannover Quay to Brunel’s SS Great Britain. See our map on pages 54-55 for ferry landing locations. See the tours on page 53 for more information about pleasure cruises around the Harbourside and further afield.

Bristol Ferry Boats CYCLING, SCOOTERS AND BIKE HIRE

As the UK’s first cycling city, Bristol has many cycle lanes and routes. Bikes can be hired from various businesses and locations around the city, including the Big Issue eBike, the Brompton Dock at Temple Meads station, Pedal Progression at Ashton Court, Webbs Cycle Shop just off the Bristol Cycle Railway Path, as well as Cycle the City and Bristol Tandem Hire from the city centre area. Some hotels also offer bikes for hire on request. Riding an electric Voi scooter is also a great way to get around the city, while sparing it from both noise and pollution.

ACCESSIBILITY

Bristol can be explored on foot although some steep hills and cobbled streets can be difficult to access with a wheelchair. The Visit Bristol website contains links to accessible audits of accommodation and attractions. Wheelchair and mobility scooter hire are both available from Shopmobility, located in Cabot Circus.

TAXI

Hackney carriage taxis are painted in ‘Bristol’ blue and can be picked up at ranks across the city or hailed on the street. There are also private hire companies operating in the city and app-based taxi services such as Uber and Ola.