Bristol has two mainline train stations, Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway.

Tickets can be bought at train stations or online at Trainline or National Rail.

• There is no extra charge for luggage.
• Space for luggage on trains is limited.
• There are no trolleys at the train stations, and when travelling you may need to move your luggage between platforms.

National Express

National Express coach services are available from all major towns and airports in England. 

Megabus

Megabus coach services are available from Heathrow and Manchester airports.

• Check your luggage allowance and pay for any additional luggage when you book your ticket.
• If you are flying into the UK, book your coach ticket approximately 3 hours after you are due to land.

Eurostar train services are available from all over Europe to London St Pancras station.

To reach Bristol you will need to travel to either London Paddington for train services, or Victoria Coach Station for coach services.

Bristol City Council introduced a Clean Air Zone in Bristol in 2022. You must pay to drive within the zone if your vehicle does not meet the zone's emission standards, unless you have an exemption. 

Park and Ride

Park and Ride car parks allow you to park outside the city and then take a bus into the city centre. There are four Park and Ride services that operate in and around Bristol:

• North west of Bristol – Portway Park and Ride
• South west of Bristol – Long Ashton Park and Ride
• South east of Bristol – Brislington Park and Ride
• North east of Bristol – Lyde Green Park and Ride

Parking

There are several car parks about ten minutes walk from the main campus, shown on Visit Bristol's parking and car parks map.

If you are a visitor and you need disabled parking, contact the department you are visiting to book a space.

SatNav/GPS

Use the postcode BS8 1TH in your SatNav/GPS to take you to Senate House, which is in the centre of the main campus. Parking is very limited in this area.

• Directions to the University from the M32
• Directions to the University from A4 Bath Road
• Directions to the University from A4 Portway

From Bristol Airport (13km outside the city)

• The Airport Flyer Express bus runs approximately every ten minutes at peak times between the airport and Bristol Bus and Coach Station near the University campus.
• Arrow Cars offer taxis from Bristol Airport. The taxi stand is directly outside the arrivals terminal. You can book the taxi in advance – the fare should be around £32 to £45 to central Bristol.
• Private taxis (V Cars, Uber) will need to pick you up from the Drop and Go area situated at the rear of the terminal.
• Further travel information is available from Bristol Airport.

From London Heathrow Airport

• National Express offers a direct coach from London Heathrow to Bristol. Stops include Bristol Coach Station and Bristol University Queens Road. 
• The Heathrow Express train runs from Heathrow to London Paddington. From Paddington, Great Western Railway trains run to Bristol Temple Meads station.
• See also taxi transfers.

From Birmingham Airport

• You will need to take a short train journey from the airport to Birmingham New Street Station.
• You can either take a direct train from Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads Train Station, or a coach from Birmingham Coach Station (a 15-minute walk from Birmingham New Street station).
• See also taxi transfers.

From Gatwick Airport

• Travel by train from Gatwick train station to Bristol Temple Meads train station (you will need to change trains). Tickets are cheaper when booked in advance through websites such as the Trainline and National Rail.
• There is also a National Express coach service from London Gatwick airport to Bristol Coach Station (you will need to change coaches).
• See also taxi transfers.

You can book a private taxi from the airport. Some taxi companies offer an airport transport service or other long-distance transfers. You can book directly with these companies. Companies will charge different prices, so compare prices and read reviews before booking.

The following services offer a discount for University of Bristol students:

• Go Executive Travel
• Haywards Travel
• Pro Line Taxi

Walking to the University generally involves an uphill walk to reach the University campus. Plan your route using a walking route planner such as Google Maps or Route You.

Better by Bike (Bristol City Council) have online cycle maps and information on where you can pick up a paper cycle map.

First Group operate the majority of local buses in Bristol. Use their bus timetable search and network maps to plan your journey. Services to the University include:

• The 72a bus service from Bristol Temple Meads train station. These run a combined frequency of every 15 minutes at peak times and stop at Tyndall Avenue on the University campus. The journey takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
• The 8 bus service from Bristol Temple Meads train station. This runs at least every 10 minutes at peak times and stops by The Berkeley pub on Queen's Road, opposite the Wills Memorial Building, before heading towards the Richmond Building (Students' Union) and Clifton village. The journey takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
• The 1,2,3,4 and the One bus services. These all stop in the Park Street, Triangle, Whiteladies Road area, two minutes walk from the University.
• The Bristol Unibus service. This connects the Stoke Bishop halls of residences with the University campus and city centre.

Bristol Ferry Boats run a regular service from Temple Meads around the harbour. The closest stop to the University is the City Centre Landing, from where you can walk up Park Street to the University campus.

Taxi apps

Some taxi companies in Bristol (such as V Cars and Uber) have mobile apps that you can use to get a quote for the cost of the journey and use to book your journey. 

Taxis from the bus or train station 

There are taxis waiting just outside Bristol Bus and Coach Station and Bristol Temple Meads train station.

You will most likely need to pay cash, although some taxis take card payments. The cost will depend on how far you need to travel, but within the main city it should cost between £5 and £15.

Coach

Our recommended way of travelling from London Heathrow airport is to take the National Express coach service. There is a direct service from Terminal 2,3. The coach takes around 2.5 hours and usually costs £15 to £40.

• You can book your ticket from National Express.
• When selecting 'Travel from' type 'Heathrow Airport London T2,3 (LHR)'.
• When selecting 'Travel to' type 'Bath (bus station)'.
• Your ticket includes one large suitcase. If you are bringing more luggage, add 'Extra Luggage' before you pay for your ticket.

Train

From Heathrow airport take the Heathrow Express to London Paddington station, a 15 minute journey.

From London Paddington take the train to Bath Spa station, a 1.5 hour journey. We recommend you book this journey in advance as it will be cheaper.

Coach or train

• Coach and train services operate between Bristol and Bath. You will need to travel into Bristol city centre to access these.
• A direct coach service from Bristol airport to Bath is operated by the Bath Bus Company.The service runs hourly and tickets cost £16. Tickets can be booked online or on the bus. The journey takes around one hour. The bus will drop off at Debenhams, which is very close to Bath Spa station.

Taxi

Taxis to Bath cost approximately £50 depending on the time of day, year and luggage. The journey is approximately 45 minutes.

Green Park House

• A 10 minute walk from the bus station.
• Alternatively, there is a taxi rank next to the station. The taxi fare should be around £5 to £7 and taxis will only accept cash.

Charlton Court and Waterside Court

• An 8 minute taxi ride from the bus station.
• By bus, take the U5 Unibus from St James Parade, 5 minutes walk from the station. This runs every 10 minutes and drops you off directly at your acommodation.
• Or, take the 5 Twerton bus from the station. This bus runs every 10 to 30 minutes and also drops you off directly at your accommodation.