Bus travel

Bus travel in Bristol

Bristol is a great city to get around by bus. Our main Clifton campus and student residences are linked to the city centre and other places by frequent bus services, many running around the clock.

First Bus is the city's main bus operator, with many services stopping close to our main Clifton campus. Other bus operators run a limited number of services in Bristol and beyond, including Stagecoach.

Students and staff can benefit from discounted fares on bus services across Bristol and further afield. Visit our bus fares page.

Staff and students can find further information about travel and transport options from our Transport Plan webpage 
 

For assistance planning public transport journeys, please visit Traveline or Travelwest.

Bristol Unibus

Operated by First, the Bristol Unibus services connect students and staff between the residences at Stoke Bishop, our main Clifton campus, the city centre and our Langford Campus.

Bristol UniBus logo

Bristol Unibus U1 - Stoke Bishop Halls of Residence to the City Centre, via University Clifton Campus

2023/24 academic year: Service will commence on Mon 18 September 2023 operating University term time only

The U1 service operates Mon to Sun (except Public Holidays) during university term time only. During AM and PM peak times and at night-time, the service runs between Stoke Bishop Halls of Residence and University Clifton Campus only. At off-peak times and weekends (daytime only), the U1 route extends from our Clifton campus to Bristol city centre. 

The Mon-Fri daytime frequency is every 6 minutes at peak times, at at least every 12 minutes at off peak times. The Sat and Sun daytime frequency is every 20 minutes. In the evenings Mon-Sat, the service operates every 15 minutes up until 9pm, and then every 20 minutes between 9pm and 4am. The U1 service does not operate at night on Sundays. From early Septemer 2023 please see the Bristol Unibus website for the full timetable details.

Students living in University-allocated accommodation (except postgraduates in postgraduate-only residences) receive a free bus pass (mTicket) for unlimited travel on the Unibus U1 service plus free travel on First bus services 3,4, & 72 on certain sections of those routes - see Bristol Unibus website for details of the restrictions that apply. Other students can buy tickets or passes for the U1. Recipients of the free U1 bus pass can upgrade their pass to the Bristol Zone ticket, covering all the First and metrobus services in Bristol, for just £99. See Bristol Unibus for further details.

Staff and members of the public can also travel on the U1 service by purchasing tickets in the usual way. 

The U1 is again operating as a Cashfree service during the 2023/2024 year.

Arrivals service - A special Arrivals service will operate for three days from friday 15 September 2023 to Sun 17 September 2023 inclusive. This service will operate between Stoke Bishop Transport Hub and University of Bristol Clifton Campus only. On the Friday and Saturday this service will operate between 9am and 4.30am to a frequency of every 30 mins. On the Sunday, this service will operate between 9am and Midnight to a frequency of every 30 minutes. Tickets will NOT be required for this arrivals service. 

Bristol Unibus U2 - Bristol City Centre to University Langford Campus, via University Clifton Campus

A new enhanced timetable commences on Sat 2 September 2023 featuring evening and weekend journeys. The Unibus U2 operates between 7am and 11.44pm Mondays to Fridays all year round, except on Bank Holidays and between Christmas and New Year. All journeys start and finish from Bristol City Centre and our Langford campus. The service operates to an hourly frequency Mondays to Fridays. On Saturdays and Sundays the service frequency is every two hours, with the first journey commencing at 9am and the last journey commencing at 11pm.

Most Bristol Veterinary School Students receive a free bus pass (mTicket) for unlimited travel on the Unibus U2 service. For the 2023/24 academic year the Student U2 Year pass will also include free travel on First bus services 3, 4, & 72 on certain sections of those routes - see Bristol Unibus website for details of the restrictions that apply. The U2 can be used by other students, staff and the general public who can purchase tickets in the usual way. Vet School student recipients of the free U2 pass can upgrade their pass to the West of England Zone ticket, covering all the First and metrobus services in the West of England, except the Bristol Flyer airport service, for just £130. See Bristol Unibus for further details      

The U2 is again operating as a Cashfree service during the 2023/2024 year.

Further information

Any further queries, please contact the Transport Team.