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

2024/25 academic year: Service will commence on Mon 9th September operating University term time only

Arrivals service:

  • An Arrivals service will operate for three days from Friday 6th September 2024 to Sun 8th September 2025 inclusive.
  • This service will operate between North Residential Village (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. 

Key U1 bus service timetable and route information:

  • Monday to Sunday (except Public Holidays) during university term time only
  • During AM and PM peak times and at night-time, the service runs between North Residential Village 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 Monday-Friday 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 September 2024 please see the Bristol Unibus website for the full timetable details.

Key ticketing information:

  • Students living in University-allocated accommodation (except postgraduates in postgraduate-only residences) receive a free 'University of Bristol- U1 Uni Year' bus pass.
  • This bus pass is for unlimited travel on the Unibus U1 service and on First bus services 3,4, & 72 on certain sections of those routes. See Bristol Unibus website for details of the restrictions that apply.
  • Recipients of the free 'University of Bristol- U1 Uni Year' bus pass can upgrade their pass to the West of England Zone Academic Year bus pass , covering all the First and metrobus services in Bristol, for just £189. See Bristol Unibus for further details. 
  • Other students, staff and members of the public can also travel on the U1 service by purchasing tickets in the usual way.
  • The U1 service is a Cash free service.

 

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

Key U1 bus service timetable and route information:

Key ticketing information:

Further information

Any further queries, please contact the Transport Team.