Find travel information for Bath, Bristol and the West of England, including transport options, access guidance and practical planning advice for travel trade.
Maps
So you’re planning your travel to Bristol, Bath and the West of England? Take a look at these maps to get you started.
How to get to Bristol, Bath and beyond
Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station is the largest rail hub in the west of England, with direct services available from London, Scotland, Wales, Manchester and Birmingham.
Bristol Parkway Railway Station is located to the north of the city. Services run from Birmingham, Cardiff, Gloucester and London.
Bath Spa Railway Station is conveniently located in the heart of the city centre, just a short walk from Bath’s shops, main attractions and many hotels.
A taxi rank can be found immediately outside each of the main stations.
Travel to and from London Paddington railway station and to destinations across the South of England, South West and South Wales with Great Western Railway (GWR). You can plan your journey, check timetables, book tickets and find out more at GWR.com
The train journey between Bath and Bristol (in either direction) takes around 12 minutes with services at least every 30 minutes.
There are also excellent motorway links from the north, Devon and Cornwall via the M5 motorway, and Wales or London and the south east are just a short drive along the M4 motorway.
As with most cities, the roads can become congested at busy times. To avoid traffic for day visits, we recommend using one of the various Park and Ride services. Take care when driving around the city centres, as there are a number of one-way streets, bus lanes and bus gates in operation.
Download our handy parking map to find your nearest car park in Bath or view our parking map for Bristol.
City Centre Clean Air Zones
Bristol and Bath both operate a charging Clean Air Zone to tackle air pollution within each city centre. Different rules apply in each city.
To check if charges apply, drivers should check their registration number and pay online at www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones within 6 days of the journey (7 days, including the day of travel) or they could receive a penalty charge notice.
Travelling from Bristol Airport (BRS)
Travelling to and from Bristol Airport by bus or coach is easy and convenient. Whether it’s into the city centres or out into the South West countryside and South Wales, there are plenty of good value and direct services available. Full details can be found on the Bristol Airport website.
The A1 Airport Flyer express coach service will take you from the airport to Bristol city centre, including Bristol Temple Meads station and the bus and coach station, where you can also catch onward services. The service runs up to every eight minutes, seven days a week with a complete journey time of approximately 20-40 minutes.
The A4 Airport Flyer bus service provides an hourly direct link between Bath city centre and Bristol Airport, with stops at various points in Saltford, Keynsham and South Bristol and a total journey time of approximately one hour.
Connect with the North Somerset coast with the regular A2 and A3 Airport Flyer services.
Private airport transfers can be arranged with local firms. Pick up and drop off should be booked in advance. To find out more about travel from Bristol Airport head to the Bristol Airport group travel by coach or minibus page.
Travelling from London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport is the UK’s busiest airport and the arrival point for many international visitors, especially those from long-haul destinations.
The Heathrow Express train service runs between the airport and London Paddington, where you can then pick up a direct train service to Bristol and Bath. The complete journey time for this is around two to two and a half hours.
Regular coach services with National Express or FlixBus run directly from London Heathrow to Bristol and Bath with a total journey time of 120-to-180 minutes.
Travelling from Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You can take a train from London Gatwick airport to Reading, avoiding Central London, where you can pick up an onward train service to Bristol and Bath.
Alternatively, catch a coach from London Gatwick Airport via Heathrow to Bristol or Bath with National Express or FlixBus.
Bristol and Bath are proud to lie at one end of the Great West Way, a 125‑mile touring route combining the world‑renowned with the yet‑to‑be‑discovered. At one end is London with its famous royal sights and rich cultural heritage; at the other is Bristol.
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.
The Great West Way Discoverer pass offers unlimited off‑peak train travel with GWR from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads via Reading with options to branch off towards Oxford, Kemble and Salisbury via Westbury. Also included is unlimited travel on bus services along the route. Choose from 1, 3 or 7-day options. Find out more here.
Find out more about travel within the region below.
Local rail services
GWR operate local as well as mainline services through the region. A network map, including access information, can be downloaded from here.
Bristol’s historic Severn Beach Line includes many stops within the urban area. Other services connect to Somerset and Wiltshire towns and villages including Weston-super-Mare, Bradford-on-Avon and Salisbury (for Stonehenge).
Local bus services
There are several bus operators that provide regular services in and around the Bristol, Bath and beyond. First Bus is the largest operator, running some services 24-hours a day, including the service (39/X39) between the two city centres.
In Bath, many services operate from the main bus station in Dorchester Street, adjacent to Bath Spa railway station. In Bristol services run from the Bus and Coach station on Marlborough Street and from stops across the central area.
You will find excellent bus links to neighbouring towns and cities, as well as a regular bus service direct from Bristol Airport. You can plan your journey around Bristol and Bath by bus and search for local timetables on TravelWest.
Explore Bath using the City Sightseeing hop on hop off service. The open-top buses stop at 35 locations around the city, covering two routes including many of the most popular sights and attractions. There are frequent departures from all over the city centre areas, and all buses provide an audio guide in multiple languages. 24 and 48-hour tickets are available.
Park and Ride
Bristol has three main Park and Ride sites, operating a mixture of six or seven days a week. Buses run up to every 12 minutes. Brislington (south east), Long Ashton (south west) and Portway (north west) services all run through the city centre. There are also Park and Ride sites at Lyde Green, Parkway North and Yate in South Gloucestershire.
Bath has three Park and Ride services, which operate seven days a week. Buses run into the city from all three Park and Ride sites at least every 15 minutes, with a journey time of just ten minutes. All buses are wheelchair and pushchair friendly. Height restrictions apply at some sites and drivers are advised to check before travelling.
You can view a live update of the spaces that are currently available at Bath's main car parks, including the three Park and Ride sites.
Both Bristol and Bath operate a Clean Air Zone in the central areas. We advise all visitors travelling by car to consider using the Park and Ride services.
Cycling and Walking
The Bristol and Bath Railway Path was the first off-road route in the country, running for 23 kilometres, and makes for a great day out or means of travelling between these two great cities. The route provides plenty of stopping points for drinks and snacks, including some recommended pubs. There are many cycle routes around the area and the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust website gives full details. See our Ground Handlers page for details of some bike hire companies locally, or contact us directly for recommendations.
The city centre areas of both Bath and Bristol are very walkable for those able to do so and the surrounding countryside provides a wealth of landscapes and viewpoints to keep even the keenest hikers happy. The Cotswold Way and Bath Skyline Walk are particular highlights; Bristol also has an annual WalkFest.
Ferry Boats in Bristol
Bristol Ferry Boats (year round) and Number 6 Boats (seasonal) operate services around the Harbour. Visitors arriving at Bristol Temple Meads station can catch a scheduled ferry from the Temple Quay landing for a very different journey to their hotel or attraction. Single, return and day passes are available on board.
Bristol Packet Boat Trips run scheduled seasonal trips along the river towards Bath or upstream and out of the Harbour underneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Private hire tours are available for groups and they can pick up at pontoons around Bristol’s Harbourside.
Taxi
Bristol operates blue hackney carriage taxis who pick up from taxi ranks across the city. There are a number of private hire taxi firms operating across the region as well as Uber. Most accommodation providers have arrangements with local firms and are able to provide taxis on demand for their guests from reception.
Electric Scooter Hire
Dott Scooters offer short-term hire of electric scooters and bicycles in Bristol and Bath. Users can download an app to hire and ride. These scooters make a fun and environmentally friendly way of getting around for shorter trips. Find our more information here.
