Travel to the UK

Before you leave

Check:

• your government's restrictions on taking money out of your home country.
• what items you can bring into the UK.
• your luggage weight against your airline's allowance.
• that your travel insurance is valid. If you do not have travel insurance we recommend that you get some and bring the insurance documents with you.
• that you have brought these important documents in your hand luggage.

When to travel

If you are staying in University accommodation

If you will be living in a University of Bristol residence, aim to arrive when your accommodation opens. We will contact you with information about residence opening dates and times.

If you are staying in private accommodation

If you have already arranged private accommodation, check with your landlord when you can move in before you book your travel.

Information on how to find private accommodation in Bristol.

Arriving in the UK

At the border

Read the current government advice pages about entering the UK. 

To help you through passport control and customs when you arrive at the UK border, read the UK Border Force guide to faster travel through the UK border.

Travel to Bristol from within the UK

You will need to arrange your own transport between the airport and the city of Bristol. Take a look at the transport options on this page to help plan your journey.

Bus/coach to Bristol

Buses and coaches are generally the cheapest means of travel in the UK. The most popular companies amongst our students are National Express and Megabus:

• National Express coaches arrive at Bristol Bus and Coach Station. University of Bristol students can get a 20% discount which you can use now to book travel between 8 June to 30 September 2024.
• Megabus coaches stop at Bond Street, Bristol.
• Make sure you check restrictions on luggage. If you have more than one large suitcase, you might need to pay a fee or buy additional tickets for each piece of large luggage.

Travel to Bristol Bus and Coach Station

If you are arriving at one of the following airports, you can book a coach or bus ticket to get to Bristol Bus and Coach Station.

London Heathrow airport or London Gatwick airport

Book a National Express coach journey to Bristol Bus and Coach Station.

Bristol airport

Get the A1 Bristol Airport Flyer bus from outside the airport to Bristol Bus and Coach Station. You can book tickets in advance or buy a ticket on board. 

Or find other ways to get to Bristol, including by car or train.

Train to Bristol

Trains are popular choices of transport in the UK. They are usually more expensive than buses, but students tend to find them more comfortable, scenic, faster, and less likely to provoke travel sickness.

There are railway stations near most airports, which you can use to travel to Bristol’s main station, called Bristol Temple Meads. You may need to change trains multiple times so bear this in mind when choosing your ticket.

You can purchase train tickets online, or at the station on the day. It can be cheaper to book your tickets for inter-city travel (moving between cities and regions) before your journey.

Taxi to Bristol

Some private taxi companies offer an airport transport service or other long-distance transfers. If you are travelling with others, you can split the fare and pre-book stops at different addresses.

Costs vary, so compare prices and read reviews before booking.

We have used the following services in the past. They offer a small discount for University of Bristol students. Let them know you are a Bristol student if you decide to get a quote for their services:

• Go Executive Travel
• Haywards Travel
• Pro Line Taxi

Travel within Bristol to your accommodation

Meet and greet service

During arrivals days, we will be running a Meet and Greet service from London Heathrow and Bristol Bus and Coach station to help you with your onward journey.

Public transport

You can get to your accommodation by public transport, which includes buses, trains or taxis (try a local journey planner).

Train

Some of Bristol’s residential train stations include:

• Clifton Down
• Redland
• Montpelier
• Stapleton Road
• Lawrence Hill
• Bedminster

Taxi

It is very common to order local taxis through apps like Bolt, Bristol Taxis, Ola, Uber and Zoom cars. Not all apps offer pre-booking services, but Zoom cars does. 

You can also get a taxi without pre-booking from the taxi ranks. Official city taxis are blue and sometimes called Hackney Cabs. Offical ranks are included on the city map (PDF).

Walking

Alternatively, if you are not carrying much luggage and you live nearby one of the main stations, then you might find it easiest to walk to your accommodation. Find walking directions on Google Maps:

• From Bristol Bus & Coach Station
• From Bristol Temple Meads

Questions

If you are travelling to the UK and need any advice or have questions, email io-welcome@bristol.ac.uk