Getting here
Our open days are popular events bringing thousands of visitors to our main campus in the heart of Bristol. Some of the roads around the campus will be closed to vehicles and parking close by is extremely limited. We strongly recommend you use public transport to travel to the University.
There is lots of useful information on the University's maps and travel page.
We have teamed up with some transport companies and local hotels to offer exclusive discounts to open day attendees. See our discounts.
Getting to Bristol
Car
There is no parking available at university accommodation or on campus. If you do decide to travel by car, please be aware that 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.
A free shuttle bus service operates between the 2 park and ride locations and the main campus every 10 to 15 minutes throughout the open days.
You must book your parking space in advance via the booking form. This service is popular and there are limited parking spaces available. If the booking form shows that there are no spaces available, this means that all park and ride parking spaces have been booked and we recommend you use public transport.
On arrival at the park and ride, please follow the open day signs. Please bring your printed permit with you.
Bristol Parkway train station park and ride
This is the red route and the postcode for Sat Nav is BS34 8PU.
- The first bus to campus departs from Parkway at 8:30 am.
- The last bus to Bristol Parkway departs from Woodland Road red bus stop at 5 pm.
- Please allow up to 90 minutes for parking and travel.
Portway park and ride
This is the green route and the postcode for Sat Nav is BS11 9QE.
- The first bus to campus departs from Portway at 8:30 am.
- The last bus to Portway departs from the Woodland Road green bus stop at 5 pm.
- Please allow 60 minutes for parking and travel.
Please note, the parking monitoring system is automated at these facilities, and you will receive a fine from APOCA if you arrive in a different vehicle than the one registered with us at booking. If you are planning on arriving in a different vehicle, please update the vehicle registration via your booking portal at least 3 days before the event.
Train
Bristol has 2 mainline railway stations: Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway. Bristol Temple Meads is 2 miles from the University and closer than Bristol Parkway.
We have partnered with Great Western Railway (GWR) to provide a discount on train tickets on eligible journeys.
A free shuttle bus service runs from Bristol Temple Meads to the main campus throughout the open day. The service runs every 10 to 15 minutes from 8:30 am. The last shuttle bus to campus departs from Woodland Road purple bus stop at 5 pm.
This service is very popular, and we recommend allowing at least 1 hour for the transfer.
There will be some rail replacement bus services running between Bristol and Newport on 16 and 17 June. Please check for any planned engineering works before you travel.
Coach
Bristol Bus and Coach Station is on Marlborough Street in the centre of Bristol, near to the University.
We have partnered with National Express to provide a discount on coach tickets on eligible journeys.
You can take a taxi to the University from outside the bus station or walk, which will take about 15 minutes and involves an uphill climb.
Air
Bristol Airport
The airport is 8 miles south of the city. The Airport Flyer Express bus (service A1) runs approximately every 10 minutes at peak times between the airport and Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Bus and Coach Station.
Please allow at least 90 minutes to get from the airport to the main University campus.
London Heathrow
There is a direct National Express coach service between London Heathrow and Bristol.
Alternatively, you can take the Heathrow Express to London Paddington and a train from Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads station.
Taxi
If you are travelling to the main University campus by taxi, the drop-off point is on St Michael's Park Road just before the entrance to Osborne Villa and the University Day Nursery.
On the day shuttle services
Our free shuttle bus services offer convenient travel to our campuses and accommodation throughout the open days.
Langford campus (Bristol Veterinary School)
The Bristol Veterinary School is in the village of Langford, North Somerset, 14 miles south-west of Bristol. If you are travelling between the main University campus and Langford campus please allow about 1 hour for the journey.
Car parking at Langford
There is limited car parking at Langford for visitors interested in Veterinary Science and Veterinary Nursing. For Sat Nav users, the postcode for Langford is BS40 5DU. Visitors are not permitted to bring dogs to the Langford campus.
Free shuttle bus to Langford
Free shuttle buses run between the main University campus and Langford regularly during the open days.
- To Langford: departs every 30 minutes from the Woodland Road orange stop from 9:30 am.
- The last bus departs from Woodland Road at 3:15 pm.
- To campus: The first bus departs Langford at 9:30 am.
- The last bus departs Langford at 4 pm.
- Journey time 40 to 60 minutes.
Stoke Bishop (North Village accommodation)
There is no parking for visitors at our Stoke Bishop residences. We recommend you use the free shuttle bus from the main campus, which you must book in advance when you book your place on the open day via the open day booking form.
- To Stoke Bishop: departs every 30 minutes from the Woodland Road blue bus stop from 9:45 am.
- The last bus to Stoke Bishop leaves campus at 2:45 pm.
- To campus: The last bus to campus leaves at 4 pm.
- Please allow at least 90 minutes for a round-trip visit to Stoke Bishop.
Bristol Parkway train station
- To campus: departs every 10 to 15 minutes from 8:30 am.
- To Bristol Parkway: departs from the Woodland Road red bus stop every 10 to 15 minutes.
- Last bus leaves campus at 5 pm.
- Journey time 1 hour.
Temple Meads train station
- To campus: Departs every 10 to 15 minutes from 8:30 am.
- To Temple Meads: departs from the Woodland Road purple bus stop every 10 to 15 minutes.
- The last bus leaves campus at 5 pm.
- Please allow at least 30 minutes for the journey and up to 90 minutes during the afternoon rush hour.
Portway park and ride
- To campus: departs every 10 to 15 minutes from 8:30 am.
- To Portway: departs from the Woodland Road green bus stop every 10 to 15 minutes.
- Last bus leaves campus at 5 pm.
- Journey time 40 to 60 minutes.
Contacts
If you have any questions about our open days, please contact the Enquiries Team:
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 394 1646
- Email: visit-us@bristol.ac.uk
- Instagram: @universityofbristol