Direct bus: FlightLink
National Express operates the Flightlink service direct
from the airport to Bristol bus station.
The fare is 24 pounds return.
You can buy tickets at an information desk in the arrivals
hall (or in the case of Terminal 3, in the attached coach departure lounge),
or at the booking office in the Central bus station. Buses
leave from the Central bus station (serving Terminals 1 and 2)
at 0025, 0715, 0840, 1010, 1140, 1255, 1425, 1555, 1740, 1855, 2025,
and 2125, from Terminal 3 about 5 minutes later, and
from Terminal 4 about 20 minutes earlier. Journey time is about
2 hours.
From Bristol bus station, it is less than 1km to the university,
about 4km to the halls of residence, and there are taxis but
no convenient public transport.
Bus/train: the RailAir Link
This is an integrated service: bus from each
terminal to Reading station, then train to Bristol Temple Meads.
(Do not go to Bristol Parkway, which is outside the city,
and will entail a complicated final segment to your journey.)
The whole journey will take about 2.5 hours.
You can buy a combined ticket from the rail information
desk in each arrival hall (or on the bus if the desk is closed).
Buses leave Terminal 4 at 0605, 0635, 0710, and every
30 minutes from 0750 to 2250, and Terminals 2, 3 and 1
respectively 10, 17 and 25 minutes later.
Trains leave Reading for Bristol Temple Meads
at least hourly throughout the day, typically
at about 39 minutes past each hour.
Online train timetables.
It is usually cheaper to get a return fare.
Fares are higher on Fridays
and at peak times; cheaper tickets are subject to restrictions.
From Bristol Temple Meads, it is 2km to the University
(bus number 9 or 509, or use a taxi, cost about 3 pounds)
and 5km to the halls of residence.
Train via London, using the Heathrow Express
This new possibility will be in operation from
23 June 1998: the 'Heathrow Express' rail link, runs
every 15 minutes, taking 15 minutes, to
Paddington mainline station, from which there are services
to Bristol, as described under the 'Gatwick' section below.
This service costs 10 pounds one-way, so although convenient,
is the most expensive option. It is also somewhat slower
than the direct bus link described above.
Train
There are basically two routes: bypassing London by
taking a train to Reading, then changing for a train
to Bristol Temple Meads (trains from Reading at least hourly,
typically at 39 minutes past the hour), or by crossing London:
train to London Victoria (trains every 15 minutes through
the day), then underground to London Paddington,
then train to Bristol Temple Meads (trains at least hourly,
typically at 15 minutes past the hour).
(Do not go to Bristol Parkway, which is outside the city,
and will entail a complicated final segment to your journey.)
The whole journey from Gatwick will take about 3 hours.
Online train timetables.
The fare structures are complex, and not entirely predictable,
as several independent rail companies are involved.
It is usually cheaper to get a return fare, sometimes cheaper
to pay for the various stages separately. Fares are higher on Fridays
and at peak times; cheaper tickets are subject to restrictions.
From Bristol Temple Meads, it is 2km to the University
(bus number 9 or 509, or use a taxi, cost about 3 pounds)
and 5km to the halls of residence.
Bus: FlightLink
National Express operates the Flightlink service direct
from the airport to Bristol bus station.
The fare is 27 pounds return.
You can buy tickets at an information desk in the arrivals
hall. Buses leave from the North terminal at
0600, 0700, 0900, 1030, 1145, 1315, 1445, 1615, 1745, 1915, 2015,
and 2315, and from the South terminal about 5 minutes later.
Journey time is just over 3 hours.
From Bristol bus station, it is less than 1km to the university,
about 4km to the halls of residence, and there are taxis but
no convenient public transport.