Car Hire in Bristol - Getting to Bristol

As the principal city of the West Country, Bristol is easy to get to by air, rail or road. Not only is there an international airport, but high-speed trains and a direct motorway link to London as well, so you can choose your preferred mode of transport.

Bristol International Airport is located just 11kms from the city centre off the A38, and services both international and domestic flights. International flights are limited, but for long-haul destinations, passengers can connect by bus or train to the major airports of Heathrow and Gatwick, situated on the outskirts of London.

Driving to Bristol from London couldn’t be easier; just get on the M4 motorway, heading west. Bristol is about 200kms from London. Just outside Bristol, the M4 meets the M5, which leads to Birmingham and other destinations in the Midlands.

Bristol has two main railway stations. Temple Meads is located in the city centre, while Parkway is in the northern suburbs; both are served by regular services from Paddington station in London. Intercity trains make the journey in 1 hour, 30 minutes, and there are onward connections for passengers wishing to continue their journey westward to Wales.

The cheapest way to travel to Bristol from London is by bus, and National Express offer a service that leaves Victoria Coach Station every hour and takes 2 hours, 30 minutes. In Bristol, the main bus station is Marlborough Street bus station, which operates services by National Express, Bakers Dolphin and First Coach, though the latter is only for regional and local routes.