Bristol Ferry Boats runs small passenger boats across the Floating Harbour, with single fares starting from £3 depending on distance. You don't need to book: wave the boat down at any stop and pay once you're aboard.
The stops
The main harbour loop calls at seven stops: Temple Quay (near Temple Meads station), Castle Park, City Centre, Wapping Wharf, SS Great Britain, Mardyke and Cottage (Hotwells). Boats run in both directions around the loop, so you can hop on anywhere and ride to any other stop, making it a genuinely useful way to cross the harbour rather than just a sightseeing trip.
Fares
Single fares start from £3 and increase with distance travelled and time on board, so a short hop across the harbour costs less than riding the full loop. There's also a stay-on-board option if you just want the ride rather than getting off at a specific stop. Exact current fares for each route are set out on the ticket screen when you board, or you can check bristolferry.com before you travel.
When it runs
Services run roughly every 40 minutes through the middle of the day, generally from mid-morning to early evening. Frequency and the first and last sailing both vary by day of the week and by season, with a fuller weekday timetable than weekends. Because the exact start and finish times shift through the year, check the live timetable on bristolferry.com or in the Transit app before you set off, especially if you're relying on the last boat back.
Other ways to ride
Beyond the point-to-point stops, Bristol Ferry Boats also runs Harbour History Tours covering the city's maritime past, public trips out to Beeses riverside bar and restaurant, and private charters for parties, weddings and work socials. These run on their own schedules separate from the regular harbour loop.
Why use the ferry instead of walking
Bristol's Floating Harbour is crossed by boats rather than bridges in most places, so the ferry often saves a long walk around. It's especially useful for linking Temple Meads, the SS Great Britain and Wapping Wharf without doubling back through the city centre. For getting around the rest of Bristol, including buses and the MetroBus, see the getting around Bristol guide, and if you're driving in in the first place, check the parking guide and the Clean Air Zone rules before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Bristol ferry?
Single fares start from £3 and increase with the distance you travel, so check the price for your specific route when you board.
Do I need to book the Bristol ferry in advance?
No, for the regular harbour loop you just wait at a stop, wave the boat down, and pay once aboard. Private charters and some special trips do need booking ahead.
What stops does the Bristol ferry serve?
Temple Quay, Castle Park, City Centre, Wapping Wharf, SS Great Britain, Mardyke and Cottage (Hotwells), running in a loop around the Floating Harbour.
Does the ferry run all year?
Yes, though the timetable is fuller on weekdays than weekends, and both frequency and the first/last sailing shift with the season, so check the live timetable before you travel.
Can you use the ferry to get to SS Great Britain?
Yes, there's a stop right by the ship, making it one of the more pleasant ways to arrive compared with walking or driving.