Bristol's best-known car boot sale is Clifton Car Boot Sale at The Clanage in Bower Ashton, running every Sunday (and Wednesdays) from May to October. Buyers can get in from 8:30am for £1 on foot or £2 by car, and it's free for under-16s.
Despite the name, it's not actually in Clifton, it's on grass at The Clanage, Clanage Road, Bower Ashton, BS3 2JX, with views across to Clifton Suspension Bridge, which is probably where the name comes from.
What to expect
Around 50 stalls set up each week through the season, selling the usual mix of second-hand household goods, collectables, clothes and bric-a-brac. It's an outdoor, grass-pitch event, so it's genuinely weather-dependent: a wet Saturday night can mean a muddy Sunday morning, and sales can be cancelled in bad weather since there's no indoor fallback.
- When: Sundays (and Wednesdays), May to October
- Buyers in from: 8:30am
- Sellers set up from: 7:30am
- Closes: around 1pm
- Address: The Clanage, Clanage Road, Bower Ashton, Bristol, BS3 2JX
What it costs
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Adult entry (on foot) | £1 |
| Entry by car | £2 |
| Under 16s | Free |
| Seller pitch (car) | £15 |
| Seller pitch (van) | £20 |
| Trailer | +£5 |
There's free parking on site, toilets, and food and drink stalls, and dogs on leads are welcome. Most sellers only take cash, so it's worth bringing coins and small notes rather than relying on card.
Tips for a good visit
Go early. Regulars arrive not long after the 8:30am buyer opening to get first pick of anything decent, and by late morning the best bargains have usually gone. If you're selling rather than buying, arrive from 7:30am to get a good pitch, and book ahead via the organiser's website if you want to guarantee a space rather than turning up and hoping.
Because it's seasonal, running May to October only, don't plan a winter visit expecting it to be on. Weather can also cause last-minute cancellations even within season, so if you're travelling any distance, it's worth checking the organiser's site or calling ahead on a doubtful morning.
Buying and selling tips
If you're going as a buyer, cash is king. Most sellers won't have card readers, so bring a mix of coins and small notes and haggle politely, most stallholders expect it and prices are rarely fixed. Bring your own bags too, since you're unlikely to find much packaging on offer.
If you're going as a seller, it's worth deciding in advance roughly what you're hoping to get for bigger items, since the pace of a car boot sale doesn't leave much time for negotiation once a queue of buyers builds up. Price things to move rather than to match retail, and have change ready from the moment gates open, since the first rush of buyers tends to be the busiest part of the morning.
Getting there
The Clanage sits in Bower Ashton, on the south side of the Avon near Ashton Court, so it's a reasonable walk or cycle from Southville and Bedminster, and there's free on-site parking if you're driving. For a wider view of car-boot-adjacent bargain hunting, our guide to Bristol's best markets and our vintage and charity shop trail cover other ways to find a secondhand find in the city. If you're building a free or cheap weekend around it, see our free things to do in Bristol guide and our Bristol on a budget piece.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clifton Car Boot Sale actually in Clifton? No, it's in Bower Ashton at The Clanage, on the south side of the river, though it has views towards Clifton Suspension Bridge.
What time should I arrive to get the best bargains? Buyers are let in from 8:30am, and serious bargain hunters tend to arrive close to opening, since the best items go quickly.
Does the car boot sale run all year? No, it's seasonal, running from May to October, every Sunday and also on Wednesdays.
How much does it cost to get in? £1 per adult on foot, £2 if you're arriving by car, and it's free for under-16s.
Can I pay by card? Most sellers are cash only, so bring coins and small notes rather than relying on contactless.
Is it dog-friendly? Yes, well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.
What if it's raining? It's an outdoor, grass-pitch event with no indoor fallback, so poor weather can lead to cancellation. Check the organiser's site or call ahead if the forecast looks bad.