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Bristol doesn't have round-the-clock buses on every route, but First Bus does run a defined night network on a set of core lines, with single fares capped at £2.60 within the city. Outside those routes and hours, taxis and ride-hail apps are what most people fall back on. Here's what actually runs late, and how to fill the gap when it doesn't.
Which buses run at night
First Bus publishes a specific night bus network rather than running every daytime route around the clock. Coverage varies by night of the week: some lines run Monday to Saturday, others only on Friday and Saturday when demand is highest. A new addition is the X14, which runs Fridays and Saturdays from Bristol out to Portishead, Clevedon and on to Weston-super-Mare, useful if you're heading home to North Somerset after a late one.
| Route | Area | Nights | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broom Hill – city centre – Westbury-on-Trym – Cribbs Causeway | Mon to Sat | Bristol & South Glos |
| 8 | Temple Meads – Clifton – Temple Meads | Mon to Sat | Circular route through Clifton |
| 24 | Ashton Vale – Bedminster – city centre – Lockleaze – Southmead Hospital | Mon to Sun | One of the few running every night, including Sunday |
| 39 | Bath Bus Station – Saltford – Keynsham – Brislington – Bristol Bus Station | Mon to Sat | Cross-city link to Bath |
| X14 | Bristol – Portishead – Clevedon – Worle – Weston-super-Mare | Fri & Sat only | New night route to North Somerset |
Fares are flat regardless of distance: a single ticket is £2.60 within Bristol, or up to £3 across the wider West of England zone. A day ticket bought earlier is valid until 4.29am, so if you're travelling past that, you'll need to buy a fresh one. Always check the current timetable for your specific route on the First Bus website or the Travel West journey planner before relying on it, since night coverage is reviewed and can change.
Getting to and from Bristol Airport at night
If you're catching an early flight or landing late, the Airport Flyer A1 service between the city centre, Temple Meads and Bristol Airport runs 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day, with fares from £5. There's also a Stagecoach coach service connecting Bristol to the airport and onward down the A38, which also runs 24/7. Both are worth checking against a taxi if you're travelling at an odd hour, since a scheduled bus removes the uncertainty of finding a cab at 3am. For the fuller picture on getting to and from the airport at any hour, see the site's getting to Bristol Airport guide.
Taxis and ride-hail after dark
Once you're off the core night bus routes, or travelling somewhere the timetable doesn't reach, a taxi or ride-hail app is the realistic option. Uber operates across Bristol, but its coverage and pricing get less predictable at exactly the hours you most need it: pre-dawn and post-midnight, when surge pricing or a lack of available cars is common. Licensed local taxi firms tend to be more price-stable at those hours, though it's worth comparing a couple before you book, since rates and wait times vary firm to firm.
For a full, sourced comparison of Bristol's taxi and private-hire firms, including ratings and how they handle late-night and early-morning bookings, see the site's Bristol taxi companies compared guide. If you're deciding between an app and a traditional taxi more generally, Uber in Bristol breaks down when each tends to work out better.
The honest take
If your route is on the night bus network and running that night, it's the cheapest and most predictable way home, at a flat £2.60 to £3 regardless of distance. If you're outside that network, later than the last bus, or need a specific pickup point, budget for a taxi or ride-hail app and expect it to cost more the later and more spontaneous the booking. Checking the current night bus timetable for your specific route before you go out saves the guesswork later.