Getting From Bristol Temple Meads to the City Centre

Bristol Temple Meads is about a 15 to 20-minute walk from the city centre, or a 10-minute bus ride on the frequent number 8 or 9 service. If you're not up for walking, there's also a taxi rank right outside and a ferry stop a few minutes from the station entrance. This guide covers all four options so you can pick the right one for your bags, your budget and the weather.

About the station

Temple Meads is Bristol's oldest and largest railway station, originally designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in 1840 as the western terminus of the Great Western Railway. It sits at Station Approach, off Bath Road, BS1 6QF, a short distance south-east of the city centre across the river. The station has step-free access to all platforms, four lifts, a ticket office open Monday to Saturday 06:15 to 21:30 and Sunday 07:00 to 21:30, plus the usual shops and refreshments you'd expect from a major station.

Walking into the centre

It's a flat-ish, straightforward walk from Temple Meads into the city centre, taking most people 15 to 20 minutes depending on where exactly you're headed. The main route follows Temple Gate and Victoria Street towards Bristol Bridge and the Old City, or you can cut along the harbourside path towards Wapping Wharf and the SS Great Britain if that's your destination instead. It's a reasonable option if you're travelling light, but with heavy luggage or in poor weather, the bus is the easier call.

Bus: the quickest no-fuss option

First Bus service 8 (and its sister route 9) runs frequently between Temple Meads, Broadmead, the city centre and on to Clifton, calling at Bond Street and Rupert Street on the way. During the day these buses run roughly every 10 minutes, and the ride into the centre takes about 10 minutes. Buy your ticket on board or through the First Bus app. For the wider bus network and how tickets work across the city, see our getting around Bristol guide.

Ferry: slower, but scenic

Bristol Ferry Boats has a stop at Temple Quay, close to the station, as part of its regular harbour loop that also calls at Castle Park, City Centre, Wapping Wharf, SS Great Britain, Mardyke and Cottage in Hotwells. Single fares start from £3 and increase with distance, and you don't need to book, just wave the boat down at the stop and pay once aboard. It's not the fastest way into town, with boats running roughly every 40 minutes rather than continuously, but it's a genuinely pleasant way to arrive if you're not in a rush. Full details are in our Bristol Ferry Boats routes and fares guide.

Taxi

There's a taxi rank directly outside the station, and it's usually the fastest door-to-door option if you've got heavy luggage or are travelling as a group. Fares depend on distance and traffic, so ask for an estimate before you get in if you're unsure. Since WeKnowBristol is published by the Tick Taxi group, we're upfront about that and still list the full range of options honestly in our Bristol taxi companies compared guide, so you can weigh it up rather than just take the first cab in the rank.

Driving and parking

Temple Meads has its own station car park with 374 spaces, including 25 accessible bays, plus a drop-off and pick-up point right outside if you're just collecting someone. If you're driving into the wider city centre afterwards, check our Bristol parking guide and the Clean Air Zone rules before you set off, since charges apply for older, more polluting vehicles.

Comparing your options

Luggage

The station itself doesn't advertise dedicated left-luggage lockers, so if you need to store bags for a few hours between arriving and checking in somewhere, it's worth booking a nearby third-party luggage storage location in advance rather than assuming you can drop bags at the station on the day.