Bristol has three Park and Ride sites, and using one is the cheapest, simplest way to visit the centre by car: parking is free, the bus in is about £3.50 return, and all three sit outside the Clean Air Zone, so even an older car avoids the £9 daily charge. Pick the site on the side you're arriving from and you're about 10 to 15 minutes from the middle of town.
Here's how each works and which to choose.
The three sites
| Site | Bus | Best if you're coming from |
|---|---|---|
| Portway | Service 9 | The north-west, M5 J18, the A4 Portway |
| Brislington | Service 9 | The south-east, the A4 Bath Road |
| Long Ashton | m2 MetroBus / 505 | The south-west, the A370 |
Parking at all three is free when you use the bus, and buses run frequently (Service 9 roughly every 10 to 15 minutes) into the city centre.
What it costs
An adult return on the bus is about £3.50, and it's usually cheaper on the operator's app than paying the driver. For a group or family it's far better value than central parking, where multi-storeys run several pounds an hour and you might also pay the Clean Air Zone charge on top.
How it works
- Drive to the site, park (free), and buy your bus ticket on the app or from the driver.
- Ride in to the centre, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Keep your return for the trip back; the sites are staffed and secure during operating hours.
- Check operating hours before a late finish, as the last buses back run in the evening rather than through the night.
Why it beats driving into the centre
Two reasons: money and the Clean Air Zone. Central parking is expensive and time-limited, and Bristol charges non-compliant cars £9 a day to enter the central zone. The Park and Ride sidesteps both, because you leave the car outside the zone. See our Clean Air Zone guide for whether your car would be charged.
The honest alternative
If you're only nipping in briefly and your car is Clean Air Zone compliant, a short stay in a central car park might just be simpler, but for a day out, especially with a family, the Park and Ride wins on cost and stress. And if you're not driving at all, the city is walkable with buses and ferries; see getting around Bristol.
FAQs
How much is Bristol Park and Ride?
Parking is free, and the bus into the centre is about £3.50 return per adult (cheaper on the operator's app). It's much cheaper than central car parks, especially for groups and families.
Where are Bristol's Park and Ride sites?
Three sites ring the city: Portway to the north-west and Brislington to the south-east (both on Service 9), and Long Ashton to the south-west (the m2 MetroBus or 505). Each is about 10 to 15 minutes from the centre.
Does the Park and Ride avoid the Clean Air Zone?
Yes. All three sites sit outside the central Clean Air Zone, so you can leave an older, non-compliant car there and take the bus in without paying the £9 daily charge.
Is Bristol Park and Ride free to park?
Yes, parking at all three sites is free as long as you travel on the bus. You only pay the return bus fare of about £3.50.