Bristol Airport (BRS)
Bristol Airport (BRS) is the UK's eighth busiest airport and the primary gateway for the South West of England, handling around 10 million passengers per year. Set on a plateau at Lulsgate Bottom in North Somerset, 8 miles south-west of Bristol city centre, it serves a broad catchment area including Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Devon, Wales and the wider South West.
The airport operates a single terminal and has seen significant passenger growth driven by easyJet and Ryanair's European network expansion. For leisure travellers from the South West, BRS avoids the need to travel to London Heathrow or Gatwick for popular European sun routes. Faro, Alicante, Malaga, Ibiza and Amsterdam are consistently among the most booked routes.
Bristol's own 1903 Lounge — named in honour of the Bristol Aeroplane Company founded in that year — is a distinctive feature, giving the airport a sense of local identity rather than the anonymous branding found at most UK regional airports.
Single terminal — all airlines in one place
⚠️ Security queues can build at BRS during peak summer periods — arrive at least 2 hours before departure in July and August.
Most popular routes
One terminal — compact and manageable
Bristol Airport operates a single terminal building. All check-in desks, security, departure gates and arrivals are in one place. Despite handling 10 million passengers per year, the terminal is relatively compact — from kerb to gate typically takes 20–35 minutes at normal times.
The terminal has undergone several expansion phases to cope with passenger growth, with further expansion plans (subject to planning approval) intended to increase capacity significantly. Current airside facilities include the 1903 Lounge, duty-free retail, a range of bars and restaurants, and departure gate areas on the upper floor.
Transport to Bristol Airport
| Airport Flyer A1 (Bristol) | ~45 min to Bristol city centre / Temple Meads · £10 single |
| Airport Flyer (Bath) | ~50 min to Bath city centre · from £11.50 single |
| Taxi to Bristol city centre | ~25–40 min · approx £30–35 |
| Taxi to Bath | ~40 min · approx £50 |
| Rideshare (Uber/Bolt) | Available · approx £25–35 to Bristol |
| Drive from Bristol | 8 miles SW · A38 South · follow airport signs |
Compare parking options
Pre-booking is essential — BRS is popular and car parks regularly sell out in peak summer. Book several weeks in advance for July and August travel.
Which airlines fly from Bristol?
Bristol Airport jobs
1 vacancy at Bristol Airport (BRS) naming the airport — airport, airline, handling, engineering, cargo, retail and site roles — checked 6 Nov.
| Job | Where | Pay | Posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| HGV Technician – Bristol AirportRed Sky Personnel Ltd | BS48, Nailsea and Backwell, North Somerset | £46,525 a year | 23 Oct |
Each listing opens its application page; register once, then apply with your CV. All vacancies near Bristol · Where the airlines recruit cabin crew and pilots.
Things to do near Bristol Airport
The most-booked tours and tickets in Bristol with a rating of 4.3 or better from at least 100 reviews. Prices are per person, as seen on 6 Nov.
Listings, photos, ratings and prices from Viator; we earn a commission on bookings and the price you pay is unchanged.
Bristol Airport FAQs
In the week to 6 Nov we saw non-stop fares from Bristol to 112 destinations. The cheapest one-way fares seen were Dublin £14, Alicante £15, Barcelona £15, Madrid £15 and Porto £15.
The lowest one-way fare we saw this week was £14 to Dublin with Ryanair, for travel on 17 Nov (seen on 27 Oct). It is a fare seen on that date, not a live price.
Airlines seen selling non-stop flights from Bristol this week: easyJet (85 destinations), Ryanair (37 destinations), Jet2 (30 destinations), TUI Airways (11 destinations), Aer Lingus (2 destinations) and Loganair (2 destinations).
The Airport Flyer coach serves Bath as well as Bristol. It takes approximately 50 minutes to Bath city centre from the airport and costs around £11.50 single. Alternatively, taxis are available from the rank outside arrivals — expect to pay around £50 for a direct taxi to Bath.
No — Bristol Airport does not have a railway station despite many years of proposals and campaigning. The Airport Flyer coach to Bristol Temple Meads (45 minutes, £10) is the best option for connecting to the national rail network. The airport has been one of the most significant without a rail link in the UK.
Yes — the 1903 Lounge (named after the founding year of the Bristol Aeroplane Company) is airside and open to any passenger for a fee. Pre-book online for the best price. Access also via Priority Pass. The lounge serves hot food, free drinks, fast Wi-Fi and has comfortable seating.
Bristol Airport has had planning approval to expand passenger capacity from around 10 million to 12 million passengers per year via terminal extensions and infrastructure works. The plans have faced environmental opposition and legal challenges over the years. Check Bristol Airport's official website for the latest update on development works during your visit.
Pre-booked Long Stay starts from around £5/day (free shuttle bus) up to £15/day for Silver Zone (walking distance). Always pre-book — on-the-day prices are much higher and car parks sell out in July and August. For a 2-week holiday, Long Stay pre-booked works out around £70 total.
Arrive at least 2 hours before departure for short-haul European flights. In July and August and during school half-terms, allow 2.5 hours — security queues at BRS can be lengthy. The Airport Flyer has regular services and journey time should be factored in on top of your arrival target.