Bristol Airport (BRS)

About Bristol Airport

Eight miles southwest of the city center, Bristol airport is a regional hub for transportation. Over eight million passengers use the airport each year, making it the ninth busiest in the UK. A base for budget airlines EasyJet and Ryanair, Bristol airport is also an important location for flying lessons.

The origins of the airport are far more humble. In 1927, local businessmen founded the Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club, which initially used nearby Filton aerodrome. In 1929, the club pitched the city the idea of building a new airport. Opened in 1930, Bristol was only the third civilian airport in the UK.

Passenger flights were still something of a rarity when World War II broke out. The Royal Air Force established a training school for pilots close to Bristol's airport. During German air raids, decoy fires at this airfield helped encourage attacking pilots to drop their bombs harmlessly in the fields outside the city, saving Bristol from bombing.

After the war, the first airport was found to be too small for increasingly large civilian aircraft. Instead, the RAF base was redeveloped into what is now Bristol Airport. Opened in 1957, the airport was expanded in the 1960s and the 1980s, and in 1997, became known as Bristol International Airport.

Things to do near Bristol Airport

Ordinarily, airports are seen more as a means to get somewhere in a destination in their own right. But thanks to its proximity to the city center, you don’t need to go far from Bristol airport to start enjoying some of what this area of the UK has to offer. Whether you’re on a short layover or taking a longer trip, you’ll find some interesting things to do not far away.

• Get some fresh air close to the airport at Blagdon Lake. The natural setting of this lake makes it look natural, but in fact, it's a reservoir created in 1901. Covering 430 acres, this lake is the perfect place for a relaxing walk in nature.

• Let the kids burn off some energy at Puxton Park. This outdoor adventure park offers aerial climbing, trampolines, giant hamster balls, a soft play area, and tons of other ways to have fun.

• Explore the lives of the British ruling class at Tyntesfield Country House. Built by the wealthy and aristocratic Tynte family, this Gothic revival mansion dates back to 1863. Now open to the public, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the lifestyle of the nobility.

• See the work of one of the world's foremost contemporary artists at Banksy's Girl with the Pierced Eardrum. Secretive street artist Banksy was born in Bristol, and many of his works can be seen in the city. This one, on the south side closest to the airport, references Vermeer's famous Girl with a Pearl Earring painting but updates it with the artist's signature urban aesthetic.

• Step back in time on the SS Great Britain. Bristol’s top tourist attraction is a former passenger steamship that one sailed between Bristol and New York City. Now, the ship is a maritime museum devoted to Bristol’s long history of shipping.

Transit options at Bristol Airport

• Bristol airport flies to 125 destinations in Europe. You can reach just about every major city in Europe from here.

• RailAir Express bus service connects Bristol airport to London Heathrow Airport, and the journey takes around two hours. Birmingham International is also reachable by train in around two hours.

• The Flyer bus service connects the airport to Bristol and runs 24 hours a day, making the journey around 30 minutes.

Luggage storage near Bristol Airport

Bristol airport can be a busy place. To more fully enjoy your time in the area, you don't want to be carrying more than you need to. That's where Bounce comes in. By partnering with local businesses, Bounce makes it easy to find a place to leave extra bags for as long as you need. Drop off your belongings with confidence at a Bounce luggage storage location near Bristol airport.

Activities and attractions near Bristol Airport

• Bristol Wheel: Get above it all on this 200-foot tall Ferris wheel. Bristol Wheel sits right in the center of Bristol and gives passengers a relaxing way to get an unsurpassed view over the city and the surrounding countryside. Sit back and enjoy the view as you rise into the air on this iconic ride. It's no place to bring heavy bags, though, so make sure you leave yours at a baggage storage shop in Bristol before you climb aboard.

• Bristol Museum: Explore the long history of the city at the Bristol Museum. Home to dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies, ships, planes, and more artwork by local boy Banksy, the eclectic collection of this museum is a testament to the far-reaching journeys that left from Bristol during the days of the British Empire. Visiting this institution is like taking a crash course in world history, and you could easily spend an afternoon or more wandering through the varied exhibits. Heavy bags are not permitted, so make sure to drop yours off with a Bristol luggage storage service before going.

• Cheddar Gorge: See one of Britain's most impressive natural wonders at Cheddar Gorge. This dramatic limestone gorge is home to a herd of feral goats and a wealth of caves where cheddar cheese was aged in the past. It also has the country's most fascinating show caves where the oldest skeleton in Britain, known as cheddar man, was discovered.