Bristol open day parking?

[kronologikal]

My son booked for the Bristol Open Day, though could only get a 9.30 slot for his departmental talk, and all the park-and-ride slots were fully booked. What alternative parking options are there? (We will be travelling by car from SW London, so setting off early).

@kronologikal Trenchard Street is near to the uni. Parking around the uni area is always difficult. Or park in the city centre and get a bus up the hill. They won’t be full early in the morning.

Or look at Just Park in the Clifton area of Bristol. You might get lucky.

As you are in SW London, why not get the train? It’s 1.5 hours from Paddington. Or maybe drive out to Reading if Paddington is difficult. Lots go on the train.

Park in Cabot shopping centre car park and walk?

You’d be better off getting the train from Paddington into Temple Meads if that’s possible. Will take about half the time it’ll take you to drive.

I'd park at Cribbs Causeway and get the bus into town. AFAIK the parking is still free all day.

There will be free shuttle buses between the station and the university.

I'd probably try the Downs if you get there for 7:30-8 you should be fine.

Double check that they are still running shuttle buses from Temple Meads, but Temple Quarter carpark (uses RingGo app) or the Apcoa (station car park) are accessed from Friary.

The shuttle buses drop you on Tyndall Avenue and you can access the station to get to the front entrance through a back entrance.

We had planned to take the train, but a fire on the line meant that we had to switch to "plan B" in a hurry.

Park at Bristol Parkway, train to Temple Meads then the shuttle bus or a public bus service?

The university is walkable from Temple Meads,but be aware that the Google Maps description of all routes as 'mostly flat', though not strictly incorrect, is a little disingenuous. (I must admit that I've only done it the other way, but DS1 walked up on the way to his MSc graduation). Timing-wise, it may be more reliable for your DS to walk, rather than wait for a bus.

There's a car park at Clifton down shopping centre just off whiteladies road. Thats only 10 min walk down to the central uni bits. I think you can park all day for around £10 (it's been a couple of years since I've used it so worth checking that's not changed)

Today? Try avonmouth p&train? Or you can park about a 30 minute walk away for free unregulated parking, but Bristol is hilly!

Another option is trenchard st car park, £18 all day city centre near hospital and bus station.

The car park at templemeads is cheaper £9 all day I think but it's 30 mins extra walk. Other park and ride is long Ashton but not very convenient for that direction

Parking at Trenchard is close but £18 a day. If you really don’t want to get the train, as a pp has said, you could park at Cribbs Causeway Mall and get a bus or Uber down. Lots of the residential areas near to the uni are permit only or 2/3 hour max stays so no good.

Parking is free at The Mall shopping centre, it's at Cribbs Causeway, near to where the M4 and M5 intersect. Get an Uber to the University.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I will consider them all.

We're about an hour from Paddington, so our best public transport option would be bus from Heathrow. But that would be 3 hours versus 2 in the car, assuming we can park & ride efficiently.

@kronologikal go to Reading and pick up the train there. About 1 hr 20 to Temple Meads and either a bus or a cab to the centre.
But I'd recommend parking in Trenchard St (next to Orchard Heights accommodation). For a day £18 doesn't seem too bad.

There is the station car park and also the shopping centre one. White ladies road is meters and a maximum of three hours. The side streets there are free at weekends. It’s less than ten minutes walk to most uni buildings.