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Car hire at Bristol Airport - Gateway to south-west England

Conveniently located at Lulsgate Bottom in a picturesque part of south-west England, Bristol Airport was first built in the 1950s on the site of an old RAF air-field. Well situated on the slopes of the beautiful Mendip Hills, just 8 miles (13 km) south-west of the city, it has since metamorphosed into the ninth busiest airport in the United Kingdom, today handling around 9 million passenger movements each year.

Nowadays it's very easy to fly to Bristol Airport due to the growing number of direct services arriving from over a hundred different places across Europe. The major international hubs of Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt and Dublin continue to be served by KLM, Brussels Airlines and Aer Lingus, thus allowing onward connections to many key locations around the world. The airport is also ideally placed near many of the main road and rail connections in south-west England and some parts of South Wales, meaning that road and transport access to and from BRS couldn't be easier.

Bristol itself is a bustling, dynamic city in the heart of one of England's most prosperous regions. Set a few miles inland on the River Avon, it is brimming with British history and home to one of the oldest ports in the country. Art lovers won't be disappointed; there are more than thirty galleries to be found in and around the city centre, as well as numerous museums, including the Georgian House Museum and nearby Red Lodge Museum. And you can't leave Bristol without visiting its famous cathedral, an imposing building that dates right back to the 12th century and features many original sections from that period.

There's much to see and do with a car hire from Bristol Airport, with many of south-west England's most important monuments reachable within a relatively short distance. With your vehicle you can not only explore Bristol, but also head towards popular Bath and even into South Wales. Along with all the spectacular beauty of the English countryside, there are dozens of charming towns and villages to visit, all of which are crammed with historic buildings and ancient sites to see. Part of a protected nature reserve, the enchanting Cheddar Gorge is always a hit with families touring the area, most notably Gough's Cave with its hidden chambers (where one of the world's oldest skeletons was unearthed) and the towering spires of Solomon's Temple, an impressive natural phenomenon.

Founded in 1954, Auto Europe is a global car rental broker well versed in finding its many clients enticing and inexpensive car hire quotes and providing excellent customer service. Having partnered with numerous local, national and international car hire suppliers over many decades, we are able to offer a large fleet of vehicles and an abundance of global locations. Along with car hire, we also hire out luxury cars and modern motorhomes for travellers looking to save money on hotels. If you have any questions or would like to place a booking, please contact our rental specialists on +44 123 3225 114. Please also take a look at our car hire reviews in Bristol to gain an insight into what kind of experience previous customers had during their rentals.

Airport Information

Located a 20-minute drive south-west of Bristol city centre, Bristol Airport (BRS) is situated at Lulsgate Bottom in North Somerset and serves the city of Bristol and its environs. With passenger numbers gradually increasing, it is fast-becoming an important gateway to south-west England, as well as the more eastern parts of South Wales. The airport comprises one large terminal which was inaugurated in 2010 and has excellent public transport links to the city and the rest of the UK.

Bristol Airport (BRS)
Address: Bristol BS48 3DY, England
Telephone: +44 871 334 4444
Airlines operating at Bristol Airport: Numerous airlines currently fly out of Bristol Airport to national and international destinations, including Aer Lingus Regional, Aurigny, Blue Islands, easyJet, KLM, Ryanair, TUI Airways, Wizz Air and many more.

Where to pick up my car hire at Bristol Airport

A large number of major international car hire suppliers operate at BRS, which collectively offer an extensive selection of vehicles for your next car rental at Bristol Airport. Each company has an office located right opposite the main terminal building, such as Avis, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. Please make sure you have all the necessary car hire documents (voucher, coverage, etc.) ready in order to pick up your car, along with your passport, credit card and driving licence. Upon picking up your car, it's best to always inspect the vehicle thoroughly for any scratches and dents, noting anything you find of concern on the pick-up slip before leaving. Likewise, during drop-off, you should make sure that a member of the car rental staff inspects the vehicle before leaving the premises.

Car hire operating hours

	Avis at Bristol Airport Bristol Airport, Car Rental Centre, Bristol, United Kingdom BS48 3DW +44 344 544 6007	Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-11:30pm Sat 7am-9pm Sun 7am-11:30pm
	Budget at Bristol Airport Bristol Airport, Car Rental Centre, Bristol, United Kingdom BS48 3DW +44 344 544 4667	Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-11:30pm Sat 7am-9pm Sun 7am-11:30pm
	Europcar at Bristol Airport Bristol Airport, Car Rental Centre, Bristol, United Kingdom BS48 3DW +44 1275 474 623	Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 7am-12am
	Sixt at Bristol Airport Bristol Airport, Car Rental Centre, Bristol, United Kingdom BS48 3DW +44 20 7018 8246	Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 7am-12am
	Thrifty at Bristol Airport Bristol Airport, Car Rental Centre, Bristol, United Kingdom BS48 3DW +44 117 244 4282	Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 7am-11pm

Terminals

Bristol Airport has one main terminal terminal building with Arrivals on the ground-floor and Departures on the first-floor. A selection of bars, cafés, shops and eateries are located on the second-floor Mezzanine. Catering for around 9 million annual passenger movements, the terminal is more than capable of dealing with large numbers of people at the same time, even during the peak holiday season. The airport currently has a total of sixteen gates but no jetways, which means that passengers have to board an airport bus to arrive at and depart from their aircraft. Along with online check-in facilities, passengers can also utilise the self-service check-in desks at the airport, as well as the traditional check-in desks and the self-service bag-drop facility for those who have already checked in. It is recommended that you check in up to two hours prior to the time of your flight's scheduled departure.

Airport Facilities

Bristol Airport has all the necessary facilities you’d expect from a modern international airport. Several bureaux de change offices and ATMs can be found in different parts of the terminal, on both sides of the security clearance section. There's also an excellent choice of snack-bars and cafés for airside passengers waiting for their flight, along with several family-friendly restaurants and some of the world's most popular fast-food outlets like Burger King. A wide range of shops and high-brand boutiques are located in the main departures area, along with a newsagent and large, well-stocked bookshop. Bristol Airport's Duty-free offers a good choice of perfumes, confectionary, electrical goods etc. and features a free collection service for passengers choosing to collect their purchases when they return from their trip. Besides free Wi-fi and meeting rooms for up to 100 delegates, other modern conveniences at Bristol Airport include baby-changing facilities and a chemist located in the departures area. For disabled passengers, there are lifts to all floors, specially-adapted toilets with help buttons and Braille signage, dedicated parking spaces and wheelchairs available on request.

How to get to and from Bristol Airport

Road access is one of the main advantages for all those who choose to rent a car at Bristol Airport. If travelling from the north, you'll need to leave the M5 at junction 18 where there are signposts for Bristol Airport. From the south you should exit the M5 at junction 22 and follows the signs for the A38 where you'll see the airport signs. For people arriving from the east of England, such as London, the quickest way is to leave the M4 at junction 20 before joining the M5 southbound until junction 18, after which you should take the A4 towards Bristol and follow the signs for the airport.

The airport is very well served by the city's vast local public transport network, most notably the Bristol Airport Flyer bus service which links the airport with Bristol Temple Meads railway station and Bristol bus station. The service (numbered A1) is operated by First West of England on behalf of Bristol Airport. There is no railway station at the airport; the closest mainline station is Bristol Temple Meads Train Station which is located approximately 7 miles from the airport. From there, travellers can catch the Bristol International Flyer express coach service that serves the airport every 15 minutes at peak times. National Express coaches also operate services across the south-west of England and parts of Wales to Bristol Bus Station, from where you can also catch the Bristol International Flyer to to the airport.

Parking Tips

On-street parking can be quite difficult in the centre of Bristol, with much of the area being a Controlled Parking Zone, but there are multiple off-street car parks to choose from at an affordable rate. Bristol is also served by four large and very well organised park and ride (P&R) facilities that surround the city in all directions.There's also plenty of choice for people looking to park their car hire at Bristol Airport, with provisions for both short- and long-term parking. There is a rapid drop-off zone where you can park for free for up to 10 minutes if you are dropping someone off or picking them up once they have left the terminal building. Long-term parking is available for a much more economical rate and prices are even cheaper if you book online well in advance. A large multi-storey car park is situated right next to the main terminal building that's just a three-minute walk from both the Arrivals and Departures Halls. The car park is covered, secure and with ample spaces, so you can leave your car hire there quickly and safely. A Premier car park is also located opposite the terminal – which is a better option for business travellers due to its speed and convenience. You can also park and stay at the nearby Hampton by Hilton hotel before catching your flight.

Useful links

Bristol Airport