Hello everyone. We want to schedule a flight from Paris to Bath (Bristol) and need advice. Is a car rental a bad idea while we are in Bath because of parking issues? How can we get from the airport into Bath? What is the best way to get around while in Bath if we don't end up renting a car? After visiting Bath we would like to have a car for meandering through the Cotswolds. Where should we rent it? Thanks for any suggestions.
C
You do not need a car in Bath - in fact, it would be a hindrance. Most of the main sights are easily walkable.
You can get from Bristol Airport to Bath by bus:>https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/to-and-from-the-airport/bus-and-coach
However, you may not like to pre-book as you will not be sure when you will exactly leave the airport. You will find a regular bus service outside the terminal building that is a shuttle service to the moon rail station in Bristol = Temple Meads. You can certainly by a bus ticket off the driver to get to Temple Meads. It is also possible that he/she may be able to sell you a combined bus/train ticket to Bath. If not, simply walk into Bristol Temple Meads station & buy a one way ticket to Bath. It is only a 15 minute trip and the trains are roughly at 15 minute intervals.
Best to hire a car when done with Bath & heading for The Cotswolds.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3820551,-2.3626602,1483m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1
There is no need to worry about missing the bus from Bristol Airport to Bath as a pre-booked ticket is valid on any service during the day it was booked for, not a particular one.
Thanks everyone. I appreciate the helpful advice.
I have never seen the Air Decker bus which goes direct from Bristol Airport to Bath with more than a handful of passengers on it. I would therefore be tempted to wait and buy a ticket on the bus. If you intend to stay in one of the many B & Bs on the Upper Bristol Road route into Bath, then you could get off the bus at one of the stops there and save travelling into the city centre.
