Bristol Temple Meads (Bristol)

Bristol Temple Meads station is in the midst of being enhanced and refurbished, with the most obvious feature being the renovation of its impressive glass, arched roof.

Many of the trains which call at Bristol Temple Meads are on route to and other destinations, because it isn’t a terminus.

So from a traveller’s point of view, aside from its beauty, the station's main feature is the subway beneath the railway lines, which connects most of the platforms (tracks) with the main station building.
This main building houses all of the entrances/exits, the ticket counters and most of the food/drink outlets.

The passage way is served by sets of stairs and elevators - the elevator in the main station building is right by the main entrance.

When arriving by train at platforms (tracks) 6, 8, 10, 12 you will have to walk passed the stairs to find the elevator.

Platforms (tracks) 1 -4 have step free access between the trains and the entrance/exits; and platform 3 is right beside the ticket hall and it is where most of the Cross Country and GWR trains from the west of England arrive.

Most of the CrossCountry trains to Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and farther north leave from platform 3, which is adjacent to the main entrance,
Though most of the GWR trains to London, those which commence their journeys in Bristol, typically depart from platforms 11 to 15.

When departing by a train which is leaving from platforms (tracks) 5 – 12 look out for the fact that these platforms are divided along their length.
However, instead of being split into ‘a’ and ‘b’ sections, they have different numbers at each end.
So two different trains can be occupying each end of these platforms simultaneously, but the signs in the passage beneath the trains will point you in the right direction, particularly if you take the stairs.

This passage way runs beneath the middle of the station, so the stairs on the left hand side lead up to platforms (tracks) 5, 7, 9 and 11, while the stairs on the right go up to 6, 8, 10 and 12.
Each specific platform also has its own departure indicator, so it can be worth checking these before boarding the train.

Summary of the long-distance train services from Birmingham New Street:

 

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Yes - the platforms / tracks at Bristol Temple Meads are either directly linked to the main entrance, or are accessed by a passage way under the railway lines - and this passage way has lifts / elevators which provide a route between the main entrance/exit hall and the trains.

There’s no hiding the fact that Bristol Temple Meads station is located some distance from the heart of the city and its associated attractions.

On foot

The city centre is a 12 – 25 min walk away from Bristol Temple Meads.
If you want to set off on foot;
1 - head down the slope which leads away from the main exit,
2 - go right when you reach the main road,
3 - then go ahead around the roundabout and walk down Victoria Street.

By local bus

Bristol has no trams or metro of any kind, so the primary public transport option is to take a bus – routes/lines 8 and 9 and 72 stop on the station forecourt and connect Temple Meads station to the city centre.
Routes 8 and 9 also go to charming Clifton Village - leave the buses at that stop if you want to visit the wondrous suspension bridge.

By boat

Many of Bristol’s most splendid attractions, including the SS Great Britain, are grouped around its former dockyards - and this Harbourside area is some distance from Bristol Temple Meads.
But it’s connected to Temple Meads station by the Bristol Ferry Company – it has a pier also named Temple Meads, which is a 5 min walk from the station.

To reach it you first need to take the side exit from the station, which leads into the older part of the station that’s no longer used by trains.
Over to the right will be a footpath which crosses a car park and then goes over a short bridge.

Most of the local bus services in Bristol are managed by First Bus.

Unless you will be in Bristol for at least a week - and will therefore benefit from a weekly card, bus journeys can be purchased from the driver when boarding.
You don't need to have cash as the ticket machines accept [contactless payments]https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bristol-bath-and-west/tickets/contactless-payments).

Bristol Temple Meads is home to comparatively few food and drink outlets and it seemingly lacks an establishment which offers a full hot-meal service.

Seemingly not, this facility is not listed on the station website.

This facility is not available at Bristol Temple Meads.