LOCAL TRAVEL BRISTOL
Getting around town and to your university will most likely be done on foot, by bus, or via use of a bike on cycle routes that most university towns have. Some towns also have a subway system such as London (Underground), Glasgow (Subway), Newcastle (Tyne and Wear Metro) or Birmingham (Midland Metro). Other cities have a Tram network such as Edinburgh, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield. In these particular cities, you will find that the various modes of transportation are linked under one payment system such as is the case with the Oyster Card which can be used to access the Underground as well as any of the red public buses in London. Click on your city below and find out how to secure your preferred mode of transport.
Bike
Bristol is commonly referred to as the cycling capital of the UK as it was designated the UK’s first cycling city in 2008. You can therefore look forward to lots of cycle-friendly features within the city.
Where can I buy a bike?
If you are considering purchasing your own bike, you can get decent second-hand or brand new bikes here. With Gumtree, you can pay only on collection and in cash. So do not feel the need to advance any money to any seller even if they demand this.
You may also find decent deals in local shops such as Bristol Bike Project, Lifecycle, Mud Dock, Temple Cycles and Trek.
Where can I hire a bike?
Better By Bike has a loan scheme wherein you pay a deposit to loan a bike which you can use for a certain time and your deposit is refunded when you return the bike. You can sign-up for one here.
Brompton Bikes also runs a hire scheme which requires no prior registration. Simply sign-up to the mobile app and you can hire a bike at a flat rate of £5 per 24hrs.
Bus
Bristol Unibus is the main bus carrier and operates across the city and campuses. Plan your journey with Travelwest or Traveline then apply for a discounted travel card here.
Taxi
Train
Can I get Student Discounts on Rail Travel?
Access to Scotland and the wider UK is served by an extensive rail network from Birmingham New Street Staion. There are other stations, such as Moor Street and Snow Hill, but these tend to serve smaller towns and operate a relatively smaller service compared to New Street. The University of Birmingham has its own stop known simply as ‘University.’ We highly recommend you apply for the 16-25 Railcard which saves you 1/3rd off the price of any rail ticket. If you are older than 25, do not worry. You can apply as a mature student. It costs only £30 for the whole year and is renewable if you are staying beyond a year. You can apply here.
Where can I buy train tickets?
Once you have got your Railcard, we recommend you use the Trainline ticketing platform to buy your ticket. You can download the app here and not only get tickets but also check timetables and updates.
REMEMBER!!! Before checking-out, make sure you include your Railcard in order for your 1/3rd discount to be applied. Also remember to carry your Railcard with you (whether physical or digital) as it will be checked on the train by the train conductor.