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getting to bristol harbour festival

We are committed to making Bristol Harbour Festival a greener festival so please think about the environment when choosing how to get to us.

Bristol Harbour Festival is partnered with Great Western Rail who are the primary service provider for Bristol Temple Meads station. Bristol Temple Meads is approximately a 15 journey to Bristol Harbour Festival. 

travel by train

The best way to travel to Bristol is by train. Great Western Railway run services into Bristol Temple Meads from London Paddington, Bath, Gloucester, Weston-super-Mare, Cardiff, Exeter and beyond. From Temple Meads station, Bristol Harbour Festival is a short walk or, better still,  ferry ride away.

GroupSave - get 1/3 off train travel when 3-9 people travel together, book direct at GWR.com [https://www.gwr.com/your-tickets/ways-to-save/cheap-tickets/groupsave

Buses run regularly through Bristol City Centre. Travelwest is one of the main operators for Bristol and they have timetables on their website. 

Cycling is a cheap and environmentally friendly way to get to us. Travelwest cycling route planner is an excellent tool to plan your journey.

Travelling Around The Festival

Here is our site-map for 2024, where you will find stage locations as well as a number of other amenities the festival will have:

At busy times please be patient and considerate of other festival goers. A one-way pedestrian system might operate at peak times across Pero’s Bridge from Anchor Square to Queen Square. 

If you are planning to cover the whole site or just concentrate on one or two areas, the following distance may help in planning your day:

Main routes

  • Queen Square to Brunel’s ss Great Britain: 0.63 miles; approx. 15 minutes
  • Queen Square to Millennium Square: 0.53 miles; approx. 10 minutes
  • Queen Square to College Green: 0.4miles; Approx 8 minutes
  • Queen Square to Cathedral Walk: 0.5 miles; approx. 10 minutes
  • Millennium Square to Brunel’s ss Great Britain: 0.64 miles; approx. 10 minutes via ferry
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Temple Meads Train Station to:

  • Queen Square: 0.68 miles; approx. 15 minutes
  • Brunel’s SS Great Britain: 1.22 miles; approx. 25 minutes
  • Millennium Square: 1.22 miles; approx. 20 minutes

Lost Children

There will be lost/found children points situated at the medical points. These can be found in Millennium Square, College Green and Queen Square.

If you have become separated from a member of your party, please notify a member of the event team (we’ll be in hi-vis jackets) who will contact our event control. If possible, leave a member of your party in the area where you last saw the person. It also helps if you write your mobile phone number on your child’s hand using semi-permanent ink!

ROAD CLOSURES

Get ready for the vibrant and bustling Bristol Harbour Festival. To ensure a spectacular and safe experience for everyone over the festival weekend, we'll be implementing essential road closures and suspending certain bus routes. These changes will transform the festival area into a car-free zone, allowing you to wander freely between the various event sites without the worry of traffic. By creating a traffic free zone, we’re putting your safety first and enhancing your festival adventure.

So, come and enjoy the festivities with peace of mind as we bring the heart of Bristol to life.

Medical

There is mediacal provision throughout the festival. Speak to a member of staff or security who will be able to assist you.

Lost Property

All lost that is handed in will be collected by the festival organiser and held for a period of time after the festival. If you have lost something please email us at harbourfestival@proudevents.co.uk and a member of the team will get back to you.

Recycling

Let’s work together to keep glass off the grass! Glass is strictly prohibited at the festival so if you bring it - please dispose of it responsibly. We provide recycling bins throughout the site which are regularly cleaned by our team. Please use the right bin to enable your waste to go into the correct recycling stream and not into landfill. Better still, take everything with you when you go!

Water Fountains

It's important to stay hydrated, particularly if the weather is hot. We will be providing water fountains around the site to enable you to refill your bottles. Water points are dotted around the festival and you can find the location of them on the map below, or download the Refill app to view them, along with a number of venues offering refills, on the go across the weekend!