A taxi from Bristol Airport to Aerospace Bristol, the museum housing the last British-built Concorde, covers around 23km (14 miles) and takes roughly 28 to 35 minutes, since the two sites sit on opposite sides of the city. There's no direct bus, so budget £30 to £60 for a taxi or around 1.5 to 2 hours for public transport via the city centre. Checked 2026.
Why it's a cross-city trip
Bristol Airport is south of the city near Lulsgate Bottom, while Aerospace Bristol sits on Hayes Way in Patchway, next to the historic Filton Airfield where every British Concorde made its maiden flight, on the north side of Bristol close to the M5. That geography means every route between the two involves either a drive right across the city on the M5 and A38 corridor, or a change of bus once you reach the centre. It's a similar cross-city journey to travelling from the airport to Cribbs Causeway, which sits a couple of miles south of Aerospace Bristol in the same part of North Bristol, so the fares and journey times below track closely with that route.
Taxi and private hire
A direct taxi or pre-booked private hire car is the only way to make the trip in one leg without a change. Route planners put the driving distance at around 23km (14 miles) and the drive time at about 28 minutes outside peak traffic, rising with rush hour congestion around the M5 and the Filton roundabout. On cost, expect a broadly similar range to the airport's other North Bristol routes, typically £30 to £60 depending on whether you book a ride-hailing app, a pre-booked private hire firm, or use the official rank, with app fares usually at the lower end and rank or pre-booked fares at the higher end. See the taxis page for how fares and booking work.
Public transport: Flyer plus a local bus
There is no direct bus from the airport to Aerospace Bristol. The practical route is:
- Leg 1: Take the A1 Airport Flyer into Bristol city centre or Temple Meads. It runs 24 hours a day, up to every 8 minutes at peak times, with an adult single fare of £9.50.
- Leg 2: From the city centre, pick up a local bus service running towards Patchway and Filton (First Bus's Line 71 serves this corridor), a journey that typically averages around 40 minutes depending on the exact stop and time of day.
All told, allow around 1.5 to 2 hours door to door once you include the change in the city centre, and check First Bus's live timetables before you travel since frequency on the Patchway routes drops outside peak times.
Driving yourself
If you're collecting a hire car at the airport, the drive to Aerospace Bristol takes about half an hour via the M5, and the museum offers free parking for all visitors, though as a charity it welcomes a donation towards its running costs. The site is not inside Bristol's Ultra Low Emission Zone, so there's no ULEZ charge to budget for on this route, unlike some journeys into the city centre itself. Brown tourist signs mark the route from M5 Junction 16, M5 Junction 17, and along the A38 from the Filton roundabout, and the museum's own postcode does not pinpoint the exact entrance, so it's worth checking the route on a map app before setting off.
What's actually there
Aerospace Bristol tells the story of the region's long aviation and aerospace industry, and its centrepiece is Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the last Concorde built and the last one to fly, housed in a purpose-built hangar on the old Filton Airfield site where it was manufactured and where it made its final landing in 2003. For anyone with an interest in aviation, or families looking for a day out that pairs naturally with flying in or out of Bristol Airport, it's a genuinely distinctive attraction that most airport guides overlook because it isn't in the city centre.
At a glance
| Option | Cost | Time from the airport | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi or private hire | Around £30 to £60 | 28 to 35 minutes, one journey | Groups, families, no changes |
| A1 Flyer + local bus (Line 71) | £9.50 Flyer single plus local bus fare | Around 1.5 to 2 hours with the change | Budget travellers comfortable with a bus change |
| Drive yourself | Free parking (donations welcome) | About 30 minutes via the M5 | Anyone collecting a hire car at the airport |
For the wider North Bristol picture, see Bristol Airport to Cribbs Causeway, and for the airport's own taxi options and fares, see the taxis page and Bristol Airport taxi prices.
FAQs
Is there a direct bus from Bristol Airport to Aerospace Bristol?
No. The airport's bus network is built around the city centre and Temple Meads, so reaching Aerospace Bristol by public transport means taking the A1 Flyer into the centre and changing onto a local bus, such as Line 71, towards Patchway.
How far is Aerospace Bristol from the airport?
Around 23km (14 miles) by road, since the airport sits south of Bristol and Aerospace Bristol sits north of the city near Filton, on opposite sides of Bristol from each other.
How much does a taxi cost from Bristol Airport to Aerospace Bristol?
Budget roughly £30 to £60 depending on whether you book through a ride-hailing app, a pre-booked private hire firm, or the airport's official rank, similar to the fare range for the nearby Cribbs Causeway route.
Is parking free at Aerospace Bristol?
Yes, the museum offers free parking for all visitors and event guests. As a charity, it welcomes a donation towards its running costs, but there's no compulsory parking charge.
What's the main attraction at Aerospace Bristol?
Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the last British-built Concorde and the last one to fly, housed in a purpose-built hangar on the site of the old Filton Airfield where it was manufactured and made its final landing.