There is no direct bus or coach from Bristol Airport to Wells or Glastonbury, so a taxi is the practical option for most travellers. A taxi to Glastonbury averages around £61 and takes about 50 minutes, according to Uber's own route data. Wells is a little closer, roughly 20 miles from the airport. Distances and journey times checked August 2026.
How far are Wells and Glastonbury from Bristol Airport?
Wells, England's smallest city and home to Wells Cathedral, is about 20 miles from Bristol Airport, according to Wells Cathedral's own visitor information. Glastonbury, a few miles further south, is around 24 to 25 miles from the airport by road, roughly 38 kilometres, taking in the A38 and A39 through the Mendip Hills. Both are well outside the airport's usual coach network, which focuses on Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare and Portishead rather than rural Somerset.
Taxi to Glastonbury: cost and time
Uber's published route data for Bristol Airport to Glastonbury puts the average journey at 50 minutes and an average price of £61, based on a distance of around 38 kilometres (about 24 miles). That figure moves with time of day, demand and the exact ride option you choose, so treat it as a guide rather than a fixed fare, and get a quote from your chosen operator before you travel. A pre-booked local taxi with a fixed price removes the uncertainty of app surge pricing, which matters more on this longer, less-travelled route than on the short hop into Bristol.
Taxi to Wells: cost and time
Wells is roughly 4 to 5 miles closer to the airport than Glastonbury, so expect a slightly shorter and cheaper trip, typically in the region of 40 to 45 minutes by road. Bristol Airport does not publish a fixed fare for this route, so as with Glastonbury, get a quote from a pre-booked operator or check current on-demand pricing before you travel rather than relying on an estimate.
Why there's no direct bus
Bristol Airport's own coach network, the A1, A2, A3 and A4 Airport Flyer services, runs to Bristol city centre, Portishead, Weston-super-Mare and Bath. None of these routes extends to Wells or Glastonbury. If you want to use public transport for part of the journey, the practical approach is the A1 Flyer into Bristol, then a connecting regional service onward, which adds significant time compared with a direct taxi and is rarely worth it for a single traveller.
Once you are in the Wells area, local public transport improves: First Bus runs regular services connecting Wells with Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Shepton Mallet and Glastonbury, according to Wells Tourism's own visitor guide. That network is genuinely useful once you have reached Somerset, just not for the first leg from the airport itself.
No Uber or Bolt in Wells or Glastonbury
This is worth planning around if you are relying on a ride-hailing app for the return leg. Wells Tourism's official guidance states plainly that on-demand ride and car-sharing apps such as Uber are not available in the Wells area. Instead, both towns are served by local taxi firms that you book directly by phone. In Wells, these include Wookey Taxis, Cathedral Taxis, Avacab and Silverline Taxis. If your plan is app-first for the outbound leg and a local firm for the return, book the return taxi in advance rather than assuming you can hail one on the day, particularly outside daytime hours.
Comparison table
| Destination | Distance from airport | Taxi time | Indicative taxi cost | Direct bus? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | ~20 miles | ~40 to 45 min | Get a quote; no fixed published fare | No |
| Glastonbury | ~24 to 25 miles | ~50 min | ~£61 average (Uber data) | No |
| Bath, for comparison | ~18 to 19 miles | ~45 to 60 min | £45 to £70 indicative | Yes, Air Decker A4 |
| Weston-super-Mare, for comparison | ~15 to 16 miles | ~25 to 35 min | £40 to £60 indicative | Yes, A3 Flyer |
Bath and Weston-super-Mare both have a direct airport coach because they sit on the existing Flyer network; Wells and Glastonbury do not, which is the main reason a taxi is the sensible default for both. For the full picture on the airport's coach services, see our public transport guide, and for the routes that do have a direct coach, see Bristol Airport to Bath and Bristol Airport to Weston-super-Mare.
Visiting for the day versus travelling with luggage
If you are heading to Wells Cathedral or Glastonbury Tor for a day trip without heavy luggage, and you are comfortable with two changes, the Flyer into Bristol followed by a regional bus is workable but slow. For anyone arriving with cases straight off a flight, or travelling as a family or group, a taxi is faster, avoids the change, and often works out at a similar cost per person to piecing together two separate coach fares. See our taxis and ride-hailing guide for how Bristol Airport's rank and pre-booked options compare.
FAQs
How far is Glastonbury from Bristol Airport? About 24 to 25 miles, roughly 38 kilometres by road, taking around 50 minutes by taxi according to Uber's published route data.
How far is Wells from Bristol Airport? About 20 miles, according to Wells Cathedral's own visitor guidance, typically a 40 to 45 minute drive.
Is there a direct bus from Bristol Airport to Wells or Glastonbury? No. The airport's Flyer coach network covers Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare and Portishead only. Reaching Wells or Glastonbury by public transport means the Flyer into Bristol plus a separate connecting service.
How much does a taxi from Bristol Airport to Glastonbury cost? Uber's own data puts the average fare at around £61, though prices vary with demand and time of day, so get a live quote before you travel.
Can I get an Uber in Wells or Glastonbury for the return trip? No. Wells Tourism confirms that on-demand ride apps do not operate in the area, so book a local taxi firm in advance instead.
Is it worth taking public transport instead of a taxi? Only if you are travelling light, solo, and not in a hurry. The Flyer plus a connecting bus adds real time compared with a direct taxi, and once you are in Somerset the local First Bus network between Wells, Glastonbury, Bath and Weston-super-Mare is a reasonable way to get around.
Bristol Airport Guide is an independent travel guide, not affiliated with Bristol Airport. For fares and times to other popular destinations, see our routes overview, and for the full range of taxi options at the airport, see taxis and ride-hailing.