Airport transfers

Our coach transfer service for our new International and EU students travelling from Heathrow Airport, London to Bristol is now open.

Let us know when you plan to arrive at UWE Bristol 

We are here to help with support and travel guidance simply email Global students at globalstudents@uwe.ac.uk. 

Changing your airport transfer booking

If you need to make a change to your airport transfer booking, please email Andrew at Hosts International at andrew@hosts-international.com to request a change.

Please note: Do not fill out the booking form again as this may cause confusion. We also cannot guarantee that we'll be able to accommodate your changes if your request is later than five working days before your travel date.

No, please book your flight tickets first as we will need your flight details to secure your booking.

It costs £10 to secure a seat on an airport transfer coach. Students and friends/family can book a space at the same cost of £10.

The payment is not made as part of the initial booking you make. You will be contacted by email by our airport transfer booking team to take the payment from you.

Please note: It will take at least 24 hours for the email to arrive. 

For onward travel from London to Bristol, you can bring either:

• two medium suitcases and hand luggage (this must not include a carry-on sized suitcase)

or

• one large suitcase and hand luggage (this can include one carry-on sized suitcase).

Airport, transport and UWE Bristol staff members won’t be able to help you carry your luggage. Please make sure that you can carry and lift your luggage independently while you travel and move from the transfer vehicle to your accommodation. You can pre-order and buy essential items online and in person when in the UK.

Are there extra charges for bringing additional luggage?

You will be asked how much luggage you plan to bring on the booking form. If you bring more luggage than the allowance you may not be able to travel on the coach as there is limited space for luggage on each coach. In this instance, there may be space on the last coach of the day or you may have to travel to Bristol independently.

Will I be able to travel with any medication?

It might be useful to pack painkillers in your suitcase, ideally a painkiller that will help to reduce a temperature if required. Please be aware if you need to travel with any other prescribed medication, you will need to prove it has been prescribed to you. Please refer to government guidelines on travelling with medication for further information.

The airport transfer is for new international and European students. If you are a returning student, please contact us at globalstudents@uwe.ac.uk and we will assist you with travel information and answer your questions about onward travel to Bristol.

Family or friends accompanying new international students to help them settle in can also book a coach seat for the same charge of £10. It is the same price for senior citizens and children.

You will be asked to provide the following information when booking an airport transfer:

• Student name
• UWE Student ID (this is your welcome identification number)
• Mobile phone number
• Your email
• Nationality
• Airline
• Flight number
• Arrival date
• Flight arrival time
• Flight arrival airport
• Number of bags/luggage
• Number of passengers to transfer
• Accommodation address

Please note: some payment details will be required to secure your booking. Incomplete bookings cannot be processed, so make sure that you complete the booking form fully.

Contact details

Where we have asked for your mobile telephone number, please supply it. We will need your mobile phone number to contact you if there is a change to your transfer time or if we need to contact you in an emergency.

*The departure time can change depending on the timing of flights.

You will receive an email (within 48 hours before your coach transfer) which includes:

• details of where to meet the team at London Heathrowalong with their contact information
• the exact departure time of our coaches.

Arriving in Bristol

The coach will arrive in Bristol approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes after the departure time from Heathrow (traffic dependent).

Changes to coach departure times

Transfer departure times may change if we can reduce waiting time. If it affects your transfer, you will be notified.

You will receive full details by email within 72 hours (three working days) of your airport transfer date. This email will be sent to the email address you gave us when booking the airport transfer.

Transfer meeting point details

• All coach departures will leave from London Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 on the day you have booked your airport transfer.
• When you arrive at the airport, make your way to the International Arrivals hall in Terminal 2 using the London Underground System or walkways.
• In the International Arrivals hall, the transfer meeting point is outside the shop called 'Boots' – check Heathrow's interactive map for directions.
• A member of staff will be waiting at the transfer meeting point in a hi-vis jacket holding a UWE Bristol sign.
• If there is time to wait until the coach departure time, you will be told when to report back to the meeting point.

Please note: It is important to arrive at the transfer meeting point on time. If you miss your transfer and there is no later coach, you will have to make your own way to Bristol.

Three days before you are due to travel, you will receive contact details and a telephone number (including WhatsApp) that you will be able to call/message if you need support.

Our team will check your flight details and can track any delays. However, if you become aware of any delays upon arrival in the UK (such as long delays in customs) then please send a message to the WhatsApp number (free wi-fi at Heathrow Airport) you will receive an email advising of airport transfer arrangements.

If anything changes after you have booked your transfer (visa or flight changes) contact Andrew at Hosts International at andrew@hosts-international.com and the Global Student Support team at globalstudents@uwe.ac.uk as soon as possible (type URGENT and your arrival date in the subject line).

There are four drop-off points in Bristol:

If you are not staying in our campus accommodation, you can be dropped off at either Rupert St (Bristol City Centre) or at Temple Meads Train Station. It is possible to take either public transport (train/bus) or a taxi at your own expense to your final destination.

Yes, please make sure that you arrange your accommodation in advance. It is very important that you find accommodation before arriving in the UK, as the University cannot offer you a room while you search. Please arrange temporary accommodation if needed.

It is your responsibility to let your accommodation provider know when you are arriving and that you have made arrangements with them to collect your keys and access your room. If you know you will be delayed in collecting your keys, it is your responsibility to inform your accommodation provider.

If you need advice about UWE Bristol managed accommodation, please contact accommodation@uwe.ac.uk. Please check your email regularly for up to date information.

For private accommodation information please contact advice@uwe.ac.uk and read the guidance available on the SU Advice website.

Travelling by coach or rail from London airports

You can make your own arrangements to travel to UWE Bristol by national bus companies or by rail.

If you decide to fly into London Heathrow and travel to Bristol by coach, there are some direct services. The journey takes around two hours, however this can be longer depending on traffic. The two most popular coach services in the UK are National Express and Megabus.

Alternatively there are rail services in operation. Further information is available on UWE Bristol campus locations and travel options.

Information on transport options from London airports can be found on the London Heathrow Airport website and London Gatwick Airport website. If you decide to travel via London, remember to plan your journey via Heathrow Airport or Gatwick Airport journey planner.

For travelling to Bristol on a coach, it is recommended that you:

• book your coach ticket in advance to get a cheaper price.
• check luggage allowance carefully. You may need to buy extra luggage allowance or an extra passenger ticket if you have a lot of luggage.

Arriving on a different airport transfer date

Our travel management company called Hosts International are happy to receive requests from our students to arrange travel independently. Contact Andrew at andrew@hosts-international.com to make a separate arrangement.

Airport transfer bookings are non-refundable

Please note that if you decide to travel to Bristol independently after making an airport transfer booking, the charge for booking is non-refundable.

If you travel to UWE Bristol via airport transfer from Heathrow airport and decide to disembark at our Frenchay Campus, one of our team will meet you from the coach and take you to comfortable area so that you're able to arrange your onward journey to your private accommodation. Students are expected to make their own travel arrangements onto their accommodation from Frenchay Campus.

We recommend you download the First Bus app, Bristol’s bus transport app that makes travelling by bus easier. There is a very regular bus service from our campus to the city centre. Alternatively if you wish to book a taxi, the popular UK taxi apps are Uber and Euro Taxi.

The cost of a single fare by bus to the city centre is £3 and by taxi it is £15 to £20.

Please note: travel costs to your accommodation are at your own expense.

Before you leave your home country, check with your existing provider that you’ll be able to use your phone in the UK and that it won’t be ‘locked’ to your home network. Check the costs of using your phone in the UK on your existing network (known as ‘roaming’) – if it’s expensive, make sure you switch off roaming on arrival to avoid a big bill.

It may be more cost-effective for you to buy a UK Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) SIM card than to use roaming on your existing network. Popular UK phone networks* include EE, Three, O2, Vodaphone, LycaMobile, and Giffgaff. If you plan to make international calls (rather than call home using an internet-based app such as Whatsapp), LycaMobile and Giffgaff offer cheap international calling. For a comparison of the various UK PAYG SIM deals, visit a UK comparison website.

The cheapest way to buy a PAYG SIM card is online or at a local convenience store or supermarket. If you want to get connected quickly, you can also buy SIM cards at the airport on arrival. If you want to use the SIM card immediately, make sure the card includes some pre-paid credit (known as a pre-paid PAYG SIM).

If you are arriving at Heathrow, you might be able to buy a SIM card from:

• WH Smiths (Terminals 2, 4, and 5)
• Sim Local (Terminal 2, 3 and 5; and underground in Terminal 2)
• WeKnow tourist information (Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5)
• a Prepaid Tourist SIM vending machine.

If you want to contact your family to let them know of your safe arrival, it might be possible to use the airport Wi-Fi to do so.

*UWE Bristol does not endorse any particular service.

You can order groceries and other necessities from online shops and supermarkets. Please ensure that you have a suitable pre-paid card or bank account to make online purchases.  

You also might find it useful to pre-order a kitchen, bedding, cleaning, bathroom starter packs. This option is available for all students both living in university-managed and private accommodation. Take a look at these available starter packs.

We also encourage you to ask your flatmates, friends and family for support. More information about support and services on the campus will be provided closer to the date.

There are many ways people can get food or essentials delivered. Supermarkets that offer contactless deliveries are as follows: 

• Tesco
• Sainsbury's
• Ocado 
• Iceland
• Asda

Most restaurants offer contactless deliveries, which can be ordered through the following apps: 

• Just Eat 
• Uber Eats
• Deliveroo

Please email globalstudents@uwe.ac.uk with any questions.