Parking in Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Choose your Bristol balloon fiesta parking space from our range of options. For stress-free parking, park with us!

The Bristol International Balloon Festival is a yearly event held in the South West City of Bristol in England. Teams from all over the UK and across the globe bring their hot air balloons, and there can be over 100 balloons launching at one time. The popular event has been going since 1979 and is Europe’s biggest and most spectacular event.  

The festival is held on a substantially sized country estate called Ashton Court. It runs over four days and often has crowds of well over 100,000 on each day, with two major launches being made at 6.00am and 6.00pm. It is a fabulous day out, full of plenty of activities that includes fairground rides, lots of trade stalls and a finale of fireworks. Plus, entry is free of charge, making it a perfect free day out with friends and family.

The most prevalent event is the night glow, when all the hot air balloons are inflated and glow, lighting up the night sky to music. This happens on Thursday and Saturday nights at around 9.30pm and it has been said to be the best part of the whole fiesta. A dazzling firework display then follows. Balloons such as Bertie Bassett, the Tesco Trolley and Rupert the Bear have been on display. There has also been balloons in attendance at the fiesta from abroad, a Kiwi bird from New Zealand and a UFO from the USA.

Let us meet all your Bristol balloon fiesta parking needs. YourParkingSpace provides an online platform for reserving a parking space in advance. Pre-book parking at Bristol balloon fiesta with us and avoid the stress of driving around looking for a place to park. 

Parking at the Bristol balloon fiesta alters slightly every year and there is an increase in price the closer it gets to the fiesta, below is a guideline of prices and car parks available.

Note that all car parks fill up quickly due to the event being extremely popular, so spaces come on a first come first serve basis.

The Premium car park

This car park is the closest in proximity of the Fiesta and there is only a short walk from your car to the site of the festival. Those who park here will also receive an official Fiesta programme, which describes all the events that are happening over the four days of the fiesta.

Prices costs between:

£14.44 to £27.69

This guarantees you a parking space in this car park.

The Main car park

The main car park is situated inside the Ashton Court Estate and is a slightly longer walk from the site compared to the premium car park.

Prices cost between:

£11.79 to £17.09.

Spaces will be guaranteed.

The Disabled car park

Those parking in this car park are obliged to have a Blue Badge Disabled vehicle parking permit serial number, when obtaining a ticket and visiting the Fiesta. Which needs to be displayed inside the vehicle.

Prices cost between:

£11.79 to £14.44

It is essential to prebook these disabled blue badge spaces as they sell out quickly.

There is also some limited disabled car parking that is available on the day.

Other car parks

There is also an on the day car park, which is a short walk from the main site, charges are announced on the day and these spaces are on a first come first serve basis.

Looking for a place to park for the Bristol balloon fiesta? You can browse through the options available on our website. Long-term and short-term off street Bristol balloon fiesta parking options include driveways and lock-up garages. Book your car park in advance in minutes from the comfort of your couch.

By Train:

Bristol Temple Meads (BS1 6QF) is the closest train station to the Balloon fiesta, served by Great Western Railway, which has arrivals and departures from across the UK, including direct routes to London Paddington, Glasgow central, Southampton Central and York.

There are shuttle buses which are run by First Bus between Bristol Temple Meads train station and Ashton Court Estate throughout the day.

You can also get a train from Temple Meads to Parson Street station (BS3 5PU) which takes 6 minutes and then walk 30 minutes straight to the fiesta.

Further information can be found on the GWR for the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

By Bus:

Throughout the four days of the Bristol balloon fiesta, there are frequent First Bus balloon shuttle buses which run from the city centre and Bristol Temple Meads train station, directly to Ashton Court.

By Car:

Ashton Court is in south-west of Bristol city centre, off of the A370 and can be met by the M4, M5 and M32. Giving easy access from the South West, London and Midlands.

Sat Nav postcode: BS41 9JN (this is to Ashton court, follow signs for specific car parks on arrival)

On Foot:

For those walking from the centre of Bristol, there are two main routes into the Fiesta site via Festival Way or the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

From Parson Street station the fiesta is a 30 minute walk away.

By Plane:

Bristol is an international airport (BS48 3DY) which lies only a 20 minute drive or a 42 minute bus (1 change) journey, away from the Bristol international balloon fiesta.

With arrivals from across Europe and the UK, reaching the fiesta is really easy.

There is a disabled car park available for those who hold a valid blue badge, which is very close to the vicinity of the site for the Bristol balloon fiesta, one is for pre-booked parking tickets and the other is available to purchase a ticket on the day.

Prices are from  £11.79 to £14.44.

To search for the disabled car park that is closest to Bristol balloon fiesta, see the Blue Badge Parking website. 

Do you own an empty parking space in Bristol near the Bristol balloon fiesta? Turn your vacant driveway, parking space, or lock-up garage into income with YourParkingSpace. List your space for free in only 2 minutes.

How much is parking at Bristol balloon fiesta?

Parking charges range depending on what car park you choose to park in, premium parking is from £14.44 to £27.69, standard parking is from  £11.79 to £17.09 and disabled parking  is between £11.79 to £14.44.

How much does it cost to go to the Bristol balloon fiesta?

The Bristol balloon fiesta is free of charge, the only thing you will have to pay for is parking if you choose to drive to the event.

Is there good public transport links to the Bristol balloon fiesta?

There are direct shuttle buses from the city centre and Bristol Temple Meads to Ashton Court which run throughout the four days of the balloon fiesta.