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Home » Travel » Bristol Ferry Boats

Bristol Ferry Boats

• September 14, 2021

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Ferries In Bristol

Making your way around Bristol can be more exciting than hailing a taxi or catching the bus. Bristol offers a number of boat trips that can either get you from A to B or take you on a wonderful tour of the city, all from the riverside.

Catch a glimpse of Bristol beneath the surface of the city’s hustle and bustle and connect to the countryside scenes on a boat trip. These fantastic tours give you a different perspective, letting you see sights you’d miss on foot. With tours taking you around the harbour itself, directly to harbourside attractions, to the train station or even out for a meal, there is bound to be an option you love.

Ferry Operators

https://www.bristolferry.com

Bristol Ferry Boats is the main ferry company in Bristol. They are a community owned organisation and purely focus on providing the city with this fantastic service, not making a profit.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bristol Ferry (@bristolferry)

At the moment, all boat tours are suspended due to COVID-19 , though they hope to be up and running again on April 3rd 2021 (this date is subject to change). In current times, Bristol Ferry Boats is struggling due to COVID-19, though you can support the group by pre-booking your 2021 tickets or making a donation, both of which can be done through their website.  

Under normal circumstances, Bristol Ferry Boats run every day of the year, bar Christmas Day, in the pouring rain or bright sunshine – the fleet are all covered and heated so you don’t need to worry about the weather stopping your trip. Though on some of the longer trips, the river breeze can be a little chilly, so Bristol Ferry Boats recommend wrapping up cozy and warm!

If you fancy a preview before you book, you can catch a glimpse of a virtual tour on the Bristol Ferry Boat social media sites – @bristol.ferry on Facebook or @bristolferry on Instagram.

Bristol Ferry Boats have a fleet of five, named Margaret, Independence, Emily, Matilda and Britgantia and offer six tours for you to choose from.

Avon Gorge Trips

Adult £18.50, Child £16.50

This trip takes you along the scenic River Avon, beginning at Brunel’s SS Great Britain, moving through the historic gates into the lock. Along the tour you can expect to see The Rocks Railway, Old Steamships Dock, to travel under the Clifton Suspension Bridge, past Horseshoe Bend, the Old Powder House, the ancient Sea Mills port and local village Pill.

Tea, coffee and snacks are available to buy on the boat, though customers are more than welcome to bring a picnic with them. This makes it a wonderful midday activity if you’re spending a weekend in Bristol.

This trip is 3 hours 30 minutes long and returns you to the harbourside after the tour. The departure site is Brunel’s SS Great Britain, so for those in wheelchairs, if you contact Bristol Ferry Boats, then a more accessible pick up site can be arranged.

For the Avon Gorge Trip, departure times are between 9:05am and 14:45 pm. Book a slot early if you have a particular time in mind, as these time slots are based upon availability.

Brunel’s Bristol Gorge Trip

Adult £15.00, Child £12.00

The departure for this tour is Temple Meads Landing, just a short stroll from the Temple Meads Train Station. This makes is a fantastic choice to kickstart your day if you’re coming into Bristol by rail.

Brunel’s Bristol Gorge Trip takes you past the first tunnel bridges, by the SS Great Britain, towards the Lock gates, underneath the Clifton suspension bridge and by the floating harbour, via the Avon Gorge.

The trip lasts roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes , so there are tea, coffee and snack facilities on board, or bring a picnic of your own, if you prefer.

Departures are at regular intervals between 10:10am and 17:55pm , depending on the times available when you book your trip.

Rum Cruise or Gin Cruise

If you pick one of these two cruises leave the kiddos at home! These two tours both take you around the harbour. Enjoy a gentle boat trip, floating through the harbour, around the docks, and have a few drinks.

If you opt for the Rum Cruise, you’ll get two free rum based drinks included in your ticket price; if the Gin Cruise is more up your street, you’ll get two free gin-based drinks. Of course, on either cruise you can buy more on board.

The departure location for these cruises is the Bristol City Centre Landing, scheduled for the cruises to begin at 19:00 pm.

Bands at Beeses

This is an incredible experience absolutely worth checking out. Enjoy a steady and gentle boat trip to Beeses.

The route there is incredibly scenic and beautiful, a great way to start the evening. Once you are at Beeses, enjoy your meal, a few drinks, and watch the live band.

Each Friday there is a different act and an alternating menu. So, if you have a wail of a time, be sure to check it out more than once; it certainly won’t get boring. You can visit Beeses’ website ( https://www.beeses.co.uk/groups.html ) to see the most up to date menus and line up of acts.

This boat trip to Beeses is one way but staff are happy and able to help with advice on using the First Bus system to get you home or to your accommodation safe and sound.

The closest bus stop to Beeses is on Fermain Avenue.

Your ticket with Bristol Ferry Boats gets you your one-way trip and your meal at Beeses. When you book your ticket, specify in the ‘order notes/ requirements’ section if you have any dietary requirements to ensure your meal is what you expect to receive.

The Bands at Beeses boat trip leaves from Welsh Back Ferry Landing at 18:00pm. The journey to Beeses is approximately an hour, and Beeses itself closes about midnight. Don’t forget cash for drinks onboard!

Unfortunately, the steps at Beeses may be difficult for wheelchair users to

 navigate and so it is generally advised by Bristol Ferry Boats to select a boat trip in a more accessible location.

This is a popular trip for large groups, so if your party is a big group, Bristol Ferry Boats request that you arrange a private hire. This means both you and other guests make the most out of your trips.

Sunday Riverside Roast

Adult £25.00, Child £19.00

A British necessity on a Sunday is a roast dinner, but why not jazz it up a bit? Enjoy your traditional Sunday lunch with a twist, taking a boat trip to the Beeses Tea Gardens.

There are a range of roast dinner options available for you to choose from, including different dietary requirements if notified beforehand. You can eat in the famous gardens. The price for the trip includes a return journey and a meal – a phenomenal bargain. A child’s ticket will, however, come with a child’s portion of food, so consider this when booking, especially if you have older children with you.

These trips are incredibly popular (no wonder why!) so make sure you book well in advance. The trip is a total of 3 hours , leaving from Welsh Back at 11:00am, and returning at 14:00pm. It is also worth noting that the steps at Beeses are not wheelchair accessible, and so some customers may struggle and choose a different riverboat journey if necessary.

Number Seven Boat Trips

https://www.numbersevenboattrips.com/

Another popular boat trip company within Bristol are Number Seven Boat Trips. This company offers their tours on weekends and during school holidays, making them a great choice if you’re bringing the little ones along with you.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Number Seven Boat Trips (@numbersevenboattrips)

Find them on Facebook at @NumberSevenBoatTrips for the latest updates.

At present, Number Seven Boat Trips have been paused, due to COVID-19 government guidelines restricting unnecessary travel. They hope to be up and running again, as soon as it is safe to do so.

Perhaps the more unique aspect of Number Seven Boat Trips are the themed boats. These are available for private hire and are reportedly a great choice for hen and stag parties, work events, or even just for a ladies’ or lads’ night out.

Sunday Brunch Cruise

£22.50 per person , though group deals are available.

The Sunday Brunch Cruise is a 1 hour and 30-minute boat trip.

It includes the peaceful journey as well as a choice of three brunch options and the Number Seven Boat Trips’ signature ‘Ale Mary’. 

The cruise departs at 10:30am on (you guessed it) Sundays, from Prince St. Bridge.

Curry Night

£25 per person

This is another great boat ride and a meal trip, also lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Enjoy your curry main and a side dish as you travel along the riverside. Your price also includes a Butcombe beer.

Departure for the Curry Night trips is at 19:00pm on Thursday evenings from the Cottage Inn (postcode: BS1 6XG ).

Bristol Harbour Tours

£5.00 per person

This is a ferry service that lets you see the city from a new angle. The tour guides you around the Bristol Harbour, between Hotwells and Temple Meads.

The duration of this trip varies significantly so Number Seven Boat Trips don’t give an estimated time here.

Cross Harbour Ferry Service

90p per person, under 5 free

This trip is less about the exciting journey of being on a boat and a simple method to get to the other side of the harbour. This journey takes you from Capricorn Quay to Brunel’s SS Great Britain, an approximate 25-minute walk without the Cross Harbour Ferry.

This service is available 7:30am – 18:15pm Monday to Friday, and 10:30am – 17:30pm Saturday and Sunday. This is available every day, with the exception of Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

This cruise takes you on a boat trip stopping by 2 pubs. You stay ashore for 40 minutes at each stop, giving you plenty of time for a drink, and then the group heads back to the boat. This journey lasts approximately 3 hours.

The Party Boat picks customers up from the Cascade Steps in the Bristol city centre, completes the 3-hour journey, and returns to the city centre.

Beeses River Trips 2020

Book a river boat journey to Beeses with Number Seven Boat trips’ Saturday journeys to Beeses. There are departure options at 12:00pm and again at 14:00pm, with the journey lasting approximately 4 hours.

Hotwells Ferry

The Hotwells Ferry is a great way to move around the city instead of the bus or a taxi. Hotwells Ferry stops in the Bristol City Centre, the Arnolfini, Lloyds, the Buttery, the SS Great Britain, Gas Ferry North, Mardyke, Pump House Cottage and then The Hand.

Temple Meads Ferry

The Temple Meads Ferry is another fab choice to make your way around Bristol. Beginning in the Bristol City Centre, the route has stops by the Arnolfini, Lloyds, Bathurst Basin, King Street, Totos, Castle Park, and then Temple Meads. This is a superb way to make your way around the city, especially if you arrived by train to the Temple Meads Station.

Enjoy your Ferry ride!

Whether you’re looking for an interesting way to make it around the city, searching for an evening activity or want to add an extra part to a jam packed day trip, a boat trip around Bristol gives a new, unique vantage point, letting you see the ins and outs of this vibrant city.

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We're Now Closed for Christmas

See you in the new year, city dock tours, running weekends & daily in school holidays, book a private boat party, choose from our fleet of classic boats, avon gorge cruises, take a relaxing cruise under the iconic clifton suspension bridge, 45min trips running weekends & daily in may half-term, river trips & cruises, city dock tours, cream tea cruises & river trips running throughout the easter holidays., give friends and family something to look forward to, our vouchers can be used towards any trip in 2024 or 2025, private parties & events, we are taking bookings for small groups in summer 2020.

Private Hire

Charter any of our boats for a private event or celebration on Bristol’s Floating Harbour and rural stretches of the Avon

Whatever the weather or the occasion our beautiful and distinctive boats will make your private event an experience to remember. Each trip can be tailored to your individual needs and every boat features a fully licensed bar, WC and music facilities as standard. Whether you’re looking for a classic ‘Booze Cruise’ for your birthday, a drinks reception for your conference, or a Cream Tea Cruise for your community group we have everything you need.

Harbour Trips

Public harbour trips, cross harbour ferry services are currently operating..

Public Trips are currently suspended in order to minimise any risks to our passengers.

We will return to normal services as soon as possible.

Cross Harbour Ferry

The "Mary Brunel" operates our Cross Harbour service seven days a week between Hanover Quay and the S.S Great Britain.

Monday to Friday 07:30 to 18:15 Saturday and Sunday 10:30 to 17:30

The ferry runs on-demand within these hours and not to a set timetable The fare is £1.20.  Children five and under travel free.

Monthly tickets are available for just £18, allowing unlimited use for the whole month. Services operate every day except December 25th and December 26th.

Copyright © Number Seven Boat Trips Ltd. 2023 All Rights Reserved

Ferry Trips

There's no better way to visit us!

Friday Ferry Trips

Bristol ferry / no. 7 boat trips.

Looking for a fun Friday night? Then hop on a Bristol Ferry or No. 7 Boat Trips ferry to our Friday night band nights at Beeses! The ticket includes the lovely ferry ride up the River Avon, a meal at Beeses and LIVE entertainment from some of the UK's best bands. What more could you ask for?!

Saturday Ferry Trips

No. 7 boat trips.

Book in with No. 7 Boat Trips for a special Saturday afternoon activity visiting Beeses. Set in an idyllic location on the River Avon, we boast a beautiful garden and are a stones throw from Eastwood Farm Nature Reserve.

Sunday Ferry Trips

Bristol packet / bristol ferry.

What better way to spend a Sunday then a leisurely boat ride up the River Avon, then a delicious Sunday roast at Beeses, booked through Bristol Ferry. If you fancy a late afternoon drink, then why not hop on a Bristol Packe t boat trip.

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About Beeses...

Whether you're looking for the perfect place to host your wedding or special event, or trying to find that ideal spot in the sun to enjoy a drink by the river - then Beeses is the place for you! We open from Easter weekend every year. Check the opening times before you visit! We hope to see you soon.

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You are here: Home > Inspire Me > Bristol Experiences > Boat Trips

Experience Bristol from the water with these boat trips.

Take your pick from ferry rides up and down the Floating Harbour, themed cruises on the water, afternoon tea trips up the River Avon and wildlife spotting trips to the Avon Gorge with local experts. Tours run all year round, so whenever you visit you'll be able to hop aboard a boat trip in Bristol and experience the city from a new perspective.

Boat Trips in Bristol

Bristol Ferry Boats  and Number Seven Boat Trips offer scheduled ferry services, which you can hop-on and use to get from A to B, or spend longer and do the full round-trip of the harbour. Stops are located around the Harbourside, just look out for the boards, or head over to their websites for details of times and services. Bristol Ferry Boats also do longer themed tours in the spring and summer.

Bristol Packet Boats  offer lots of different tours, including harbour tours, afternoon tea and lunch trips up the scenic River Avon, day trips to Bath and Avon Gorge cruises. Check out their tours below, or on their website.

The Matthew  is the replica of John Cabot's 1497 ship that he used to discover Newfoundland, and is open for visits and cruises around the harbour throughout the year. Whether you're into your naval history or just like the idea of cruising around the harbour while enjoying a fish & chips dinner, this is a boat trip experience like no other in Bristol. 

Most of the companies offer private charter and hire, so get in touch and travel in style with your group. Avon River Cruises are available exclusively for private hire.

Browse the full list of boat trip options below...

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Tags: Boat Trips in Bristol, Bristol Boat Trips

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Avon Gorge Cruise with Bristol Packet Boat Trips

Relax and unwind on the river as you enjoy spectacular views of Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge.

Explore the Avon Gorge trip aboard The Matthew

A three to four hour trip down the Avon, under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and along the Avon Gorge to Pill and back. Lock out into the river through one of the deepest locks in the world!

Pub Lunch Cruise with Bristol Packet Boat Trips

Cruise upstream along beautiful rural stretches of the Avon and enjoy the full 'riverboat experience' as you navigate through Hanham Lock before stopping for lunch.

Harbourside

Spectacular views of Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge as you head downstream towards the Bristol Channel. Passengers are welcome to bring their own picnic. Tea, coffee, snacks and fully licenced bar on board.

Go on a boat trip with Captain Barnacle

This pirate pantomime show features lots of pirate props, puppets, comedy and lashings of audience participation.

Cream Tea Cruise on Bristol Packet Boat Trips

Take in the sights and hear about Bristol’s rich maritime history as you cruise through the Floating Harbour and up onto rural stretches of the Avon.

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