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Major city · United Kingdom

Portishead

Give Portishead one night, not a base: marina, Lake Grounds and Battery Point in half a day, then move on. No train station, so come by bus or bike.

Portishead is a small coastal town on the Bristol Channel, about 35 minutes by bus from Bristol and with no railway station of its own. Its draw is the marina, the open-air pool, the Lake Grounds and the flat cycle path along the Avon. Most travellers see it in half a day or use it as a quiet, cheaper bed for Bristol.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (wet, windy, pool closed)
Airports
Bristol (BRS) · London Heathrow (LHR)
Nights
1

About Portishead

Portishead is a coastal town in Somerset with a population of about 25,000 (2018), sitting just south of the mouth of the river Avon in the Bristol Channel and west of the Royal Portbury Dock, a container terminal. It began as a fishing port, expanded rapidly in the 19th century around the chemical industry, and is now a residential resort town. Housing has grown quickly to meet demand from nearby Bristol, even though no direct rail link connects the two cities.

The town's industrial past is largely gone. The deep water dock became a marina with 250 pontoons, and the sites of the phosphate works and power station were cleaned up and redeveloped with low-rise flats. The sea wall and the Ashlands screen most of the container port and its car storage lots. The marina and pier are what remain of the old port.

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Portishead: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices

See

What is worth your time in Portishead.

  • Portishead Marina — A marina of 250 pontoons in the reworked dock of a coal terminal, now ringed by low-rise housing.
  • Portbury Ashlands — A nature reserve on flattened coal ash, managed by the Avon Wildlife Trust and home to water birds, otters and grass snakes.
  • Portishead Point lighthouse — A 9-m black pyramid on a concrete base, designed by the Chance Brothers and built in 1931.
  • Battery Point — Grassland on a limestone ridge that held a coastal gun battery in the Second World War, with fossils, folds and faults of geological interest.
  • Gordano Valley — A 161-ha National Nature Reserve on reclaimed land, with over 130 species of flowering plants including 3 wild orchids.

Do

  • Walk the Lake Grounds, Battery Point hill and the marina, which are free of motorised traffic.
  • Cycle the Avon Gorge route 41 from Bristol, mostly flat but gravel, then switch to route 26.
  • Ride from Clevedon on a nearly car-free route through the Gordano Valley in about 1 hour.
  • Look for fossils at Black Nore, a stretch of the pier made of alluvial sandstone.

Customs

  • The town's fishing and industrial heritage has largely disappeared through gentrification and redevelopment.
  • The town is reached by bus line X3 from Bristol in about 35 minutes, as it has no railway station since the last one closed in 1964.
Emergency numbers for Portishead111 ▾
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Portishead, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • Street or quick mealFull English breakfast£8–12 (≈ US$11–16)
  • BeerDraught beer, pint£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Metro or bus rideBus fare within town£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
  • High-end bedDouble room, a night, per room£200 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £80 (≈ US$110) · High £150 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Portishead MarinaLake Grounds and open-air poolBattery Point and the lighthousePortbury Ashlands nature reserve
Airports
BRS Bristol Airport (About 30–40 min by road; bus and taxi links via Bristol, check current services.) · LHR London Heathrow (About 2 h 30 min by road; rail to Bristol then bus.)

Map of Portishead

Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.

Abbots LeighClevedonLong AshtonSevern BeachCaldicotBristolPatchwayChepstow

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

  • Portishead
  • Basic guide

Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps

Guides nearby

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  5. May

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    15°C (59°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    11°C (52°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    9°C (48°F)

Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (22°C (72°F)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F) low), wettest Jan (13 rain days), driest Jun (8). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Portishead: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

13 rd

Feb

8°C (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

10 rd

Mar

11°C (52°F)

4°C (39°F)

11 rd

Apr

14°C (57°F)

6°C (43°F)

9 rd

May

17°C (63°F)

9°C (48°F)

9 rd

Jun

20°C (68°F)

12°C (54°F)

8 rd

Jul

22°C (72°F)

14°C (57°F)

8 rd

Aug

22°C (72°F)

14°C (57°F)

9 rd

Sep

19°C (66°F)

12°C (54°F)

9 rd

Oct

15°C (59°F)

9°C (48°F)

12 rd

Nov

11°C (52°F)

6°C (43°F)

13 rd

Dec

9°C (48°F)

4°C (39°F)

13 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre, marina, Lake Grounds and Battery Point are all walkable, roughly 20–30 min end to end. Buses run within town and to Bristol; a bike opens up the Ashlands and the Gordano Valley. No train station: the nearest is Avonmouth, about 40 min by bike.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Bristol

go

Door to door: About 45–60 min

First Bus X3 from the town centre, about 35 min

Harbourside, museums and rail links; the obvious full day out.

Clevedon

go

Door to door: About 1 h by bike

Bus or bike via Clevedon Lane and Clapton in Gordano, about 1 h by bike

Pier and seafront; the Gordano Valley route is a National Nature Reserve.

Weston-super-Mare

go

Door to door: About 45–60 min

Bus or car south along the coast

Bigger beach and pier; pairs well with a Portishead stop.

Bath

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Bus or car to Bristol, then rail to Bath

Roman baths and Georgian streets; a full day.

Cheddar

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Car via the A38 and A371

Gorge and caves; awkward without a car.

Wells

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Car or bus via Bristol

Cathedral and market square; small enough for a half day.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Marina and Newfoundland Way

New flats, waterside restaurants and the lock gate; quietest for a couple.

High Street and town centre

Shops, cafés and buses; walkable to the marina in about 20 min.

Bristol (as a base)

More beds, nightlife and rail; X3 bus to Portishead in about 35 min.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
High
£120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room1 × 1 night × £110£110
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £80£160
X3 bus Bristol ↔ Portishead, both ways2 × £8 · check£16
Open-air pool entry, adult2 × £5 · check£10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£32
Trip total≈ £174 per person per day, bed included£348≈ US$500

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to and from Portishead excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Full English breakfast£8–12 (≈ US$11–16)
Pub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Fish and chips£10–15 (≈ US$14–20)
Draught beer, pint£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
Bus fare within town£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Portishead is a low-crime residential town and safe to walk by day and evening. The real risks are the Severn's fast tides and mud, slippery coastal paths, and wind and rain off the channel.
  • No railway station; the nearest is Avonmouth, about 40 min by bike or 2 h on foot.
  • The open-air pool is seasonal (roughly Apr–Oct) and closes outside those months.
  • The Severn estuary has very high tidal range and mud: don't walk out on the flats.
  • Coastal paths and the pier can be slippery and windy in winter.

Emergency numbers

NHS non-urgent
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

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PortisheadPortishead

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies in Portishead; the US embassy is in London and most consulates are in Bristol or London (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • X3 bus Bristol → Portishead: about 35 min (check fare)
  • Taxi Bristol → Portishead: £25–35 (≈ US$35–50) (check)
  • Open-air pool, adult: £5 (≈ US$7) (check season)

Say or show

  • Excuse me / Sorry — Excuse me / Sorry
  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Please — Please
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?

English is the only language you need here.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Portishead. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (wet, windy, pool closed) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BRS: last bus and taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters: marina and lock gate, High Street, Lake Grounds and Battery Point, Ashlands.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (pool season, marina, Ashlands) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Tide and weather fixtures so coastal walks can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources

Ask about Portishead

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