Hotel & Travel
11 - 12 November 2025
M Shed Princes Wharf
Bristol, United Kingdom
We look forward to seeing you in Bristol 19 - 20 November 2024
On this page:
- Hotel booking information
- Travel information
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** Recommended Hotel
Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4QF UK
Special rate including full English breakfast:
9thNovember 2025 - Classic bedrooms available at £105 single occupancy
10th November 2025 - Classic bedrooms available at £139 single occupancy
11th November 2025 - Classic bedrooms available at £165 single occupancy
12th November 2025 - Classic bedrooms available at £165 single occupancy
13th November 2025 - Classic bedrooms available at £139 single occupancy
Car parking is available in the adjacent car park for a reduced price of £16.00 per night.
** Conference Venue: M Shed
M Shed is part of Bristol Museums. It is located on Bristol’s historic harbourside, and reveals the fascinating story of the city. It is a five to ten minutes’ walk from the city centre or a 20-minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads train station.
** Optica Welcome Dinner, Monday 10th November
If you arrive the day before the conference begins, Optica invites you to a remarkable and exclusive dinner at SS Great Britain. Experience a journey back in time and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and aromas of a Victorian dockyard.
** Optica Reception, Tuesday 11th November
Dinner reception at Aerospace Bristol. Optica will host an unforgettable dinner reception at Aerospace Bristol, dining under the iconic Concorde. A first-class meal beneath its wings and exclusive onboard access promise a truly unique and memorable evening.
Bus transportation from MShed Venue to the dinner reception will be provided.
** Travel information:
Bristol is one of the easiest cities to travel to in the UK, with excellent links via road, rail, or air.
Visit Bristol by Train
Bristol has two main train stations - Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway.
Bristol Temple Meads is the more central of the two, about a 15-minute walk away from the city centre. Trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway run very frequently throughout the day and journeying between the two stations only takes about 13 minutes.
Travel to Bristol Temple Meads:
- Direct trains from London to Bristol Temple Meads usually depart every 30 minutes and the journey lasts around 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Direct trains run between Manchester and Bristol Temple Meads and take approximately 3 hours
- You can also visit Bristol by a direct train between Bristol Temple Meads and Edinburgh with the journey taking about 6 and a half hours
Travel to Bristol Parkway:
- A direct train from London to Bristol Parkway usually runs every hour and the journey takes an hour and 20 minutes
- You can also travel by a direct train between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff with the journey lasting about 50 minutes
Taking the train is a quick way to visit Bristol and if you book in advance, ticket prices can be very reasonable.
Bristol Airport, located at Lulsgate in North Somerset, is an international airport serving the city of Bristol and the surrounding region. It was officially renamed Bristol International Airport in 1997. Bristol International airport flies directly to over 125 destinations, with connections to hundreds more across the world.
The Bristol Flyer bus service makes it easy to travel between the airport and the city centre with shuttles running every 10 minutes or so.
Travel Adaptor for United Kingdom
Do not forget to bring a travel adaptor. For United Kingdom the associated plug type is G, which is the plug that three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. United Kingdom operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
Weather in Bristol
The average annual temperature is 10.4 °C | 50.8 °F. About 824 mm | 32.4 inch of precipitation falls annually. Bristol is located in the northern hemisphere. The commencement of summer is observed at the conclusion of June and its culmination takes place in September.
