There are a number of different route options, depending on where you are coming from. Using images taken from dash-cam recordings on my own journeys, I’ve put together a number of sets of directions into Bristol and to the Arnos Manor hotel.
There are some gaps – for example, I’ve only covered one main route in from each direction, with no alternatives, and none of my regular journeys take me out towards Bath, so I’ve been unable to cover the route in from that direction – but those I have put together should cover the majority of people driving to the show.
The three main routes covered here, therefore, are:
Whichever direction you are coming from, please be aware that there is a bus lane on Bath Road as you come towards the hotel. Its hours are 7:00am-10:00am and 4:30pm-6:30pm, Monday to Friday, and there is a camera located at the top of the hill.
1. Coming South on the M5, or either way on the M4
If your journey to the Southwest Show in its Arnos Manor Hotel venue takes you Southbound on the M5, or either Eastbound or Westbound on the M4, your best route to the venue brings you into Bristol on the M32. Those coming on the M5 should join the M4 Eastbound at junction 15, aka the Almondsbury Interchange, then follow these M4 directions:
Leave the M4 from either direction at Juntion 19 – this will bring you onto the M32.
The M32 only heads Southbound into Bristol from here, but as you join it, make sure you are in either the middle or right lane – the left lane is for the ring road.
You need to stay on the M32 until Junction 3.
As you leave the M32, turn left onto the A4320. You are heading towards the A4 (Bath Road).
Stay on the A4320 until you reach the Lawrence Hill Roundabout, which you will need to cross straight over, taking the second exit onto St Phillips Causeway, marked A4 Bath.
Go straight across the first set of lights, and when you reach the first roundabout, go straight across. For the Arnos Manor Hotel, it’s better to be in the right hand lane as you approach.
Note that while there are two lanes as you approach the roundabout, there are three as you exit – and the one to aim for is the right hand lane.
The next roundabout is almost immediately after, and here you need to take the third exit, signposted for the A4320, Bath (A4) and Shepton Mallet (A37). Like the previous roundabout, you need to be in the righthand lane as you exit this one.
Stay on this road, and in the lane marked A4 Bath, as you approach the lights, passing the Black Castle restaurant on the left and the filling station and Burger King on the right.
Note that there are two sets of lights – and the hotel entrance is on the right immediately after the second set. However, you should remain on this road for a little while longer. Head up the hill, and turn left at lights at the top, onto Tramway Road.
Follow the road around the small green, keeping to the right, so that the Lodekka pub is on the left when you reach the second set of lights. Turn right here to head back down the hill to the hotel.
If you miss the Tramway Road turn, and pass the Lodekka on the left, you will be able use a one way system a little further on to turn around.
Just after this, you reach a short one way system. As you head around it, keep right, and you’ll find yourself coming back on yourself. I have no images to support the approach to the one way system itself, but once you are around it, keep to the middle lane as you continue along the A4 (Bath Road).
Shortly after that, you will head down a short hill, and the hotel entrance is on the left, just after the bus stop and before the junction.
2. Coming North on the M5
Coming North on the M5, you should leave the motorway at Junction 22 and head towards Bristol on the A38 – just as if you were heading for the old show venue, the Webbington Hotel.
As you come off the M5 at Junction 22, you’ll initially be heading away from the motorway towards a roundabout, rather than encountering one at the end of the slip road.
When you reach the roundabout, take the third exit, using the lane marked A38N – signposted for Bristol A38, Cheddar (A371), and Weston-Super-Mare (A370)
As you travel along this stretch of road, make sure you are in the lane marked A38 B’tol.
After about five and a half miles along the A38, you’ll reach a pub called the Lamb Inn and a row of cottages, with a turning on the left signposted for the Webbington – which you can now ignore!
And soon after that, you’ll reach the village of Cross, and the New Inn – and another turn off for the Webbington. Stay on that A38!
You need to remain on the A38 for quite some distance; stick with it as you pass Bristol Airport and many other junctions. Ultimately, you need to remain on the A38 until you reach the Lime Kiln Roundabout. Take the third exit at this roundabout, which is signposted Wells (A37), Bath (A4), A4174.
Keep going straight along this road, following signs for M4, M32, A37 and A4. (Ultimately, you are heading for the A4.)
The next roundabout has three exits – take the second, signposted as Ring Road.
Soon after, the road will start to climb a hill; remain in the lefthand lane, signposted M32, M4, City Centre (A4)
At the top of the hill is a mini-roundabout controlled by lights – being in the lefthand lane means you will be taking the first exit.
Stay on this road, as you go down reach the bottom of the hill.
Again, remain on the A4 (Bath Road) as you go up the hill, and straight across this junction.
Keep to the middle lane as you continue along the A4 (Bath Road).
Shortly after that, you will head down a short hill, and the hotel entrance is on the left, just after the bus stop and before the junction.
3. Coming North on the A37
Coming North on the A37, these directions begin as you approach Witchurch Village.
Your route on the A37 is fairly straightforward at this point – simply stay on the A37. As you leave Bath & North East Somerset, the A37 becomes Wells Road.
Keep heading straight along Wells Road, going straight across the lights at this junction and the next.
Eventually, you will reach a short downhill stretch, where you will need to select the righthand lane.
You now have two choices. You can either turn right at the first set of lights, onto West Town Lane (the B3119), or you can turn right at the lights at the bottom of the hill, onto the A4174. (In terms of traffic, it makes no difference – if one is busy, they both will be).
Depending on at which set of lights you chose to turn, follow the directions in one of the two highlighted sections, then continue from where there is no further highlighting.
If you opted to turn right onto West Town Lane, follow the road until you reach a mini-roundabout, and take the first exit.
Again, keep following the road and you will eventually reach this junction. Take the second exit over so that you the shops you can see are on your left.
If you chose to turn right at the second set of lights, onto the A4174 (heading towards St Philips Marsh), I have no image of the approach to the lights. However, the next junction you will reach after your right turn is a roundabout has three exits – take the second, signposted as Ring Road.
Soon after, the road will start to climb a hill; remain in the lefthand lane, signposted M32, M4, City Centre (A4)
At the top of the hill is a mini-roundabout controlled by lights – being in the lefthand lane means you will be taking the first exit.
As you cross over and exit the junction, you need to be in the lefthand lane – you are now heading inbound on the A4, also signposted for the M4 and M32.
Stay on this road, as you go down reach the bottom of the hill.
Again, remain on the A4 (Bath Road) as you go up the hill, and straight across this junction.
Keep to the middle lane as you continue along the A4 (Bath Road).
Shortly after that, you will head down a short hill, and the hotel entrance is on the left, just after the bus stop and before the junction.