The best train services at a tenner have been grabbed to Parkway, however more cost effective fares to and from Temple Meads, but further away from the ground, but better choice of pubs! Your choice.
Still have to be up nice and early to still get those prices but there are worse places to spend time in.
There are some coach options given if you want to pick and mix at this stage which could bring the price down to £11 return, or even £7.50 if both legs made by that form of transport from London, and of course longer, do you trust the M4?
www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk clean up on this trip, so it's off to them for all services and present costs, south west trains have just given up on the western routes, sad.
Examples (as of 28/01/12)
Out to Parkway (every hour)
London Paddington 07.45 - Bristol Parkway - 09.04 - £10
London Paddington 10.45 - Bristol Parkway - 12.04 - £18
London Paddington 12.45 - Bristol Parkway - 14.04 - £10
Back (every hour)
Bristol Parkway 18.01 - London Paddington - 19.32 - £18
Bristol Parkway 19.01 - London Paddington - 20.32 - £18
Bristol Parkway 20.01 - London Paddington - 21.36 - £10
Out to Temple Meads (every 15 minutes)
London Paddington 07.45 - Bristol Temple Meads - 09.23 - £10
London Paddington 08.30 - Bristol Temple Meads - 10.15 - £10
London Paddington 11.00 - Bristol Temple Meads - 12.39 - £18
Back (every 30 minutes)
Bristol Temple Meads 18.00 - London Paddington - 19.39 - £10
Bristol Temple Meads 18.30 - London Paddington - 20.14 - £10
Bristol Temple Meads 19.30 - London Paddington - 21.14 - £10
Bristol is in the Group Save area that can cut fares in half if four of you can travel together, and any various travelcards will make it even cheaper.
To find out more, go here:
www.daysoutguide.co.uk/groupsave.aspx
An old conundrum to get to see the Gas.
www.footballgroundguide tells us the nearest railway station is Filton Abbey Wood around 1.5 miles or 20-25 minutes walk away from the ground.
However, it's more likely though you will end up at Bristol Parkway which is about two miles away from the ground and is really too far to walk from, so you are probably best to jump in a taxi or buses 73/73A/73B run from the station past the Memorial stadium.
Parkway is indeed the best Bristol station for Rovers, Temple Mead for City, but it's a long walk. I know, I've done it, but it's nice not to be running for the last train back to London after years of midweek fixtures! At least it's another Saturday this season.
The advantage of Temple Meads is that you get dropped off in the centre of town, so a bigger range of pubs! (I've mentioned that twice now, I see atheme developing!)
The ground's at Filton Avenue and north of the town centre, this shows the way if walking from Bristol Parkway, not recommended!