Filton

Coordinates: 51°31′45″N 2°34′09″W / 51.5293°N 2.5692°W / 51.5293; -2.5692

Filton is a suburb of the city of Bristol, about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from the city centre. Filton lies in Bristol postcode areas BS7 and BS34. The town centres upon Filton Church, which dates back to the 12th century and is a grade II listed building. Further north are the towns of Patchway and Bradley Stoke.

The name of the town comes from the Old English feleþe (hay), and tūn (farm, field). The name dates back to at least 1187.

Filton has large areas of open space, which includes several playing fields, a golf course and a large airfield, Bristol-Filton.

Connections, districts and facilities

Filton can be reached from Junction 1 of the M32 motorway, or from Junction 16 of the M5 motorway. The town has a railway station, Filton Abbey Wood.

Districts within the town include East Filton, Filton Park and Northville. East Filton, which has grown up east of the Bristol-South Wales railway line and is mostly in the neighbouring civil parish of Stoke Gifford, contains the offices of the Ministry of Defence Defence Procurement Agency, plus a shopping park. Filton Park is a suburb of Bristol and lies directly on the city border, sandwiched between the A38 trunk road and Southmead Road. Filton itself lies to the north and east of Filton Park. Monks Park is to the south. Housing in Filton Park is mainly privately owned, semi-detached and 1930s built. Pre-World War I properties in the district tend to be quite large, with generous gardens. Extensive playing fields border the north-western side of Southmead Road. The golf links, on the hillside beyond, is owned by Filton Golf Club. The area has a primary school and a playgroup. Filton Park is regarded as a desirable place to live since it is close to major centres of employment such as BAE Systems, and the Ministry of Defence at Abbey Wood.