Glasgow is located on the west of Scotland and is well connected by air, rail and road, making it easy to travel to and from other parts of the UK and beyond.
By Air
Glasgow is served by two main airports: Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Glasgow International is the larger of the two, located about 8 miles west of the city centre, with excellent transport links, including a shuttle bus service that runs 24/7. The airport serves a range of domestic and international destinations, including major cities in Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport is located around 30 miles southwest of the city centre and is primarily used by low-cost airlines. While it may be further from the city, Prestwick still has excellent transport links to Glasgow, with frequent trains and buses connecting the airport to the city centre in around 45 minutes.
Glasgow also has another international airport nearby:
Edinburgh Airport, which is 39 miles from Glasgow. You can travel to and from Glasgow using the Citylink AIR Glasgow Service 900 and the Citylink 902 Coach. The Gitylink AIR Glasgow Service 900 departs every 30 minutes, 24/7. The Citylink 902 coach will operate hourly between Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport. We have found that Edinburgh often has more direct flights, and reduces the need to change at a hub airport.
You may also wish to travel to another UK city such as Manchester or London and finish your trip by rail.
By Rail or Bus
The main station in the city centre is Glasgow Central, which is situated on the north bank of the River Clyde. From here, passengers can catch trains to destinations across Scotland and the UK, including Edinburgh, London, and Manchester. Several high-speed train operators serve Glasgow, including Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, and LNER (London North Eastern Railway).
Glasgow also has another major station – Glasgow Queen Street – which is located about half a mile north of Glasgow Central and serves destinations throughout Scotland. This station is within short walking distance of the conference venue. Websites such as Trainline and Scotrail are useful in planning rail trips.
Glasgow city centre itself has the Glasgow Subway: a small, underground metro system consisting of one circular line that serves the city centre and surrounding areas. Public transport in Glasgow such as the subway or bus travel is very easy and affordable.
It is also possible to travel via bus which is cheap but may involve a long journey. National Express and Megabus are popular options.
By Road
The M8 motorway runs past the city centre and connects Edinburgh to Glasgow. The M74 connects with the M8 from UK locations in the south.
Like most large cities, finding a parking space in Glasgow city centre can be a challenge due to the high demand and limited availability so be sure to consider where you will park if arriving by car.
You may find it cheaper to find a hotel with parking on the outskirts and use the Subway or overground railway to reach the centre.
By Ferry
You can travel to Scotland by ferry from the major ports of Belfast and Larne in Northern Ireland. Ferries dock at Cairnryan in the southwest of Scotland, with a bus service taking passengers to the city centre in 2 hours 10 minutes.
You can also travel from mainland Europe. You can arrive in either:
- Hull in the northeast of England where it’s around a 4 hours drive to the Scottish border.
- Newcastle, which is around a 2 hours 40 minutes drive from Glasgow.
Bikes
People Make Glasgow Next Bikes are available to rent from as little as £1 for 30 minutes and e-bikes from £2 for 20 minutes. The closest Next Bike location is at 40 George Street, outside the Graham Hills Building. Find out more on the Next Bike website.