Getting to Glasgow

Glasgows status as a major city makes it easy to reach by a number of means. The most convenient access is by air into Glasgow International Airport, located 16kms west of the city centre. Glasgow is also connected to England via the train and bus, with the main stations for both conveniently located in the centre of town. If you are driving, Glasgow lies along the path of the main British motorway network.

By car

Coming from England, the fastest route to Glasgow is along the M1 motorway north of London. Just south of Newcastle you can turn onto the A696, which soon turns into the A68, for the final leg into the city. From western England, its easier to head north on the M5 which will eventually merge with the M6. The M74 connects with the M6 and leads to Glasgow.

By rail

There are a number of train options for reaching Glasgow. The city has two main train stations: Central and Queen Street. Trains from Londons Euston station, cities in the northwest of England and towns and ports in southwestern Scotland will arrive at Central. The Queen Street station has frequent connections to Edinburgh, from where you can go onward to Aberdeen or south to London.

By bus

Long-distance coaches offer the cheapest way to get from England to Scotland. Over 20 coach companies operate services from London and other major towns to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Glasgows main bus station is on Buchanan Street, not far from the Central Train Station. National Express and Scottish Citylink are the two main companies that run buses all over Britain.

By air

Most air traffic into Glasgow is handled by Glasgow International Airport, located 16kms from the city centre. The smaller Prestwick Airport is also an option, but its located 30 miles from the city. Most major European airlines provide regular international and domestic service from destinations all over the world. Buses, taxis, limousines and the train provide ample transportation into the city.

Glasgow International Airport

Glasgow International Airport offers one of the easiest ways to arrive in the city, thanks to the plentiful and often cheap flights from England and Europe. Over 40 airlines service around 80 destinations across the world. The modern and efficient single terminal has all the usual facilities which a traveller might need. ATMs, banks and currency exchange offices can be found in the main terminal area, as well as restaurants, news-stands, gift shops and duty-free shopping. An information desk can be found in the domestic Arrivals hall on the first floor (tel: +44 0141 848 4400).

Glasgow International Airport transportation

There are several ways to get from the airport to your destination in Glasgow. Even though theres a train station 3kms from the airport in Paisley, most visitors simply take a taxi or express bus to their destination in the city. Express buses leave from the airport every 15 minutes throughout the day to the Central railway station, Queen Street railway station and Buchanan Street bus station. Otherwise, the best choice is to hire a metered taxi, which are available 24 hours a day outside Arrivals. For more information on the transportation options from the airport, call the Airport Travel Line (tel: +44 0141 848 4330).