Travel and directions

Travelling to the conference venue

All the rooms used for the conference are in the Main Building of the University of Glasgow, located on University Avenue in the West End. If you are travelling there directly by taxi, ask the taxi driver to drop you at the main gate (clearly labelled as such). The Main Building (or Gilbert Scott building) is an enormous Victorian Gothic pile with a tower: if you are coming on foot, you can't miss it. To get to Hunter Halls West, which is the main location for registration and catering, go through the left-hand entrance into the Main Building, up the stairs and you will be at the entrance to Hunter West. Alternatively if you enter the building via any staircase and reach the quadrangles and cloisters, you will see clear signs to Hunter Halls. They are easy to spot as they are also currently undergoing construction work and are covered in scaffolding.

If you are travelling to the conference by underground, exit at Hillhead station, turn left onto Byres Road and then left again when you reach University Avenue, walk up the hill and the Main Building is on your right.

Campus and City Maps

City of Glasgow map

Campus maps

Travelling to Glasgow

By air:
For flights within the UK, Glasgow International Airport is served by Easyjet, BMI, British Airways and Flybe. See here for a detailed list of destinations and airlines. The airport is located just outside the city. A bus service to Central Station, Queen St and Buchanan St bus station leaves from immediately outside the terminal building (for directions from these stations to the conference locations, see below). Taxis from the airport to the conference accommodation should cost around £25. However, if you book a taxi in advance for your return trip it will be considerably cheaper. Air Flyte Taxis on 0141 956 2956 are a reliable company with a set price from the West End to the airport.

Prestwick International Airport is around 45 mins from Glasgow and is served by Ryanair. There is a train station at the airport with a low-cost, regular service to Glasgow Central Station: Ryanair passengers can usually get discounted fares if they present their boarding card and booking reference.

By rail:
Glasgow is on the West Coast and East Coast main lines and thus is easy to reach from any major city in the UK: London trains leave from Euston (West Coast) and King’s Cross (East Coast, usually via Edinburgh) and arrive either at Central or Queen St stations. Trains generally take around 4-6 hours from London. It is strongly advisable to book train tickets well in advance to obtain the best fares, which can be done online here. Please note that main line trains to Glasgow tend to be very busy at peak times so an advance ticket with a seat reservation is necessary.

Directions from Central Station and Queen St Station to the West End:
The easiest way to reach the conference accommodation or university from the city centre is by taxi. There are taxi ranks at both stations and the fare should be around £5.

Alternatively, it is possible to travel by underground:

From Queen St: Buchanan St underground station has an entrance immediately in front of Queen St station. Take the underground to Hillhead for the university (2 mins walk), or the halls of residence (20 mins walk).

From Central: St Enoch underground station is 5 mins walk from Central Station. From the front of the station, turn right and then right again on Buchanan St (the main pedestrian shopping street) to reach the underground. Take the underground to Hillhead for the university (2 mins walk), or the halls of residence (20 mins walk). 

The central bus station is 5 mins walk from Queen St Station/Buchanan St tube stop.

By car:
From Carlisle, Newcastle and the south, exit M74 on to the M73, joining the M8 at the Old Monkland junction. M8 exits for the University are J18 if travelling from the south, Edinburgh and the north and J19 if coming from Glasgow Airport and the west. Other main routes serving the University include Great Western Road (A82, north of campus), Clydeside Expressway (A814, south) and Byres Road (B808, west). Please note that car parking on the University campus and surrounding area can be difficult.

Taxis: Glasgow Taxis on 0141 4297070 are the leading black cab company and are fast and reliable.