Getting to and around Glasgow
Getting to Glasgow
Glasgow is within easy reach of three international airports: Glasgow International Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Edinburgh Airport.
All three airports are linked to the city centre by bus or train. Travel times from each airport to Glasgow city centre:
| Glasgow International Airport | 7 miles, 20 minutes by bus, bus & train or taxi |
| Glasgow Prestwick Airport | 33 miles, 50 minutes by train (with three trains every hour) |
| Edinburgh Airport | 42 miles, 60 minutes by bus (direct route from Edinburgh Airport to Glasgow's main bus station) |
There are regular daily flights between international hubs such as London, Amsterdam, Dubai or Reykjavik and direct flights from a number of North American and European cities. Emirates and Etihad airlines also fly into Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports.
There are a range of direct low cost European connections run by operators such as Easyjet, Jet2 and Ryanair.
Getting from Glasgow International Airport to Glasgow City Centre
By Bus: Take the Glasgow Express service 500 (every 10 minutes) from stance 1 at Glasgow Airport to Bothwell Street at Hope Street near Glasgow Central Train Station (journey time approximately 20 minutes). Tickets can be purchased from the driver.
By Train: The nearest train station to
By Taxi: Follow the signs for the taxi rank, which is located across the road from the arrivals terminal.
Our recommendation is to use the Glasgow Airport Express bus service which is frequent, fast and cost-effective.
Getting from Edinburgh Airport to Glasgow City Centre
By Bus: Scottish Citylink provides direct bus services from Edinburgh Airport to Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station every 30 minutes.
Getting from Prestwick Airport to Glasgow City Centre
By Train: Prestwick Airport has a train station at the terminal. Take the train (every 20 minutes) to Glasgow Central Station (journey time 45 minutes).
Getting from Glasgow City Centre to The University of Glasgow
By Subway: Glasgow's Subway system, one of the oldest in the world, serves the University and the West End at frequent intervals (every 4-6 minutes during the day). The nearest station to Glasgow Central train station is St Enoch and the closest station to Glasgow Queen Street and Buchanan Bus Station is Buchanan Street. All day Subway ticket cost £4.20.
From either station to the University's main building, take the Inner Circle to Hillhead station. Turn left out of the station onto Byres Road, and left again at the crossroads onto University Avenue.
By bus: Routes 4 and 4A (from Bothwell Street) run through the main campus from the city centre. All day Bus ticket cost £4.60 (buying on bus). A Glasgow city tourist bus also stops at the University.
By Taxi: Taxis from the city centre to the West End costs approximately £8.
Getting around the city
Glasgow is a compact city and it is easy to get around on foot. Public transport is also safe and efficient.
There is a subway system plus extensive bus and train networks for getting around the city and beyond. Black taxis are also a safe and cost effective option if you are travelling as part of a group. Glasgow's taxi drivers are known to be some of the friendliest in the world!
Glasgow also has a city-wide public cycle hire scheme, operated by Nextbike, with 400 bicycles for hire from 31 locations around the city.
Questions? Please contact Quintin Cutts (School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow, Scotland).