Travel to Glasgow

Flying to Glasgow

Airlines offering flights to Glasgow from the UK include British Airways, easyJet, Flybe and Ryanair. United and US Airways operate direct flights from the USA. March to August is the peak time for visitors travelling to the city, particularly July and August. The best time to book cheap flights to Glasgow is January and February.

Flight times

From London: 1 hour 30 minutes

From New York: 7 hours 30 minutes

From Los Angeles: 13 hours 30 minutes (including stopover)

From Toronto: 6 hours 40 minutes

From Sydney: 24 hours 30 minutes (including stopover).

Travel by road

Traffic in the UK drives on the left and overtakes on the right. Main roads are designated by a letter, followed by up to four numbers - an 'M' indicates a motorway, 'A' a major trunk road and 'B' a minor road. The speed limits are 113kph (70mph) on motorways, 97kph (60mph) on single-lane main roads and 48kph (30mph) in built-up areas.

The minimum age for driving is 17 years. Overseas driving licences and valid for driving in the UK for up to one year, a valid International License will be helpful but not needed. Insurance is mandatory. In addition to licences or permits, overseas visitors using their own car should bring registration documents and check with their insurance company as to whether a Green Card is needed.

Breakdown service, traffic updates and general motoring information are available from the AA (+44 800 88 77 66, www.theaa.com) and the RAC (+44 800 82 82 82, www.rac.co.uk).

Emergency breakdown services

Contact details for emergency breakdown services in the UK:
AA: +44 800 88 77 66
RAC: +44 800 82 82 82

Routes

Glasgow is linked to Edinburgh by the M8 motorway (passing west to the airport and the Clyde Coast) and to England by the M74, which becomes the M6 further south, towards Manchester and Birmingham. From Birmingham, the M40 continues southeast to London. The Clyde Valley Tourist Route, a more scenic route that runs through the valley parallel to the M74, has distinctive brown and white signs to guide motorists.

Coaches

Coaches arrive at Buchanan bus station, Killermont Street

Scottish Citylink (+44 871 266 3333, www.citylink.co.uk) offers regular coach services between Glasgow and Edinburgh (1 hour 20 minutes). Longer distance services from most major Scottish towns and cities (including Campbeltown, Fort William, Skye, Inverness and Aberdeen) are also available. National Express (+44 871 781 8181, www.nationalexpress.com) operates nationwide services from London, Manchester and other destinations.

Time to city

From Edinburgh: 1 hour 15 minutes
From Balloch: 40 minutes
Inverness - 3 hours 20 minutes
Manchester - 3 hours 30 minutes
London - 8 hours

Travel by Rail

Services

Glasgow has excellent rail links to other parts of the UK and is served by two main rail stations: Glasgow Central station, Gordon Street, which has train services from London and other English cities, while Queen Street station, Queen Street, receives more basic services from Edinburgh and the north of Scotland. Buses link Central station with Queen Street station and Buchanan Street bus station.

Operators

Virgin Trains (+44 871 977 4222, www.virgintrains.co.uk) operates West Coast mainline services to London Euston, while LNER Trains (+44 345 722 5333, www.lner.co.uk) runs services on the East Coast mainline route to London Kings Cross via Edinburgh.

ScotRail (+44 344 811 0141,www.scotrail.co.uk) offers a night-train service on the 'Caledonian Sleeper' to Euston, offering services from Oban, Fort William, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness, as well as a regular service from Edinburgh to Queen Street station and from Carlisle, Largs, Lanark, Ayr, Kilmarnock, East Kilbride, Dumfries and Stranraer to Glasgow Central station.

Journey times

From London: 4 hours 30 minutes
From Birmingham: 5 hours
From Manchester: 3 hours 30 minutes
From: Edinburgh: 50 minutes.