Getting There And Away
Glasgow International Airport, 16km (10mi) west of the city, and Glasgow Prestwick Airport 48km (30mi) southwest of Glasgow, handle domestic traffic and international flights. Many budget airlines fly from Prestwick airport to London Stanstead airport.
All long-distance buses arrive and depart from Buchanan Bus Station. Buses to/from London are very competitive with a variety of lines available. Prices and the duration of the journeys vary.
As a general rule, Central Train Station serves Southern Scotland, England and Wales, and Queen St Station serves the north and east of Scotland. There are local buses every 10 minutes between them. From London's Euston and King's Cross Stations there are up to seven direct trains a day to Glasgow. They aren't cheap, but they are much faster and more comfortable than the bus. ScotRail has the West Highland line heading north to Oban and Fort William and other direct links to Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. Train travellers who are planning to travel the country for a few days or more are advised to purchase a Freedom of Scotland travelpass or a Highland Rover pass.
Getting Around
Glasgow has an excellent public transport system, especially the local rail network. The Roundabout Glasgow ticket covers all underground and train transport in the city for a day. If you're going further afield, get the FirstTourist ticket.
Local bus services around the city are frequent. It helps to have exact change when you board. First Glasgow publishes the complicated but useful Glasgow Mapmate, which shows all local First bus routes.
Taxis are plentiful in Glasgow (and the drivers can be a mine of information), plus there's an extensive suburban network of trains in and around Glasgow; tickets should be bought before travel if the station is staffed, or from the conductor if it isn't. There's also an underground line that serves 15 stations in the centre, west and south of the city. The rail network connects with the Underground at Buchanan St station.
