Travel to Glasgow

Traveling to Glasgow

Flights

Glasgow has three international airports within close proximity to the city; Glasgow Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Edinburgh International, all of which are within 50km of the city center. The closest of these is Glasgow Airport, which is just 10km away and has a wide range of both national and international flights. Dedicated bus routes run from all of these airports into Glasgow city center.

Train

Glasgow Central railway station is the city’s main rail hub and is the station through which all trains going to or from England pass. There are many services to the rest of Scotland, and a direct line to London and the west coast.

Bus

National Express and Megabus services are the primary coach companies that operate routes to Glasgow and Scotland. Whilst the journey is long, the services are smooth and relatively cheap, and run from all major cities within Scotland and England.

How to Get Around Glasgow

Glasgow has 4 major bus companies: First, McGill’s, Stagecoach and Citybus. Between them, they have a vast network of routes that allow visitors to get to any part of the city very easily. There is also an underground metro service, which is one of the oldest in the world, as well as local train services.

6 Day Trips from Glasgow

1. Isle of Cumbrae
The Isle of Cumbrae is one of those escapist day trips from Glasgow: it really takes you back in time. One of the Isle’s top attractions includes Lion Rock. At 65 million years old, this naturally formed rock in the shape of a lion on the hunt attracts the geologist in all of us.

2. Linlithgow Palace
Linlithgow Palace is the closest day trip from Glasgow at just 35 minutes by train. The palace is sadly no longer as glorious as it once was, thanks to a fire left by the advancing English army in 1746. However, for a ruin there are still a lot of the authentic courtyards still standing, which makes an impressive site as you wander between the high fortress’s walls..

3. Stirling Castle
It takes under an hour by either bus or train to reach Stirling Castle and is one of the best day trips from Glasgow for Braveheart fans. Stirling Bridge was where the infamous battle took place, when William Wallace and Andrew Moray reclaimed the site from the English.

4. Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond
You’re in Scotland and you’re yearning to see a loch. The one Nessy lives in is pretty far north, but day trips from Glasgow to Loch Lomond are very doable. Once there, you’ll be able to see all that Scotland’s nature has to offer – including mountain bogs and peatland.

5. New Lanark Mill
This little settlement just outside of Lanark is the furthest of these day trips from Glasgow at one and a half hours by public transport, but it is one of the most-unique-historical sites in the world.

And that’s not even including Edinburgh…
We left the obvious till last: Edinburgh is only an hour away and definitely deserves a place on our list of Glasgow day trips. Its food scene ranges from pub grub to too trendy, its bars are some of the best in Europe, and it easy to get to from Edinburgh.

About Glasgow

As the largest city in Scotland, Glasgow played a major role in the Industrial Revolution, as well as developing the largest seaport in Britain. Together with its neighbour, Edinburgh, these cities are the most popular and populated within Scotland. Despite its cold, wet climate, Glasgow has a vibrant culture and has become a popular tourist destination within Britain.

Public Transport in Glasgow

The most convenient way of getting around the Glasgow city center is usually by bus. First Glasgow provides most of the city center bus routes. With around 100 services operating in Greater Glasgow, it is easy to find a bus connection around the center and there are also several night services to outlying suburbs. Buying tickets is straightforward. All First buses accept contactless card payments, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay. In addition, it is possible to buy tickets online using a smartphone. Alternatives to the bus network include the SPT Subway, an underground rail loop affectionately known to locals as the 'Clockwork Orange,' due to its bright color scheme. Although stations on the Subway are limited, it does offer the quickest connections from  central stops at Buchanan Street or St Enoch's to Ibrox Stadium,  the University and the West End, without having to negotiate city center traffic. Ticket options on the Subway include reusable smartcards and day tickets which offer savings for travelers making several journeys.  From May to October, it is also possible to use ferry services on the Clyde,  connecting the city center with the Braehead mall, stopping at the Riverside Museum and Science Center.