Information about Glasgow
Glasgow is a port city on the River Clyde in Scotland's western Lowlands. It's famed for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture, a rich legacy of the city's 18th–20th-century prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. Today it's a national cultural hub, home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, as well as acclaimed museums and a thriving music scene.
Accommodation map
With over 18,000 bedrooms in the Greater Glasgow area, and almost 7,000 in the city centre alone, you’re guaranteed to find accommodation which suits your taste and budget!
Whether your style is a luxury hotel retreat, a vibrant hostel, homely B&B or a comfortable city center apartment, you can be assured of a warm Glaswegian welcome. For information on accessible accommodation visit the online guide at Disabled Go.
Getting here
Glasgow is served by three international airports, with connections across the world.
Glasgow Airport
Glasgow Airport (GLA) serves most major international airlines. It's located 8 miles (13km) West of the city.
- Currently 28 daily services to London.
- Direct flights from North America with United Airlines & US Airways
- Direct flights from Canada with Air Transat
- Direct flights from Dubai with Emirates
- One-stop flights from North America with Icelandair
Getting to the city centre from Glasgow Airport
These are some of the most common connections. More information can be found at Scotland's public transport information website: Traveline Scotland
Airport buses run from the airport to Glasgow city centre up to every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, and take approximately 25 minutes.
Glasgow Taxis on arrival at the airport - bookings can be made by calling +44 (0) 141 429 7070.
Glasgow Airport Taxis are located immediately outside the terminal building or can also be booked by calling +44 (0) 141 889 1813.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport
(PIK) is 32 miles (51km) South West of the city. It's a main base for Ryanair and serves European destinations.
Getting to the city centre for Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Prestwick has its own train station. There are 3 trains per hour on weekdays and the journey to Glasgow Central Station takes around 50 minutes.
Alternatively it's an easy journey to drive via the M77 or there is an early morning and late evening express bus service, the X99/X100, which takes an hour. You can book tickets here: Express Bus Service
Edinburgh Airport
(EDI) is 39 miles (63km) from Glasgow and serves most major international airlines. You can get to Glasgow from the airport by either bus, train or taxi.
Scottish Citylink provides direct bus services from Edinburgh Airport to Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station every 30 minutes. Alternatively you can catch a bus or taxi to Edinburgh Haymarket and then catch a train to Glasgow Queen Street Station. Lothian Buses provides public transportation to Edinburgh Airport with the Airlink100 express bus from Edinburgh city centre as well as local bus services.
Glasgow Queen Street Station provides the main rail link between Glasgow and Edinburgh, with 8 direct services per hour on weekdays.
USEFUL information
Language
English
Currency
Pound Sterling (£)
Money
ATMs widely available. There are also a number of Bureaux de Change.
Credit and debit cards accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Some smaller shops and guesthouse accommodation may only accept cash.
Time Zone
Glasgow's timezone is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or one hour ahead of GMT, known as British Summer Time (BST), during the summer months.
Climate
Spring (March – May) in Glasgow enjoys mild temperatures with the city’s parks and gardens filled with spring flowers. The summer months (June to September) can vary between mild and warm and sunny, with the advantage of up to 16 hours of daylight for visitors throughout the summer. Winters are colder, with a January average of 4.0°C (39°F) and occasional snow.
Smoking
Smoking is banned in all public places including all enclosed or partly enclosed public areas.
Telephone codes
The UK country code is 44, while Glasgow landlines start with a 141 area code, followed by a 7 digit number. To call abroad, dial 00 before the area code.
Shopping
City centre shops are generally open Monday to Friday until at least 7pm and from 10am until 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Late night shopping is on Thursdays, with many stores open until 8pm. For more info on shopping click here.
Driving
Driving is on the left hand side of the road.
To drive in Scotland, you must have a valid driving licence. A foreign licence is valid in the UK for up to 12 months.
It is compulsory to wear seat belts in the front seat and if your car has seat belts in the back, they must also be worn.
Health
No vaccinations are required for visiting Scotland.
When travelling to Scotland from outside of the UK, make sure you know what emergency healthcare you are entitled to, what medicines you can bring into the country, what to do in an emergency, and what travel insurance you will need.
The Scottish Government provides detailed information on healthcare for overseas visitors in PDF, audio and large-print formats.
Electricity & conversions
The standard voltage in Scotland is 240V AC, 50Hz. North American appliances need a transformer and an adapter; Australasian appliances need only an adapter. Plugs have 3 square pins and adapters are widely available.