From the Airport to the City
Glasgow airport (0141 887 1111/ 0141 848 4330) is located eight miles (14km) to the south-west of Glasgow at Junction 28 of the M8. It is linked by a bus station to Buchanan Street Bus Station by a service which runs every ten minutes from 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Saturday and less frequently during off-peak times. Gilmour Street rail station in Paisley is just two miles away and is linked by a frequent bus service. Taxis are widely available at the airport.
Glasgow by Bus
Private bus operators (notably First Glasgow, 0141 423 6600 and Stagecoach: Glasgow, 0141 333 1100 ) provide a comprehensive network of services from early morning until about midnight. You can get on a bus from clearly signposted bus stops in the street - just put out your hand to indicate that you wish the bus to stop. Please note that most buses run an 'exact fare' policy where money is entered directly into a cash box next to the driver and a ticket is then issued with no change given. Prices vary, but a fare of approximately £1.15 should get you on most rides within the city. Night bus services operate at weekends only, when they can be quite boisterous. Tourist bus services operating from George Square are a very popular and informative way to see the city sites. Bus services to and from other UK towns and cities depart from Buchanan Street Bus Station (0141 332 7133).
Glasgow by Underground
The Glasgow Underground has twin tunnels providing a circular service which links 15 stations. The Outer Circle runs in a clockwise direction and the Inner Circle in an anti-clockwise direction. Trains are frequent (approximately one every five minutes) and a flat fare operates: 90 pence for any number of stops. Tickets must be bought in advance of the journey either from a machine or from the ticket office at the station. Hours of opening: Monday-Saturday 06.30-23.15 and Sunday 11.00-18.00.
Glasgow by Rail
An extensive network of regular and frequent local rail services operates in Glasgow, its suburbs and the West of Scotland. Most suburbs and towns within this area are accessible by train, however, the level of service varies greatly and some stations are closed on Sundays. Free timetables are available for each line from the appropriate train station and should be checked before traveling. Telephone enquiries can be made to 0345 484950.
Tickets should be purchased in advance of traveling from the station Booking Office or from the conductor on the train if the station booking office is closed. If you are staying outwith Glasgow and do not want to drive into the city, you can use the 'Park-and-Ride' system which allows free parking at suburban rail stations, where you then continue your journey by train. CCTV protects most of the parking facilities - the Park-and-Ride also operates at four Glasgow Underground stations.
Glasgow by Taxi
Glasgow has approximately 1500 traditional London-type black hackney taxis, all of which are licensed by Glasgow City Council. Each taxi is fitted with a sealed meter which has been approved by council officials and displays the current fare at all times. A fare card stating the tariff should be displayed in a prominent position within the taxi - as should the driver's license card. As a rough guide, a three mile journey will cost in the region of £7, remember the 10% tip for a good job. Each hackney taxi can carry up to a maximum of five passengers - please do not ask the driver to carry more, as it will cost him his license if he does.
