Useful information about Glasgow
Location
Glasgow is situated on the west coast of Scotland, within the Central Belt.
Official Language
The official language is English. Many speakers use a variety of Scots and Standard Scottish English, though like many large cities you will experience a range of different accents.
Time zone
Glasgow's time zone is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or one hour ahead of GMT, known as British Summer Time (BST) during daylight saving time in the summer months.
Currency and exchange
Great British Pound - GBP £, Sterling. Foreign currency and travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks, post offices, travel agents, bureau de change kiosks and some hotels throughout the city. Credit cards are widely accepted in Glasgow and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) or cash machines can be found throughout the city.
Climate
Glasgow is one of Scotland's milder areas with temperatures usually higher than most places of equal latitude away from the UK, due to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. Summer is warm and has the added benefit of 16 hours of daylight. Autumn can feel pleasant with mild temperatures and sunny days. Check the weather forecast before you arrive.
Visa requirements
You will only need permission (known as 'entry clearance' or 'a visa') to come to the UK for a business visit of up to 6 months if you are a visa national. Currently 108 countries require a visa to enter the UK. You can apply for a visa within 3 months of intended date of travel at visa sections at UK embassies, high commissions and consulates and through visa application centres around the world. The visa is valid for 6 months.
If you are a non-visa national, permission to come up for 6 months is not needed. For more info on visas click here.
Tipping
There are no rules for tipping in Scotland. If you are happy with the service then a 10-15% tip is customary, particularly in a restaurant or cafe with table service. Tipping in bars is not expected. For taxi fares, tipping is at your discretion.
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
Glasgow has a wide range of original, designer, and high street shopping outlets. City centre shops are generally open Monday to Friday until at least 7pm and from 10am until 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Smoking
Smoking is banned in all public places including all enclosed or partly enclosed public areas.
Electricity & conversions
The standard voltage in Scotland is 240V AC, 50 Hz. 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.
Driving
The UK drives on the left hand side of the road. To drive in the UK you are required to have a current driving licence. A foreign licence is valid in the UK for up to 12 months. It is compulsory to wear a seat belt in the front seat and if your car has seat belts in the back, they must also be worn.
VAT
All purchases in Britain, with the exception of food and books, are subject to VAT, which increases the cost of an item 20%. This is already included in the price shown in shops.
Visitors from non-EU countries can claim a refund of VAT from selected shops on goods to be taken out of the country under the Retail Export Scheme.
Healthcare
EU citizens are entitled to free or reduced cost medical treatment at National Health Service hospitals. With the exception of accident and emergency, all non-EU members will be charged for medical treatment and must have adequate health insurance when travelling.
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required prior to visiting Scotland.
Emergency services
In case of an emergency, police, ambulance and fire brigade can be contacted by telephoning 999.
Things to do in Glasgow
- Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow's west end (great for little and big kids!) and then head down to the award-winning Riverside Transport Museum.
- Glasgow was the UK's first UNESCO City of Music and you can find out more about the diverse musicians, venues and performances across the city on one of the Glasgow Music City Tours.
- In the evening, head back to the West End for dinner and drinks at Oran Mor (with a stunning mural painted by author Alasdair Gray) or the many bars in Ashton Lane.
- Featuring the University of Strathclyde, the Glasgow Mural Trail is a downloadable map of the many amazing murals painted on city centre buildings.
and Beyond...
- Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is a large national park to the west of Glasgow. Trains take about 50 minutes from Glasgow Queen Street Station.
- Just before the conference, Edinburgh will host the annual International Festival (this includes the fringe festival and book festival). There are far too many things to recommend but The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle is always worth a visit.
- Rabbies Tours offer short tours around Scotland, including a special Outlander tour.
- Whisky is Scotland's national drink and there are many distilleries around the country that are worth visiting for a wee dram. The People Make Glasgow website has a list of local and further afield distilleries here.
Conference venue and directions
University of Strathclyde
Founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute, University of Strathclyde is Glasgow's second-oldest university, having received its royal charter in 1964 as the first technological university in the United Kingdom. Taking its name from the historic Kingdom of Strathclyde, today it is home to 23000 students from 100 countries. In 2019, it was awarded the Times Higher Education Award for UK University of the Year, and it was named Scottish University of the Year in the Good University Guide 2020.
Conference venue at the University of Strathclyde: Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC), 99 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RD
From Glasgow International Airport
The airport bus, the Glasgow Flyer (no. 500) leaves every 10 minutes from the front of the airport (stance 1). (It is a small airport so you should have no trouble finding the stop). Tickets can be bought on the bus for £14.00 return or £8.50 for a single journey. Get off at Queen Street Station: the driver normally shouts out the stops and Queen Street is the stop which comes after Central Station. This stop is on the Strathclyde map and is a 10 minute stroll to the campus.
To return to the airport, there are bus stops on North Hanover Street or on the south side of George Square. You can also go to Buchanan Street Bus Station where the bus departs from.
We have arranged an offer with Glasgow Taxis during period 24th August - 2nd September. If you book a taxi with them using their app, which you can download from Android and Apple play stores, the fixed price from Glasgow Airport to City Centre will be £18.00 and the reverse trip will be £21.00. This is only available when using the app and discount code EFT1.
From Prestwick Airport
The airport has a train station, with frequent services to Glasgow Central Station. See airport website.
From Central Station
Trains from English destinations arrive here. It is about a 10-15 minute walk to the campus. Or you can get a taxi (£3-4). If you walk, turn right out of the station's front entrance and keep going straight ahead until you cross over Buchanan Street and reach Exchange Square. Go left around the church, now an art gallery and then if you turn left you will reach George Square. Diagonally across the middle is quickest and then you can see where you are on the Strathclyde map.
From Queen Street Station
Trains from Scottish destinations arrive here. Queen Street is shown on the campus map.
Local Accommodation
Information to follow
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