Travel: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Glasgow
So you’ve managed to hitch a ride to the convention on a Vogon spacecraft, but now you need to get around the city. Here are some ways you can get about on public transport—hopefully without being subjected to anymore awful poetry.
There are a lot of public transport options in Glasgow—the low-level trains, the subway, and buses, all of which take contactless or card payments. Cash payments are accepted at some stations/buses, but you may not necessarily get change. Be sure to keep your ticket for the train and subway because you’ll need them to get off again.
For getting to the SEC, the Exhibition Centre train station is just a five-minute walk from the convention; the Conference Rover train ticket allows you five days of travel through specified stations for £5, and gives you a discount for travelling outside of this area. The trains run from Argyle Street, through Central Station low level, to Exhibition Centre. There is also the Conference Centre bus stop, right outside the Armadillo, but be aware that many bus companies operate in Glasgow and tickets are not transferable between the companies. The SEC is also right next to the Clyde Walkway, a forty-mile-long cycle path, if you prefer to walk or cycle along the riverside to the convention from the town centre, or from points further west.
Outside of getting to and from the convention, the trains are a fast and cheap way to travel through most of Glasgow and beyond, especially with the Conference Rover discount. The buses also offer cheaper tickets for multiple days of travel. The subway train runs in two concentric circles, clockwise and anti-clockwise, and has stops in the west end, town centre, and south of the river. The subway trains run every 4-8 minutes, depending on the time of day, and have recently been upgraded.
If you’re travelling from Glasgow Airport to the SEC by public transport, the simplest way to travel would be to get a shuttle bus from the airport to George Square, in the town centre, and then get a train from Argyle St or Central Station to Exhibition Centre. If you’re wanting to get a taxi instead, Glasgow Taxis are offering membership holders discounted travel for their pre-booked taxis.
Food
When you’re needing to restock your daily rations, there are a few choices in and around the convention. If you can’t possibly tear yourself away from the convention, inside the SEC there is a McColl’s—this is a ‘corner shop’ style shop, selling sandwiches, drinks, snacks, and similar things.
If you prefer some fresh air and a change of scenery, there are also some shops in the Finnieston area of Argyle St, north of the Exhibition Centre train station. The accessible enclosed walkway over the motorway, by the entrance of the SEC, takes you to the station. Here, in addition to a lot of restaurants, there are plenty of supermarkets and corner shops. The closest are the Lidl, Tesco Express, and Sainsbury’s Local. The Lidl is a full-sized supermarket, and very budget-friendly. The Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local are like large corner shops.
The Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local both offer meal deals, which you can find at most supermarket chains in the UK and are a more affordable option if you are looking to buy lunch; they allow you to get a main (like a sandwich, pasta salad, sushi, etc.) with a snack and a drink for around £3.50-£5.00, depending on where you are shopping.
Health
Hydrate Before You Die-drate
The quality of the tap water in Scotland is a point of national pride. While you can technically buy bottled water from the shops, it will generally not be as good as the tap water that is available. Unless it explicitly has a sign at the sink saying that it is not drinking water, you are safe to drink all tap water in Scotland, even from public bathrooms. Most people choose to have a reusable water bottle that they refill themselves. If you don’t feel comfortable refilling your water bottle in a bathroom, food service places, like cafes, restaurants, and bars, will give you tap water for free or refill your water bottle for you if you ask. Restaurants are obliged to provide you with free tap water with your meal, if requested.
The convention site has air conditioning, which can make the air very drying, so we recommend making sure you stay hydrated. The SEC will have two water bottle refill stations on the concourse, and all the tap water in the bathrooms is drinking water.
At-Home Covid Tests
If you wish to use them, at-home Covid tests are available to buy from most high street pharmacies. Boots is the most common pharmacy chain with multiple shops throughout Glasgow. The closest to the SEC is on Argyle Street in the Finnieston area and there are also a few in the town centre.
Tips and Tricks
- If you’re on an escalator, you stand on the right on and walk on the left.
- This is the same in a corridor—if there’s lots of people, you walk on the left.
- Because we drive on the left, when crossing the road, look right, look left, look right again, and if all clear, now cross.
- It will probably rain and it will probably be cold—bring an umbrella and jumper, you’ll need them.
- You can’t drink alcohol outdoors in Glasgow, and this includes visibly carrying open bottles of alcohol. Be sure to have a tote bag with you if you’re bringing an open bottle of wine back to your accommodation.
- Worst-case scenario and you get hopelessly lost and confused—Glaswegian folks are a friendly bunch and you can stop any stranger on the street and they’ll help you out.
Useful Links
Conference Rover Train Ticket: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/tickets/conference-rover
Trains: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
Subway: https://www.spt.co.uk/travel-with-spt/subway/
Buses: https://www.travelinescotland.com/bus-coach-operators
Journey Planner: https://www.travelinescotland.com/lts/#/travelInfo
Boots Covid Tests: https://www.boots.com/health-pharmacy/covid-19-information-products-and-testing
Public Water-bottle Refill Taps: https://www.yourwateryourlife.co.uk/find-my-nearest-tap/
Glasgow Public Parks: https://www.visitglasgow.com/see-do/outdoor-activities/parks-gardens
Children’s Play Parks: https://www.glasgowwithkids.co.uk/our-favourite-playparks-in-glasgow/
Members’ Benefits: https://glasgow2024.org/for-members/member-benefits/
Members’ Discounts: https://glasgow2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/glasgow_delegate_offers.pdf
Alan and David’s Fan’s Guide to Glasgow: https://glasgowguide.etrigan.org/doku.php?id=start
Ila Khan (They/He) is a member of the Glasgow 2024 Social Media team, and was also on the Social Media and WSFS teams for Dublin 2019. They have been involved in fandom since 2005, though technically their first convention was the ‘95 Worldcon, when they were a month old. They have a degree in Maths, a postgrad in teaching, and recently graduated for a third time with a degree in Interior and Spatial Design.
The 82nd Worldcon will take place in Glasgow, August 8–12, 2024. We can’t wait to welcome you to Glasgow and the SEC/Armadillo for a Worldcon for Our Futures.