Please find an overview about all necenssary information to travel to Scotland, UK here.

VISA

Visiting the United Kingdom

EU, European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss citizens need a passport which should be valid for the whole stay in the UK. A visa is not required for holidays nor short trips below six months. Further information here.

For most other non-EU countries, in addition to a valid passport, a visa is required to enter Scotland. You can find a visa national list here and check whether a visa is required for you and your travel purposes here. Detailed information can be found here.

ECSS congress invitation letter

The local organisers of the ECSS annual congress can issue a congress invitation letter in case it is requested by the respective Embassy/Consulate. Please note that invitation letters are issued to registered congress participants only. Please follow the below instructions to obtain an invitation letter which apply to everybody, regardless of having submitted an abstract or not:

1. Log into or create a new ECSS account.
2. Scroll to ‘myCongress’ and pay your registration fee.
3. Please send a request for a congress invitation letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., indicating your ECSS account ID.
4. The invitation letter will be sent to you in PDF format via email. If you require a printed copy, please mention this in your email request and provide the postal address.
5. As the visa application process might be lengthy, we strongly advise you to register for the congress in due time. Please find further information regarding the registration fees and deadlines here and here.

Please book your embassy appointment as early as possible, as depending on the embassy, it could take up to several months to get an appointment.

We encourage participants from Iran to contact the honorary consulate in Tehran early in advance to secure an appointment at the consulate.

Travel Information

Getting to Glasgow

Glasgow is in west central Scotland and easily accessible by road, train, air and sea. Further information on ferry, train and plane booking websites can be found here.

Arrival by plane

Glasgow is served by three international airports, with connections across the world. There are over 45 flights from London a day. Further information here. An Airport Express Bus takes you from the airport to the city centre in 15 minutes. Further information here.

Arrival by train

Within the UK several options are availble to arrive by train. Check out the UK rail map and buy tickets in advance with Avanti West Coast, National Rail, Scotrail or Transpennine Express for group travels. An overview of the Scotrail network with connections to ferries and Edinburgh can be found here.

Getting to the Scottish Event Campus

Our congress venue, the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), is located just outside Glasgow city centre in the west-end. The campus is accessible by numerous transport options which are described below.

Address: Scottish Event Campus, Exhibition Way, Glasgow, G3 8YW, UK
www.sec.co.uk

Train: The SEC has its own dedicated railway station – Exhibition Centre – allowing easy access from the city centre and suburbs. There are six trains an hour (around every 10 minutes) from Glasgow Central station, departing from Platform 17 (low level). Further information here.

Scotrail Conference Rover: There is an exclusive offer for all congress delegates to travel unlimited within the conference zone for just £5 for 5 days! This ticket can be purchased at any of the below train stations by showing your congress badge or congress registration confirmation. Further information here.

Bus: The X19 Stagecoach service operates near to the SEC, stopping on Finnieston Street only a few minutes’ walk from the venues. Further information here: X19 Stagecoach timetable.

Taxi: There is a Glasgow Taxis pick-up and drop-off point outside the OVO Hydro. There are several taxi ranks throughout the city including at Buchanan Bus Station, Queen Street and Central stations and most large hotels. The distinctive black cabs can accommodate five or six people. If their yellow light is on you can flag them down on the street. Alternatively, you can call +44 (0) 141 429 70 70 or visit the Glasgow Taxis website to book. Our address for the online taxi booking form is SEC, Glasgow, G3 8YW. An average journey from the city centre will cost around £7. All Glasgow Taxi drivers are enhanced disclosure checked.

Drop off/Pick up: The drop-off/pick-up zone runs an accessible transfer service to the OVO Hydro, dropping off within 130 metres of the OVO Hydro south main entrance. Further information here.

Car/Parking: From 1st June 2023 the Glasgow City Centre Low Emission Zone (LEZ) came into force. If you’re driving to the SEC via the City Centre you may be subject to a charge, so please check your route and vehicle compliance before travelling. The SEC is conveniently situated for motorists, just off the M8 motorway and with plenty of parking. Further information here.

Bike: Glasgow is linked to the National Cycle Network and has designated cycle lanes on many roads. The SEC is accessible via many cycle lanes and paths including one particularly picturesque route that runs alongside the River Clyde. Further information here.

Walking: Glasgow is a very walkable and easy to navigate city. The Clyde Walkway runs right past the SEC, providing an invigorating start to daytime events, or a scenic stroll to night-time happenings. There are two foot bridges, which cross the Clydeside Express Way (dual carriageway connecting the west end to Glasgow city centre) at both the front and rear of the campus. Three pedestrian bridges traverse the River Clyde near the SEC. Bells Bridge and the Millenium Bridge connect the campus to the Science Centre and BBC while, a little further east, the Clyde Arc (affectionately known as the ‘Squinty Bridge’) carries both vehicles and pedestrians. Further information here.