Travel Information
Travelling to Cardiff
Cardiff benefits from excellent air, road and rail links with Britain's other major towns and cities, and good international air links. London is just two hours away by train, the M4 links both West Wales and the West and South of England. Travel to the Midlands and the North is equally convenient. The main coach and railway stations are both centrally placed. Cardiff also benefits from two international airports - Cardiff and Bristol - and from its proximity to the London airports including Heathrow.
The address for the conference venue is
Mercure Holland House Hotel and Spa Cardiff,
24 - 26 Newport Road,
Cardiff
CF24 0DD
United Kingdom
web site
By Road
Cardiff is served by the M4 and is easily accessible from all parts of Britain. From the South West, take the M5 and from the South of England follow major roads to the M4.
From Scotland, the North of England and the Midlands, travel via the M6, M5, M50 to the M4. On the M4, leave the motorway at junction 32, follow the A470 signposted for the City Centre. When you're in the city centre, use the city centre map to find the conference venue.
By Train
High-speed trains provide frequent services between all major British cities. Cardiff has a few stations, but the best one to arrive at is Cardiff Central, about 2 miles from the conference hotel and right in the heart of the city. First Great Western run the service from London Paddington to Cardiff Central, via Bristol, with frequent trains and a journey time of about two hours.
Frequent regional network trains connect Cardiff Central with Bristol (50 mins), Birmingham (2hrs), Manchester and Liverpool (3hrs) and with many other cities and towns.
Train times can be found on the National Rail Website and tickets can be bought at several websites including The Trainline and First Great Western
By Air
Cardiff International AirportCardiff International Airport is 11 miles from the city centre. There are regular direct flights from UK and European destinations by carriers such as bmibaby, and international connections are available via Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle airports. London Heathrow is within reasonable travel distance.
A rail link connects Rhoose Cardiff International Airport Station to Cardiff Central via a complimentary shuttle bus service, and takes about an hour. Times can be checked with the Trainline.
Travelling by bus between Cardiff Airport and Cardiff city centre is easy. Pick up and drop off points at the airport are in front of the terminal building, and in the city centre are next to Cardiff Central train station.
A taxi can be arranged with Checker Cars who offer a 24 hour service. A taxi booking office is located outside the arrivals hall, or can be booked in advance. Approximate cost of a taxi from Cardiff Airport to Cardiff Central is £26.
Car hire is available through Avis, Europcar and Hertz.
Bristol International AirportBristol International Airport is about 1 hour away and has regular flights to many European destinations (served by budget airlines such as Easyjet and Ryanair) and a daily service to New York - Newark.
The Bristol International Flyer bus service links the airport to Bristol Temple Meads railway station from where there is a regular train service to Cardiff Central.
Car hire is available through Avis, Europcar and Hertz. Taxis are not recommended due to cost.
London HeathrowHeathrow Airport, with its many international flights, is about 2-3hrs away.
For train services between Heathrow and Cardiff Central there are two options. First and easiest is Heathrow Express rail service to London Paddington and then the direct train to Cardiff. Second is Rail Air Link (shuttle bus service) to Reading Railway Station and then the direct train to Cardiff.
A direct bus service from Heathrow to Cardiff is run by National Express.
Car hire is available through Avis, Europcar and Hertz. Taxis are not recommended due to cost.
Other AirportsBirmingham, Manchester, and other London Airports, Gatwick, Stanstead and Luton are also accessible to Cardiff either by high-speed train or coach.
National Express operate low cost coach services to Cardiff from cities throughout the UK, including a flightlink service from Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Megabus operate services from London, Birmingham and Manchester to Cardiff with fares from as little as £1.Maps
Google map of the Cardiff areaGoogle map of the Southern UK
Email Addresses
Bus ServicesNational Express - http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx
Megabus - http://www.megabus.com/uk/
Airports
Heathrow Airport - http://www.heathrowairport.com/
Cardiff International Airport - http://www.tbicardiffairport.com/
Manchester International Airport - http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/
Bristol International Airport - http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/
Gatwick Airport - http://www.gatwickairport.com/
Luton Airport - http://www.london-luton.co.uk/
Birmingham Airport - http://www.bhx.co.uk/
Train Services
National Rail - (advice on train times and services) http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
The Trainline - (train tickets and times) http://www.thetrainline.com/
First Great Western http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/
Heathrow Express - https://www.heathrowexpress.com/
Gatwick Express - https://www.gatwickexpress.com
Taxis
Dragon taxis - http://www.dragontaxis.com/index.html
Checker Cars - http://www.checkercars.com/
Car Hire
Avis - http://www.avis.co.uk
Europcar - http://www.europcar.co.uk
Hertz - http://www.hertz.co.uk
General
Traveline - (for all public transportation information by bus, train, ferry, underground, coach) http://www.traveline.org.uk/index.htm
Traveline Cymru - (for travel within Wales and Cardiff) http://www.traveline-cymru.info/
Travelling in Cardiff
The conference venue is in the heart of the city of Cardiff, and consequently is within walking distance of most of the conference accomodation hotels, the venues for the drinks reception and the dinner and many of the city's attractions. This map of the centre has all the conference venues marked on it, along with some of the accomodation hotels.
Public transport by bus is available throughout the city, but trains are unlikely to be of much use as Cardiff centre is geographically quite small and has only two train stations. Timetables and maps for both buses and trains can be found at Traveline Cymru.
If you prefer to take a taxi, traditional black cabs can be found at taxi ranks or stopped in the street if the yellow light is lit, or private hire taxis can called via Dragon Taxis
Maps
Google map of the Cardiff areaContact Email Addresses
Train ServicesNational Rail - (advice on train times and services) http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
Taxis
Dragon taxis - http://www.dragontaxis.com/index.html
Checker Cars - http://www.checkercars.com/
Car Hire
Avis - http://www.avis.co.uk
Europcar - http://www.europcar.co.uk
Hertz - http://www.hertz.co.uk
General
Traveline Cymru - (for travel within Wales and Cardiff) http://www.traveline-cymru.info/