Cardiff Travel Information

Finding the least expensive way of getting to Cardiff

The earlier you make your travel arrangements, the less expensive your journey is likely to be, so you're strongly encouraged to pre-book your travel. This is very easy on the internet.

Cardiff by air

There are direct flights to Cardiff from several UK and European cities. You can find the routes and day-by-day prices at www.skyscanner.net. If you're travelling from outside Europe, it's worth spending a couple of hours on the internet trying to find the cheapest route. For example, Hong Kong - Amsterdam - Cardiff may well be cheaper (and more convenient) than Hong Kong - London + train or bus. Internet prices are usually much cheaper than travel agent prices, especially if you're not based in Europe and are booking air travel to small airports like Cardiff. You can find information about getting to and from Cardiff airport at cwlfly.com. The airport bus goes to Cardiff Central Station, a ten-minute walk from the Conference venue and within walking distance of most of the bigger hotels. There are also lots of buses from the station to the venue and to hotels.

Cardiff by bus and train From central London

Easily the cheapest way of getting to Cardiff is by Megabus from Victoria Coach Station (3hrs 15mins). During the day, there are buses every hour. If you pre-book (www.megabus.com), you're certain of a seat, but you're supposed to travel on the bus you've booked, so plan carefully. When you book, you're given a registration number which you show to the driver - no ticket is required so it's easy to book on the internet. If you arrive at Victoria without a ticket, there may not be a spare seat on the next bus and the cost will be higher than if you'd pre-booked.

From the London airports, the most convenient way of getting to Cardiff is probably by National Express bus. But be warned: the fares aren't cheap. If you pre-book (www.nationalexpress.com), you've got a guaranteed seat on a particular bus, but if you miss your bus they don't have to take you on a later one, although they usually will. As with Megabus, there are no tickets - if you've pre-booked, you just show the registration number to the driver.

Another option from the London airports is to take a train. If you pre-book the train (see below) it can be cheaper, but if you don't pre-book, it almost certainly won't be. Your routes are• from Heathrow: Heathrow Express to Paddington (20mins) + train from Paddington to Cardiff (2hrs 10mins)• from Gatwick: Gatwick Express to Victoria + underground to Paddington (1hr 10mins) + train from Paddington to Cardiff (2hrs 10mins)• from Stansted: Either train to Cardiff (two changes) (4hrs 30mins), or train to London Liverpool Street + underground (change at Tottenham Hale) to Paddington (1hr 15mins) + train from Paddington to Cardiff (2hrs 10mins).

From most other UK destinations, the train is easily the quickest and most convenient way to get to Cardiff. Trains in UK are amongst the most expensive in the world if you buy your ticket at the station immediately before travelling, when you pay what's called the 'full' fare. So it's really important to book in advance as prices are much more reasonable. This is very easy to do on the internet. The cheapest tickets are usually released two or three months in advance, but this varies depending on where you're travelling from, the time of year and particular promotional fares. Always use a train company website (www.nationalexpress.com, www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk, www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk), as these are cheaper than other sites. But be warned, the very cheapest tickets are only valid on the train you've booked, so you'll lose your money and have to pay the much more expensive 'full' fare in addition if you don't travel on the right train. So if you pre-book the cheapest type of ticket, take real care to book a train that you know you can catch. If for any reason this is likely to be a problem, you can also buy 'advance purchase' tickets on the internet. 'Advance purchase' tickets allow you to travel on most trains on your chosen route and are less expensive than full fares (although not cheap). The National Express website has boxes which allow you to compare the cheapest train tickets with advance purchase prices - when all the trains are the same price, this is an advance purchase rate; when they're different prices, you're in the bargain basement and must travel on the train you book. In general, it's cheaper to book two single tickets (e.g., London to Cardiff single + Cardiff to London single) if you can commit to specific trains. If you buy your ticket at the station and pay the 'full' fare or buy an 'advance purchase' ticket on the internet, a return ticket is usually cheaper. The train company websites let you compare two x single with return prices. When you buy a train ticket on the internet, you're asked to choose either to pick your ticket up at any time before you travel from a machine in the ticket office at the station at which you commence your journey (in which case you'll need the credit card you used when you paid for the ticket) or to have it posted to any UK postal address (so if you're based in Britain or have a friend in Britain willing to post it on to you and want to see your ticket before you travel, this may be the better option). Taxis in Britain tend to be expensive and are only a good deal if you're travelling with several other people. If you take a taxi to or from an airport, always confirm the fare before the journey begins. Good luck!