Getting to Cardiff

By Air

Cardiff International Airport is 11 miles from the city centre and has international links to Vancouver and Toronto as well as direct links to over 50 European locations. 
Bristol International Airport also has international (New York, Orlando, Toronto) and many European airport links. It is located across the Severn Estuary just under 50 miles from Cardiff by car and there are also train services connecting Bristol and Cardiff. 
Heathrow and Gatwick Airports are the major international and European hubs and you will find information on these and other major UK airports on the British Airport Authority site.

Heathrow is the only airport directly linked to central London by the Underground (Piccadilly Line). It takes approximately 45-60 minutes to reach Kings Cross mainline train station. From Kings Cross take the Hammersmith & City Line or Circle Line going west to Paddington Station for the train to Cardiff.    A single ticket from Heathrow to Paddington will cost around £4.00. Other routes to Paddington are possible but require a change of underground Line.

Also from Heathrow - the Heathrow Express (operating every 15 minutes) will take you directly to Paddington Station in 15 minutes. You can buy your ticket in 3 different ways:
1) Online - £14.50 single and £28 return;
2) Ticket machine/office - £15.50 single and £29 return;
3) Purchased onboard the train - £17.50 single and £31 return.

National Express (Enquiries Tel: 08705 808080) operates direct coach services and various rail companies (Enquiries tel: 08457 484950) operate indirect services to Cardiff Central Station from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports.  Take the frequent train service from Cardiff Central Station to Cathays Station, convenient for the conference venue and accommodation.

By Rail

High speed (InterCity) trains provide frequent services between all major British cities. The Cardiff-London InterCity service, from London Paddington, runs some seventeen times a day, with a journey time of less than two hours. Frequent regional network trains connect Cardiff with:

• Bristol (50 mins)
• Birmingham (2 hrs 10 mins)
• Southampton (2 hrs 30 mins)
• Manchester (3 hrs)
• Liverpool (3 hrs)
• and with many other cities and towns.

From Cardiff Central Station there is a frequent train service which stops at Cathays Station, which is very convenient for the conference site and accommodation on the campus (Enquiries: 08457 484950). There are also bus services: the No 27 service leaves from stand D3 in front of Cardiff Central Station, and the No 53 service leaves from nearby Westgate Street (Enquiries: 0870 6082608).

Visit the National Rail Journey Planner website for further information

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 A roads to the M4.
• From Scotland, the north of England and the Midlands, travel via the M50 to the M4.
• Travelling east on the M4. Leave the motorway at Junction 32, follow the A470, signposted City Centre, into the Cathays area of the city.
• Travelling west on the M4. Leave the motorway at Junction 29, follow the A48(M)/A48, signposted Cardiff East and South, to the A470. Follow the A470, signposted City Centre, into the Cathays area of the city.

 The AA website has an excellent route planner and maps for road access to Cardiff..

There are a number of car rental firms which operate in the UK. Below is a list of just some of them:
Avis Car Rental    Europcar UK Car Rental    Hertz Car Rental
Holidayautos.co.uk    National Car Rental   Practical Car & Van Rental
Thrifty Car Rental

Note: Car parking in University car parks is extremely limited and a permit is required (contact Tricia Ellis-Evans). However, there are several short and long stay public car parks located close to the University, all of which are marked on the University and City Centre map.

There is also car parking available within the civic centre (along College Road, City Hall Road, King Edward VII Avenue and Museum Avenue) where a pay and display system operates.

The Cathays campus is the location of the conference venue and accommodation.  The map below shows the location of the campus in relation to the city centre, the main rail/road access and parking areas.