Location & Travel

Our venue for 2026 is the now familiar Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow. Located on the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) next to the distinctive shapes of the SEC Armadillo and OVO Hydro event venues, the fifteen storey hotel sits on the banks of the River Clyde and is pretty easy to spot.

We realise that our attendees will arrive via a wide variety of transport options and we’ve assembled travel guidance for some of the main ones below. Please be aware that these are provided for guidance only and you should use your own judgement and discretion accordingly when travelling as routes can be unexpectedly disrupted by roadworks, cancellations, and so on.

Arriving by Car

If using sat nav to arrive at the Crowne Plaza, use the postcode G3 8QT to bring you to the front of the hotel and car parking facility. Please use your discretion when navigating and ensure you follow all relevant directions and signage.

The following descriptive directions are provided as guidance only and you should use your own judgement and discretion as you follow them, obeying local signage and regulation as you travel. If you are travelling to a destination other than the Crowne Plaza as your accommodation, you will need to adjust these directions accordingly.

From the west, on the M8

Leave the M8 at Junction 21 and follow the slip road, taking the left fork and then turning left onto Seaward Street. Go through two sets of traffic lights and at the third set, turn left on the A8 (Paisley Road). Almost immediately the road will fork; take the right hand fork and follow Govan Road. Cross one roundabout and, at the next set of traffic lights, turn right onto Finnieston Street. This will take you across the bridge over the river. Immediately after the bridge, at the traffic lights, turn left onto Finnieston Quay. After a short distance this road will start to bear right; take the left turn here on to Congress Road and continue to bear left, following signage to the hotel which should be straight in front of you. The car park is just past the entrance of the hotel.

From the southeast, on the M74

Leave the M74 at Junction 1 and follow the slip road, turning right at the end of the slip road on to Carnoustie Street. Follow this for about 400m until the road forks and take the left hand fork to join the A8 (Paisley Road). Travel through two intersections, both controlled by traffic lights, and then the road will fork; take the right hand fork and follow Govan Road. Cross one roundabout and, at the next set of traffic lights, turn right onto Finnieston Street. This will take you across the bridge over the river. Immediately after the bridge, at the traffic lights, turn left on to Finnieston Quay. After a short distance this road will start to bear right; take the left turn here on to Congress Road and continue to bear left, following signage to the hotel which should be straight in front of you. The car park is just past the entrance of the hotel.

From the northeast, on the M8

Leave the M8 at Junction 19. At the intersection at the end of the slip road you need to turn right on to the A814. Please be cautious at this interchange as it is complicated; there are three roads to the right at this interchange and you must take the third; the first is for opposing traffic, the second will lead back to the northbound M8, and the third will lead on to the A814, which is where you need to be. Take the first exit off the A814, peeling away to the left and turning left at the traffic lights at the end of the slip road onto Finnieston Street. Almost immediately, turn right at the next set of traffic lights and then left at the following set of traffic lights onto Congress Way. Almost immediately you will see another set of traffic lights; you should turn right here on to Congress Road. From here bear left as you follow the road, following signage to the hotel which should be straight in front of you. The car park is just past the entrance of the hotel.

Travelling to the Hilton Garden Inn

If you are driving to the Hilton Garden Inn, follow your preferred directions above, with the following changes: If you are travelling from the west or south east, you will see the Hilton Garden Inn on the left immediately as you turn on to Finnieston Quay and the car park is just past the hotel, again on the left. If you are travelling from the north-east, as you turn left on to Finnieston Street after leaving the A814, do not turn right at the traffic lights on to Congress Road and, instead, continue to follow Finnieston Street to the crossroads just before the bridge. Here you should turn right on to Finnieston Quay and the Hilton Garden Inn is immediately on your left with the car park just past the hotel, again on the left.

Arriving by Train

The SEC has its own dedicated train station; Exhibition Centre. Longer distance services are likely to arrive in Glasgow at Glasgow Central station, from which local services depart every few minutes to Exhibition Central.

There is a covered walkway that leads from Exhibition Central over the road into the SEC. From here walk between the SEC Armadillo and OVO Hydro buildings to the footpath leading along the river, then turn right and follow the footpath along the river until you see the Crowne Plaza on your right.

Arriving by Coach

Most coach services to Glasgow arrive at Buchanan Bus Station. From here you will need to either use a local taxi service or walk a short distance to a local bus stop or Glasgow Central Train Station in order to catch a local service to the hotel; please see the relevant other sections on this page for details on local bus and train services.

Arriving by Local Bus

The local bus service running closest to the SEC is the X19 run by Stagecoach. We recommend using the Stagecoach Journey Planner https://www.stagecoachbus.com/plan-a-journey to view the timetable and plot the most effective journey to the hotel. You can use the postcode G3 8QT to locate the hotel on the Journey Planner.

Arriving by Air

The closest airport to our venue is Glasgow Airport, which is approximately 15-20 minutes away from our hotel by taxi in good traffic. Alternatively you can catch the Airport Express bus service to the centre of Glasgow and then use local bus or train services to make the rest of the journey; please see the other relevant sections on this page for details on these.

Travel Between Crowne Plaza and Hilton Garden Inn

This year we have access to the Hilton Garden Inn hotel. If you are travelling from the Crowne Plaza to the Hilton Garden in, turn left out of the hotel reception and follow the river for approximately 500m. The Hilton Garden Inn will be on your right hand side, right on the riverside.

Arriving by Wagon Train

Please note that travel by wagon is best done in good company, with trusty steeds and a sturdy banjo to play away the hours. Due to local laws, please only allow your passengers to play the banjo, as instrument operation by the teamster (driver) is strictly forbidden and will result in a fine of up to twenty dollars and possible confiscation of your wagon and horses. Scotiacon will not be deemed responsible for any horses or wagons so confiscated.

Upon approach to the venue, be aware that the River Clyde cannot be forded, but there are a number of bridges available to make the crossing. Please be mindful of pedestrians when crossing and bring a supply of apples so that passers-by can feed your horses and compliment their excellently cared-for manes.

When arriving, do not leave your horses unattended at the entrance to the hotel. Unfortunately the Crowne Plaza does not have any facilities for feeding, watering, or hosting your equine companions and you will need to be responsible for sourcing shelter for your horses and wagons until departure. However, playing your banjo outside the hotel is permitted.