Location, Travel and Accomodation

SIOE conference will primarily be located at Centre of Student Life, Park Place, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3BB, on the 4th floor.

Arriving by Air

Cardiff (CWL)

Several inter-regional and international air services operate from Cardiff Airport, which is approximately 12 miles from the city centre. Transportation to the city centre is via taxi or bus or bus and train. Visit public transport links for more information.

Bristol Airport: Approximately 1.15 hr by train, 1.15 hr by car and 1.30 hr by coach

Birmingham Airport: Approximately 2.30 hrs by train, 2.15 hrs by car and 5 hrs by coach

London Heathrow: Approximately 2.30 hrs by train, 2.30 hrs by car and 4 hrs by coach

Manchester Airport: Approximately 3.30 hrs by train, 3.30 hrs by car and 7 hrs by coach

London Gatwick: Approximately 4 hrs by train, 3.30 hrs by car and 4 hrs by coach.

Arriving by Train

Cardiff is easily accessible by rail from London, major UK airports and many towns and cities across the country.

Cardiff Central train station is approximately 20-30 minutes on foot to the Centre of Student Life. Alternatively, delegates can change at Cardiff Central for Cathays train station (the university’s station), located opposite the Main Building and next to the Centre for Student Life.

There are regular, direct services from London Paddington to Cardiff throughout the day.

Frequent regional network trains also connect Cardiff with many towns and cities across the UK, including:

Bristol (50mins)
London (1hr 50 mins)
Birmingham (approx. 2hrs)
Southampton (2hrs 40mins)
Manchester (3hrs 30mins)
Liverpool (3hrs 45mins)

First Great Western: www.gwr.com

National Rail: www.nationalrail.co.uk

Arriving by car

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, sign-posted city centre. Follow the A470 towards the city centre and the university is sign-posted.

Travelling west on the M4 – Leave the motorway at Junction 29, follow the A48(M)/A48, sign-posted Cardiff East and the South. Continue for approximately seven miles.Continue along the A48 to the A470 (Gabalfa Interchange). Leave the A48 at Gabalfa Interchange and take the A470, sign-posted city centre. Follow the A470 towards the city centre and the university is sign-posted.

Arriving by Coach

National Express offer regular services from London and along the M4 corridor, as well as to Birmingham, and from Heathrow, Gatwick and Bristol airports. Stopping outside the Centre for Student Life – www.nationalexpress.com/en

Megabus offer multiple daily services that connect Cardiff with over a dozen UK cities and airports – www.megabus.co.uk

Flexibus offer daily services to Cardiff from the UK and Europe – www.flixbus.co.uk

Taxis

Cardiff is served by a selection of taxi operators, many of the larger firms available 24 hours a day 7 days a week, with a range of fleet to suit different party sizes and accessibility needs.

There are many taxi ranks throughout the city where black Hackney Carriages can be hired. Alternatively, you can prebook using the companies listed below.

Veezu – 029 20 333 333, or try their app (www.veezu.co.uk/download)

Uber – using Andriod or Iphone app

Capital – 029 2077 7777

St Davids Taxis – 029 2099 9999

Parking

On street parking is available around the conference locations at Park Place and Museum Avenue for a fee.

Cardiff is home to 8 central car parks operated by NCP – to receive a discount book via the NCP app and enter the Saver ID: VISITCARDIFF.

Hotels

There are a number of hotels close to the conference location:

Cardiff Marriot Hotel

Clayton Hotel

easyHotel