Travel Information
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Arriving to the UK
Public transport
On campus
Getting around Aberdeen
Things to do
Food and drinks
Arriving to the UK
Public transport in Aberdeen
From airport to city centre
Stagecoach buses operate service 727 between Aberdeen airport and the city centre. They also have an app for timetables and purchasing tickets, or accept contactless payment on board.
From city center to campus
The First Bus app gives live updates on buses around the city (including services run by other providers). Buses run from the city centre to the campus around every 10 minutes – the most regular are are 1, 2 and 1B. 13 and 20 also pass the campus. Note that the timetable becomes less frequent later in the evening.
Aberdeen is a very walkable city. Most hotels and accommodation in the city centre will be around 30-40 minutes walk from the Old Aberdeen campus.
Beach Ballroom (Ceilidh venue)
Bus 13 stops just across the street from the venue. From the university campus, get on the bus at Seaton Drive, or in the city centre get on at Guild Street or Castlegate. Ride to the Beach Esplanade.
Bus 1, 2 or 1B: Stop is Urquhart Road. The venue is then a 15 minute walk away.
Paying for transport
For buses and taxis, contactless payment is preferable. On buses there is a ‘tap on – tap off’ system for contactless payment, otherwise exact cash payment is required. If you do not have contactless capability, it may be easier to buy tickets in advance using the First Bus app, generating a QR code ticket which can be scanned on entering the bus.
Taxis can be ordered by calling: +441224 878787; +441224 200200; or +441224 353535. Taxis can also be ordered via the Aberdeen Taxi app, the ComCab-Aberdeen app, uBook by Rainbow City taxis app or the Uber app.
Note: Not every area of the campus is reachable in a car. However, taxis should be able to pull up to Elphinstone Hall (AB24 3DY) and the MacRobert Building car park (AB24 5UA). Both are buildings we will be using heavily through the week, so are advisable pick up points.
On campus
Accessibility
University of Aberdeen accessible maps for download
Access Able has dedicated guides for buildings in Old Aberdeen: Old Aberdeen Campus Access Guides
Euan’s Guide is a useful resource for planning travel across the UK, with reviews written by and for disabled people.
Emergency contact details
During the congress, emergency messages should be sent to congress(at)siefhome.org. NomadIT can be contacted in emergency situations on the number +44 7984 664 741.
Printing
If you need to print your paper, boarding pass or other documents, or have to make photocopies, there are many print shops in Aberdeen city, but no such facilities on campus.
Please make sure you print off anything that you need to before coming to the venue where possible.
Printing is also available at many of Aberdeen's librarys.
Catering
There are several catering locations for the congress as sessions will take place in different buildings. The majority of catering will be catered in MacRobert Lecture Hall & Elphinstone Hall.
The linklater rooms will be catering for those with special diets and allergies only.
- MacRobert Lecture Hall - ground floor of the MacRobert Building, on the right as you enter, by the reception desk.
- Elphinstone Hall - located between Kings College & New Kings buildings, entrance under the stone arches.
- Linklater Rooms - adjacent to Elphinstone Hall, entrance under the stone arches.
Useful info for getting around in Aberdeen
Money
The currency in the UK is GBP and Euros are rarely accepted anywhere. Since the pandemic, it is very rare that any service would ask for cash only; card and contactless, google pay, apple pay etc. are usable everywhere from market stalls, to buses, to tube stations.
Plug Sockets
Remember to pack adaptors, you will need a British three-prong adapter (if you have US/European three-prong bear in mind it is a different shape) if you have devices that use other plugs. British sockets also have a switch on them, make sure you switch it on to allow electricity flow and switch it off again before you unplug your device.
Important emergency contacts
Call 999 or 112 for Police, Fire, Medical and Rescue service.
Call 111 for non-emergency medical advice.
Please ensure you have your insurance card (activated), passport and money with you.
Things to do in Aberdeen
Food and drinks in Aberdeen
If you are looking for options on campus, outside of the congress catering, then the university events team has put together a booklet of the nearby eateries.
Aberdeen has a wide selection of bars, cafes, restaurants, and takeaways serving snacks and meals. Prices vary considerably but expect to pay around £15–20 for a main course in a bar or simple restaurant. There are not many dining options in the vicinity of campus, however, and you will probably want to go into the town centre for evening meals. There are regular buses from King Street (see below).
Booking: we strongly recommend that you book ahead for evening meals, especially if you are planning to eat in a larger group. Aberdonians tend to eat unusually early, and many eateries will close their kitchens if trade is slow midweek, even if the bar stays open.
Special diets: many restaurants will be able to accommodate special diets with advance notice and most will have vegetarian/vegan and gluten free options on the standard menu.
Tips: tipping is discretionary, but it is customary to tip c.10% for table service in restaurants (and in taxis). You may find a discretionary service charge already added to your bill, especially if you are dining in a larger group, so check before leaving extra. If you are dining in a larger group but intend to pay individually, it is worth signalling this to your server at the outset.
Beach Food Vans: There are a good number of food vans (south end), some with outdoor seating.
Take away: the best apps for local delivery are Deliveroo and Just Eat. Take away is generally available until later in the evening.
Some recommended places compiled by the colleagues of the Elphinstone Institute are below. However, the Trip Advisor app is a good comprehensive source of information and reviews.
