Affordable City For Participants
Glasgow has been named the world’s 2nd most affordable city (Time Out 2022) and is also ranked one of the most cost effective cities in the world (Mercer Report 2024).
We understand that it is important to ensure that all participants – from early career researchers to established professors – can afford to enjoy being in the city whilst attending the conference.
The table below compares Glasgow to some past ICM cities, as well as some popular European conference cities.
Average Cost
Student Accommodation
$55
Hotel Accommodation
$140
Travel
5-day participant pass – train travel from city centre to venue
$6.50
Meal
3 course meal, mid-range restaurant
meal, inexpensive restaurant
$42
$19
Drinks
water (33cl)
cappuccino
carbonated soft drink (33cl)
Domestic draught beer (50cl)
$1.50
$4.35
$2.25
$5.85
Source: Numbeo 2024
Mercer Report 2024
Accommodation
Glasgow boasts a wide range of accommodation within easy access of the ICM 2030 conference venue to suit all budgets.
10,763 hotel rooms
- 1,437 rooms across 7 hotels on-site at the SEC
- 2,226 rooms across all budgets located at Glasgow Central Station, a short 3 minute train journey, or a 20 minute walk to the SEC
- Further 7,100 rooms within 2km of the SEC
4,676 student rooms
- From $55 per night
- Available to all participants, not just students
- Includes 2516 rooms in Halls of Residence at the University of Glasgow
- All within the 2km radius
3,200 additional rooms
- 2,000 AirBnB rooms
- 1,200 bed & breakfast and guest house rooms
Accommodation Booking Service
Glasgow Convention Bureau offers a free accommodation booking service with:
- No attrition charges
- No contracts for individual bookings
- Flexible release terms and conditions
We will secure allocations, negotiate rates at a range of hotels, and provide a secure online booking engine, which is linked to the conference website.
The conference rates will be available the year prior to the conference dates.
Hotels
On-site:
Within 2km radius:
Glasgow: A City to Enjoy
Glasgow is one of Europe’s most dynamic cultural capitals: rich in history, steeped in culture, and buzzing with excitement. You can feel its vibrant energy as you stroll through the elegant Victorian streets, squares, parks, and gardens.
“Glasgow” in Gaelic is “Glaschu” which means “Dear Green Place” and with a large variety of parks and gardens in the city, it’s easy to see why.
Top Ten Reasons to visit
Glasgow for ICM 2030
- Long summer nights and a summer climate ideal for research mathematics.
- World’s friendliest city (Time Out 2022)
- Dear Green Place, with over 90 parks & gardens.
- Easy to get around. A compact, walkable city, with cheap transport.
- Food. Sustainable and local, and something for everyone: from Michelin-rated restaurants to
affordable eateries, all within 2km. - Culture: UNESCO City of Music, a location for top Film and TV shows, with unique architecture and festivals.
- Museums: various free, world-class museums within walking distance of the SEC, with many more within the wider region.
- A Gateway to Scotland. Key attractions only a short train ride away, including Edinburgh and Trossachs National Park.
- A vibrant academic culture within an 850 year old city, including the 4th-oldest university in the English-speaking world.
- Driving Change: the host of COP26, Nobel laureates and other historical figures.
Experienced Conference City
Over 136,000 conference participants visited Glasgow in 2024, and Scotland’s appeal as a destination consistently attracts high participant numbers.
Here is an example of some recent and upcoming conferences in Glasgow:
