Best Transport Options for Groups Attending the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026
Glasgow is all set to host the Commonwealth Games once again from 23 July to 2 August 2026. If you are travelling with a group, be it a school trip, a business team outing, a sports club, or a huge extended family reunion around the Games, booking your transport early shouldn't be considered a luxury. In fact, it's the clear difference between an easy, enjoyable day and a hectic rush dealing with overcrowded trains and closed streets.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games Venues
Four venues are hosting the Commonwealth Games this year, featuring 10 sports with about 3000 athletes and 500k tickets to book. The venues are mentioned below:
- Scotstoun Stadium
- Scottish Event Campus
- Tollcross International Swimming Centre
- Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Arena
Each venue will be powered by 100% zero-carbon Scottish electricity.
What's Different This Year?
- Everything Is Close: This time, each sport takes place within an 8-mile radius, which makes it quite easy for athletes and fans to move around.
- No Athlete Village: Usually, the athletes used to stay at a specially built athlete village; this time, they are staying at existing hotels and hostels in the top universities of Glasgow.
- Fewer Sports: The games held this year have dropped from 17 to 10 to save money. Sports on the schedule this time are athletics, swimming, basketball, wheelchair basketball, track cycling, and lawn bowls, which will be played indoors this year. Also, gymnastics, boxing, judo, netball and weightlifting are included.
Interesting Highlights
- The iconic King’s baton has just reached Scotland after a 479-day journey through all the Commonwealth countries.
- Sam Heughan, who is the star of the famous series “Outlander”, is the official ambassador of the games.
- Global sports stars like Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra and Olympic swimmer Matt Richards are also set to compete this year.
Your Commonwealth Travel Plan 2026
Secure Accommodation
As soon as your tickets or travel plans are confirmed, make a hotel reservation. Hotels and student accommodations in Glasgow will be booked most of the time over the period of the Games. It would be nice if you could compare which area is going to be the best for you among the Scottish Event Campus, Scotstoun Stadium, and the city centre.
Purchase Tickets
The best thing to do is to buy your tickets only from official sources to avoid scams. Most of the time, the medal events and the finals are the first to be sold out. So if you love athletics, swimming, or netball, just buy the tickets for the competitions.
Plan Transport
Plot your itinerary from one venue to another and allocate extra time for getting through large crowds and disorganised situations, especially on the last days of the finals.
Trains
You can book train tickets heading out of Glasgow Central. But it's a possibility you might have to compromise on comfort as train stations get heavily crowded during peak times. Not to forget the unpredictable time schedules.
Minibuses
Hiring a minibus with a driver is a smart solution for group travel across small, medium and large group sizes since it features ample space for seating and luggage with climate-control features. You won’t have to worry about sitting in congested places or bearing the stress of driving. A native driver will navigate the roads for you with careful route planning, keeping your trip on track and punctual.
Coaches
When you are travelling with larger groups, a coach hire is the way to go for comfortable travel. The benefit? You don't have to handle a full-sized vehicle on the busy roads. Plus, you get premium space to sit for yourself and your luggage, too.
Vehicle Recommendations
Group Size | Typically Suits |
Small families or friends groups | |
Medium-sized corporate groups | |
Extended family groups | |
Big communities or school groups | |
Business delegations | |
Larger university trips with faculty |
Why Hire a Minibus or Coach with a Driver?
Everyone Stays Together
Forget about watching half of your group get on a packed train while the rest of you get left behind. When you hire a minibus or a coach, there is only one pickup, one arrival, and on time.
The Driver Takes The Wheel
Your local professional and native driver knows the shortcuts and where to wait, so you won't have to struggle with navigating the routes.
Affordable Travel
Travelling by hiring a minibus or a coach is far more affordable than hiring multiple taxis or buying individual tickets.
Ensured Comfort
After a five-hour event, the last thing you need is to stand on a cramped, sweaty train with tired legs. In a hired minibus or coach, you will have a guaranteed seat and air-conditioning all the way home.
Easy Accessibility
Travelling with kids, elderly people, or those with special needs, like wheelchair accessibility? You get actual door-to-door services with these vehicles, providing a more personalised experience to every member of your group.
Booking tips
- Make your booking right after your session tickets are confirmed. The vehicles get completely booked months in advance.
- Communicate your exact travel times and preferred pickup and drop-off points to the booking executive so that both pickup and drop-off can be planned.
- Be prepared for drop-off points to be a short walk from venue entrances. Road closures near Scotstoun, the SEC, Tollcross and the Velodrome mean that drivers might need to stop a block or two away rather than dropping off right at the gate.
- Mention any accessibility requirements as soon as possible, like wheelchair access or child seats, but make sure to communicate well in advance.
If you plan your group travel carefully, you can remove major travel stressors and secure a good vehicle matching your travel needs in time. You can choose between using public transport or hiring a private minibus or coach with a driver, which is comfortable and convenient, to keep you fresh for the event and make the most of it.
