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Getting to and from Glasgow Prestwick Airport

A taxi from Prestwick Airport to the G1 postcode area (Glasgow city centre) costs just over £50 for a saloon car or just over £60 for a larger estate, which will be capable of holding a few extra suitcases.

Minibuses can be expensive, averaging £75-£80 for a six-seat people carrier, but families with children will be glad of somewhere to stuff all the extra luggage. Return journeys (in any kind of vehicle) are charged at double rate, but as fares are agreed before departure, it is always worth telephoning your favourite taxi firm for exact figures.

Elite taxi firms, peddling fancy cars and well-dressed chauffeurs clad in suit and tie, are available at most UK airports, and Prestwick is no exception. Whilst an executive car will set you back almost £90 for a straight A-to-B journey, few holidaymakers will balk at the chance to relax in luxury, especially after a long flight. Executive minibuses are available, but expect to pay up to £130 for the privilege.

Sightseeing around Prestwick

Glasgow is the only major conurbation near Prestwick International, and even this is 33 miles away. The towns of Ayr and Kilmarnock, arguably the largest in Ayrshire, are both significant political entities, but pale in comparison to the sights and sounds of urban Glasgow.

Celtic and Rangers, two of the most successful football clubs in Scottish history, are both based within Glasgow city centre, just seven miles apart. The two clubs enjoy one of the most heated rivalries in world football, and their bi-annual clash attracts fans from all over the UK and Europe.

Ibrox Stadium, the home of Rangers, is in the G5 postcode area, some 30 miles from Prestwick Airport. Celtic Park is five miles further east, and costs about £7 more than the trip to Ibrox.

For those with a day to spare, the nearby town of Ardrossan (approximately 17 miles north of Prestwick) operates a daily ferry service to Arran, a wonderfully bleak island favoured by geologists and intrepid travellers alike.

The island is beautiful, boasting snow-capped mountains, picturesque farmsteads and windswept beaches. The Ardrossan to Brodick ferry departs twice a day, and costs £4.25 per person.

History buffs have a world of attractions at their feet. The Clydebank Museum is dedicated to the development of local shipbuilding and engineering trades, as well as the humble Singer sewing machine. The museum is located right in the middle of Glasgow, in the G8 postcode area.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum sits in the grounds of Kelvingrove Park, in the west end of Glasgow. The work of Salvador Dali, Monet and Vincent Van Gogh are all on display at Kelvingrove, helping art-lovers discover the roots of their favourite hobby. A taxi from the airport should cost the same as a trip to the city centre.

The Buchanan Shopping Centre, squashed between the Royal Concert Hall and the Queen Street railway station, has more than 80 stores beneath its roof, including John Lewis, Next and trendy clothing store H&M.

Buchanan is located within a mile of St. Enoch’s Shopping Centre, the largest glass structure in Europe. St. Enoch’s has an 850-seat food court, hosting all the major fast food chains. A taxi ride to either shopping precinct is charged at about £50.

Services and Parking

Prestwick Airport is the only place in the UK to have been visited by the late king of rock n’ roll, Elvis Presley – a little known fact, but one that means the world to airport officials. Prestwick’s lone terminal has a star-shaped plaque affixed to the wall, commemorating the King’s fleeting visit, and wowing travellers as they pass by.

Of course, few of us can expect the kind of luxury afforded to a music superstar, but the executive taxi firms around Prestwick and Glasgow do provide a number of unique services to the discerning traveller.

A complimentary meet-and-greet comes as standard with most transfer bookings. Your driver will meet you at the airport and escort you to your car – ideal for tourists who have left their guidebook in the airplane bathroom, or have yet to get a handle on the local lingo. Many drivers will even meet you in the terminal itself.

If you’re looking for a little something extra, an executive taxi firm can offer in-car entertainment, often a DVD player or games console, a handful of refreshments, and the daily newspaper, providing that you ask in advance. The obligatory upgrade to a Mercedes car is an unmistakable sign of opulence, and is sure to impress that all-important business contact.

Parking at Prestwick is straightforward – drop-off and pick-up is located in front of the main terminal building. Waiting is allowed for a maximum duration of five minutes, after which a £1 fee is charged for an extra ten minutes. Half an hour costs £2.50, and all parking fees may be added onto your total fare by your chosen taxi firm.

Local black cab and minicab companies are ever-present around the airport, as well as within both Glasgow and Prestwick town centres. Be cautious when flagging a taxi off the street, however, as private hire firms can charge in excess of the figures quoted in this article.