You may find it useful to look at this
MAP showing the location of York within Britain, and with the main communication routes. Access by rail from London or Edinburgh is very fast and easy along the main east line railway line.
When working out your travel plans you need to consider rail costs from the airport as well as flight prices. Thus, a slightly more expensive flight to Manchester may be cheaper in total than a flight into Heathrow. Find out from your travel agent the costs of rail travel within the UK. There are sometimes great deals for tourists who book ahead. Then consider the flight costs, where else you may like to go, and the convenience of the travel arrangements.
Air travel
You may wish to fly into London (Heathrow or Gatwick). You will then need to get into and across London to King's Cross railway station to take a fast train to York.
GATWICK has the Gatwick Express train which takes you into Victoria station (this costs about the same as the Manchester to York rail fare when purchased in England). You then take the tube or a taxi from Victoria to King's Cross, though with many mornming arricval flights this will be rush hour. From there you can get the train direct to York.
HEATHROW has the Underground (subway) train which takes you straight to King's Cross on the Picadilly line (the only line which goes from Heathrow). From there you can get the train direct to York. This is therefore a less complicated and easier journey than from Gatwick.
For those intending to come to York and have that as their base for their visit, then MANCHESTER airport, with its DIRECT RAIL LINK to York, may be a much more convenient destination. several major airlines fly into this airport.
The closest airport is LEEDS/BRADFORD AIRPORT. You can reach there by taking the airport shuttle bus to Leeds railway station, and then catching the train to York. This airport has flights from a range of European cities, and like Manchester also has flights that link with Heathrow and Gatwick.
Other regional airports that offer cheap flights from some European destinations and convenient rail access include Newcastle and Teeside.
Rail
York is on the main rail line from London to Edinburgh, and has good connections with all parts of the UK. Train services are very limited on Bank (public) holidays such as Chrsitmas Day, Boxing Day (26th December) and New Year's Day. Make sure that there are appropriate trains and all the necessary connections if you are travelling on these days.
If you are arriving in Britain before the conference, you may wish to spend New Year's Eve (Hogmanay) in Scotland. You will just have time to recover before the conference starts!
Buses and Coaches
Although slower than rail travel, coach travel is easy, cheap and safe in Britain. The main long-distance carrier is NATIONAL EXPRESS.
For other details of how to reach York from ports and airports within the UK, see the city of York's HOW TO GET THERE page. From this site you can get to rail company web sites etc. Your travel agent should be able to make all arrangements from your home city.
Ferries
Those coming from Northern Europe and Scandinavia may wish to arrive by ship. Ferry services (passengers and vehicles). Ferries connect Hull with Zeebrugge and Rotterdam. Ferries from Scandinavia reach Newcastle.
Cars
There is parking in the hotel (at an extra charge - space is limited so book this). But you will not need a car to explore York, so you may wish to book a car for exploring Britain for just before or after the conference. All the major car hire firms operate from York.