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Recent Developments in Housing, Health and Technology for Older People: Policy and Practice
10 June 2008

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Location

Venue:

Grosvenor House Conference and Training Centre is in the centre of Belfast, just off Great Victoria Street, and very close to the Europa Bus Station and Europa Hotel.

Flights to Belfast
By far the easiest way to reach Belfast from outside Northern Ireland is by air. Many daily flights link Belfast's two airports (Belfast City and Belfast International) to regional English airports such as Bristol, Newcastle, and Manchester, as well as to the four main London airports with worldwide connections (Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, and Luton). British Airways (http://www.ba.com/) flies direct from London Heathrow to Belfast City Airport only, which is located a few miles to the east of the city centre. A cheaper option to Belfast City Airport from London Gatwick is Flybe (http://www.flybe.com/). Cheaper flights to Belfast International Airport, which is located 20-25 minutes' drive outside the city to the west, are available from various UK and European destinations. Reliable budget carriers include Easyjet (www.easyjet.com)  and Bmibaby (http://www.bmibaby.com/).

An initial check on flights has also shown very reasonably priced flights from Heathrow with Aerlingus, and with Ryanair from Stansted and East Midlands airports.

Travel from the airports to the city centre
There is a direct bus link from Belfast City Airport to the Europa Bus Centre, adjacent to the Europa hotel in the city centre, approximately every 40 minutes between 0600-2150.  Approved taxis also operate from the taxi rank outside Belfast City Airport, and the cost of the journey to the city centre should be in the region of £8-10.

From Belfast International Airport, the Airbus service leaves approximately every 30 minutes for the Europa Bus Centre, and vice versa (currently £6 single fare, or £9 return). Services run from 0545-2320. The cost of a taxi from the International Airport to the city centre - provided only by the International Airport Taxi Company - is about £24-25. For getting around in the city, or for travelling from the city centre to either Airport, a reliable taxi firm is Value Cabs (Tel: 028 + 9080-9080).

From Belfast it is very easy to visit Dublin and the Irish Republic. The trip to Dublin takes about 2-3 hours by car or by train (the 'Belfast-Dublin Enterprise', which leaves from Belfast Central Station and arrives at Dublin Connolly). For timetabling and pricing information for rail and bus travel, see http://www.translink.co.uk/.

Accommodation
There are plenty of hotels in central belfast and many hotel guides on the web.