1 travelling

Departs Lillestrøm 5:40pm, arrives Edinburgh 6:30pm. Flying to and staying in Edinburgh ahead of the Scotland Test.

Blake Mahovic

1 travelling

Departs Lillestrøm 1:50pm, arrives Manchester 2:50pm — a day ahead of the main group.

Ewan Lawton

4 travelling

Departs Lillestrøm 11:15am, arrives Manchester 12:15pm.

Nate Roberts, Matthew Fish, Dillon Goos, Jacob Bourne

1 travelling

Departs Lillestrøm 11:30am, arrives Edinburgh 12:20pm. Flying to and staying in Edinburgh.

Michael Snook

1 travelling

Departs Lillestrøm 9:05am, arrives Manchester 10:05am.

Kyle Yurkiw

1 travelling

Departs 5:55am, arrives Amsterdam 8:10am.

Robin Legault

3 travelling

Departs 11:00am, arrives Amsterdam 1:20pm.

Jalen Harrison, Thomas Dickinson, Paul Buchanan

1 departing

DY83541 Norwegian, Amsterdam → Copenhagen. Connecting Copenhagen → home Jul 16 via SK949.

Paul Buchanan

2 departing

WS71 WestJet, Amsterdam → Halifax via WS811.

Charles Curran, Greg Wise

1 departing

Taking the train Amsterdam → London, then FR127 Ryanair Jul 14 → Dublin. Connecting Dublin → home Jul 15 via WS43.

Kyle Yurkiw

1 departing

LH987 Lufthansa, Amsterdam → Frankfurt. Onward connection details outstanding.

Michael Snook

1 departing late

CA572 Air China, Barcelona → Beijing. Connecting Beijing → Sydney Aug 1 via CA173.

Doug Howard

1 travelling by train

Returning home with family by train — no flight booked.

Garin Nicholls

• Modern 4-star, 12-storey hotel with 220 rooms — the tallest building in Lillestrøm
• Well regarded for cleanliness, service and breakfast
• Breakfast buffet included — weekdays 6:30–10:00am, weekends 7:00–10:30am (Restaurant Bruket)

• 24-hour fitness centre
• Free Wi-Fi throughout
• Complimentary bicycles — useful for the ~10 min ride to Vigernesjordet on match day
• 24-hour front desk
• Outdoor terrace
• Laundry and dry cleaning on request (priced per item — confirm at front desk)

• Air-conditioned
• Two twin beds
• Flat-screen TV
• Ensuite bathroom with heated floor
• Mini-fridge, kettle, safe
• Compact — select rooms have river views

Eating out in Norway is expensive — budget 150–200 NOK (~$20–28 CAD) for a basic lunch, 200–350 NOK (~$28–50 CAD) for dinner. "Cheap" by Norwegian standards still costs more than at home.

Norway is almost entirely cashless — your card works everywhere. Always decline DCC and pay in NOK.

Kiwi and Rema 1000 are the budget lifelines — excellent ready-to-eat sections, far cheaper than any restaurant. Kiwi is on Storgata, right in the town centre.

Vigernesjordet is primarily residential — no restaurants within easy walking distance. Sort pre-match meals from the hotel or town centre before heading out.

Kiwi & Rema 1000

Excellent ready-to-eat sections — open sandwiches (smørbrød), salads, hot food, baked goods. Smart strategy for breakfast top-ups and snacks. Kiwi (Storgata) is the better discount option; Rema 1000 is slightly higher quality at similar prices. Open most days including Sundays (reduced hours).

Pølsevogn (Hot Dog Stands)

A Norwegian institution — the pølse (frankfurter) in a lompe (potato flatbread) or bun is genuinely good, around 35–50 NOK. Try the lompe wrap, not just the bun, with mustard, ketchup and crispy fried onions.

Kebab & Grill Shops

Often the best bang-for-buck — generous portions, around 120–150 NOK for a proper kebab or mixed grill plate, open late. Turkish and Arabic-run grill shops in the town centre; shawarma, kebab plates and falafel are all solid, and often the best choice for a late-night feed after the bars.

Brunost — Brown Cheese

Norway's most distinctive food — a caramelised whey cheese, sweet, slightly tangy, fudge-like. Found at every supermarket, bakery and breakfast table — very inexpensive, slice it thin on bread or a waffle. Gudbrandsdalsost is most popular; geitost (goat milk) is stronger.

Vafler — Norwegian Waffles

Heart-shaped, lighter and crispier than Belgian waffles, served with brunost, jam or sour cream. Haralds Vaffel in Grünerløkka is the famous Oslo spot; any local café will have them.

Skillingsboller & Skolebrød

Bakery essentials — skillingsboller are large cardamom-spiced cinnamon buns, soft and buttery; skolebrød is a sweet bun filled with vanilla custard, topped with desiccated coconut. 30–50 NOK each — among the best value food in an expensive country.

Gravlaks & Fiskesuppe

Gravlaks is salmon cured with salt, sugar and dill — Norway's salmon is world-class, this is the most elegant way to eat it. Fiskesuppe is a rich cream-based fish soup loaded with fresh seafood — a proper meal, served with crusty bread. Both widely available at sit-down restaurants and Mathallen Oslo.

Direct Vy train from Lillestrøm station — 10 minutes, every 10–15 min. Buy your ticket in the Ruter app before boarding. Single Zone 1+2 ~72 NOK; a 24-hour ticket (~130 NOK) is better value for a full day.

Download before you leave Canada — covers buses, trams, T-bane and ferries within the zone network. Lillestrøm sits in an outer zone, so buy a multi-zone ticket for Oslo day trips.

The Scandic Lillestrøm is ~50m from Lillestrøm station — walk out the front door and the platform is right there.

Monday 29 June (from 12 noon) · Tuesday 30 June (from 4pm) · Friday 3 July (all day).

Typically 18–24°C with long daylight hours — barely gets dark. Pack a light layer for evenings and a packable rain jacket.

1. Oslo Opera House Rooftop

Start here. The roof is a public walkway with sweeping fjord and skyline views — completely free, no tickets. Right next to Oslo Central Station.

2. Vigeland Sculpture Park

Oslo's most famous free attraction — 200+ sculptures by Gustav Vigeland in Frogner. Open 24 hours, always free. Easily 2 hours if you take your time. Tram 12 or 19 to Vigelandsparken.

3. Grünerløkka Neighbourhood

Oslo's best neighbourhood for wandering — cafés, street art, vintage shops, bars along the Akerselva river. Haralds Vaffel for waffles, Tim Wendelboe for coffee, Mathallen Oslo food hall nearby.

4. Oslo Waterfront Walk

Harbour promenade from the Opera House along Aker Brygge to Tjuvholmen — fjord views, modern architecture, marinas, and beach areas where locals swim in summer (Sørenga Sjøbad).

5. Akershus Fortress

Medieval fortress overlooking the fjord, dating to the 1290s. Grounds free to walk with excellent harbour views. Museum entry has a small fee. Good golden-hour photography spot.

6. Holmenkollen Ski Jump

Iconic ski jump, T-bane Line 1 from central Oslo (~25 min through birch forest). Viewing platform ~120 NOK (included with Oslo Pass) — museum entry is separate and fine to skip.

7. Oslo Fjord Islands

A single Ruter ferry ticket from Aker Brygge gets you to the fjord islands. Hovedøya (10 min): 12th-century monastery ruins and swimming rocks. Langøyene is more of a beach island.

8. Free Walking Tour of Oslo

Free Tour Oslo runs tip-based ~90 minute tours in English, multiple times daily from outside City Hall. Excellent for getting oriented on a first visit — check freetouroslo.com.

9. Oslo Street Food at Torggata

Oslo's best street food market, Torggata 16 — 14+ stalls and bars, 100–150 NOK per meal. Central, easy walking distance from the station. Great for a quick, social lunch.

Ruter

Oslo's public transport ticketing app — buses, trams, T-bane and ferries. Buy tickets in-app before boarding; on-board purchase costs more. Set up payment in advance.

Vy

Live timetables for Lillestrøm → Oslo S and planning late-night returns. Also at vy.no in any browser.

Yr.no

Norway's own meteorological service — significantly more accurate for local conditions than international weather apps. Hyperlocal forecasts for planning outdoor days.

Google Maps

Download offline maps for Oslo and Lillestrøm before you leave — works without data once downloaded.

Wise / Revolut

Norway is virtually cashless. Always decline DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion) and pay in NOK.

4 travelling

Departs 11:15am, arrives 12:15pm.

Nate Roberts, Matthew Fish, Dillon Goos, Jacob Bourne

1 travelling

Departs 11:30am, arrives Edinburgh 12:20pm. Flying to and staying in Edinburgh.

Michael Snook

1 travelling

Departs Torp Sandefjord (TRF), arrives Manchester. Times TBC.

Kyle Yurkiw

Service Times

• First morning service from Oslo Airport: 05:30
• Last departure from Oslo Airport: 00:50
• First departure from Oslo S to airport: 04:40
• Frequency during normal service: every 10 minutes from Oslo S
• Flytoget timetable →

Service Times

• Weekdays: first departure from Oslo 04:54 · last 00:24
• Saturdays & Sundays: first departure from Oslo 06:54 · last 00:24
• Note: RE11 suspended July 4–19 for track maintenance
• Vy airport trains →

Vy Regional Train

• Vy regional train: Oslo Lufthavn (Gardermoen) → Lillestrøm station
• Journey time: 12 minutes · Direct, no changes
• Cost: NOK 130 = ~$19 CAD | ~$19 AUD | ~£10 GBP per person
• Tickets: "En Tur" or "Billetter" vending machines at the airport station — not the Flytoget machines
• Also accepts tap-to-pay Visa/Mastercard at platform barriers
• Walk to hotel: ~8 min from Lillestrøm station

Flytoget Airport Express

• Flytoget Airport Express: Oslo Lufthavn → Lillestrøm station
• Journey time: 12 minutes · Direct, no changes
• Cost: NOK 210 = ~$31 CAD | ~$31 AUD | ~£16 GBP per person
• Frequency: 3 departures per hour (every ~20 min)
• Tickets: vending machines or tap-to-pay contactless at platform barriers — no booking required
• Concessions: NOK 105 for students, under-20s, seniors 67+. Children under 16 FREE with adult
• Dedicated luggage areas, onboard bag tag printing, 96% punctuality with travel guarantee
• Recommended for July 4 departure day — guaranteed luggage space

Pre-booked Taxi/Minibus — 3:30am

• 3:15am — Wake-up call, lobby by 3:15am
• 3:30–3:45am — Pre-booked taxi/minibus departs Scandic Lillestrøm
• ~4:00am — Arrive Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) · bag drop closes ~4:30am
• 6:00am — DEPART SAS SK1461 → Manchester
• Nedre Romerike Taxi (02000): +47 67 10 00 80
• Charterbuss.no for minibus: adm@charterbuss.no
• Journey time: ~15–20 minutes by road

Flytoget or Vy — 8:00am

• 7:30am — Checkout / bags to lobby
• 7:45am — Walk to Lillestrøm station (~2 min from Scandic)
• 8:00am — Flytoget (NOK 210, recommended) or Vy (NOK 130) to OSL
• 8:15am — Arrive OSL · check-in opens ~2.5 hrs before departure
• 11:15am — DEPART EasyJet EZY2298 → Manchester
• Nate Roberts, Matthew Fish, Dillon Goos, Jacob Bourne

Flytoget or Vy — 8:00am

• 7:30am — Checkout / bags to lobby
• 8:00am — Flytoget or Vy train to OSL (12 min)
• 11:30am — DEPART Norwegian DY1354 → Edinburgh
• On arrival: own way Edinburgh Airport → Hawick RFC (TD9 8AW) ~1h 10m by road
• Must arrange own ground transport and confirm arrival time with team management before July 5
• Michael Snook

• Dalton Dining Room — packed breakfast 7:30–8:30am daily
• Nellies Bar — on-site student bar; confirm summer operating hours on arrival
• Self-catering kitchens in several residential blocks — useful beyond breakfast hours
• Wi-Fi: connect to "UoM Guest," then register per device via browser prompt — no password needed
• Sports facilities — squash court, tennis courts, croquet lawn (good easy recovery-day option)
• Reception — Main Hall, 8:00am–6:00pm Mon–Fri
• Out-of-hours — Duty Residential Life Advisor covers 6pm–8am Mon–Fri and all day Sat/Sun: +44 (0)7770 280271

• Single bed (190×90cm) or small double (190×120cm) depending on room
• Private en-suite bathroom — all 29 rooms
• Dedicated study area and storage, central heating
• Bath and hand towels provided, Wi-Fi included throughout
• Lift access — one of the 29 rooms is fitted with grab rails, worth allocating to anyone who'd benefit given early starts and late returns on match days

• Kettles, hairdryers and straighteners can trip room electrics — use the common room (iron/ironing board provided there)
• No smoking anywhere on-site, including within 2m of any entrance or open window
• Fire alarm tested every Monday morning — don't be alarmed if it sounds during the rest day
• Don't leave valuables in rooms or ground-floor windows open when out — the University isn't liable for belongings
• Maintenance issues — report to reception or the online form; routine repairs actioned within 72 hours (8am–3pm Mon–Fri)

• Circuit Laundry — on-site at Dalton Ellis Hall
• Wash £3.20 · Dry £1.70 (correct as of Sept 2025 — confirm in-app on arrival)
• Pay via the Circuit GO app — card on file, no coins required. Download: App Store · Google Play
• App not essential — most Circuit sites also have a wall-mounted terminal for tap-to-pay with a contactless card, phone or smartwatch (Apple Pay/Google Pay). The app is still handy for checking machine availability and getting a "cycle done" alert. Confirm on arrival whether Sutherland's laundry room has the tap terminal installed.
• Per person (wash + dry): ~£4.90 ≈ $9 CAD / $9 AUD

Sainsbury's Local (Horniman House) — 399–401 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9BL · 7am–11pm daily. Go-to for pre-match meal prep, protein, snacks and recovery food.

Also: Tesco Express, Wilmslow Road, Rusholme (Curry Mile) — confirm hours locally.

Four Ford Tourneo Customs picked up July 4 from Enterprise/Sixt (Manchester Airport or city centre), returned July 6. Book in advance — July weekend availability fills quickly.

Curry Mile — Rusholme

Wilmslow Road, Rusholme — ~15 min walk from Dalton Ellis Hall. One of the UK's great food streets and outstanding for group eating. Mains typically £8–12 (~$14–21 CAD). Options open past midnight on weekends; kebab/pizza shops near campus open until 2–3am Fri/Sat.

Zouk Restaurant

39 Chester St — 5 min walk from campus. Award-winning Pakistani cuisine. Mains £10–16 (~$17–28 CAD).

This and That Café

3 Soap St — ~20 min walk from campus. Rice + 3 curries, operating since 1984. £6–8 (~$10–14 CAD).

YES Bar

38 Charles St, just off Oxford Road. Half-price pizzas 12–6pm daily — quarter-pizza + fries ~£5 (~$8.75 CAD).

Sainsbury's Local (Horniman House)

399–401 Oxford Road, M13 9BL · 7am–11pm daily. Team supermarket dinner option — around £5–8pp (~$9–14 CAD). Also the go-to for pre-match meal prep, protein and recovery snacks.

Breakfast Top-Up

Grab-bag from Sainsbury's the night before for the 8:30am Hawick convoy departure — it's right at the edge of the Dalton Dining Room's 7:30–8:30am breakfast window, so a backup grab-bag avoids any risk of missing it — £5–7 (~$9–12 CAD).

Old Trafford — Manchester United

Sir Bobby Charlton Stand, Sir Matt Busby Way. "Theatre of Dreams" tour covers the changing rooms, players' tunnel, dugout and museum — around 70 minutes. Adult tickets from ~£25 (~$44 CAD), best value booked online in advance. ~25–30 min from campus via tram (Old Trafford stop) or taxi.

Etihad Stadium — Manchester City

Etihad Campus, east Manchester. Tour includes the tunnel, dugouts, dressing rooms and trophy room — around 75 minutes. Adult tickets from ~£22 (~$39 CAD), advance online booking recommended. ~20–25 min from campus via Metrolink (Etihad Campus stop) or taxi.

Manchester Museum

Oxford Road, University of Manchester campus. Natural history and Egyptian mummies. Free entry, allow 2–3 hours.

Whitworth Art Gallery

Oxford Road, University of Manchester campus. World-class art collection. Free entry.

Science and Industry Museum

Liverpool Rd, Castlefield. World's oldest surviving railway station, computing and industrial history exhibits. Free entry — 25 min walk or short tram from campus.

John Rylands Library

Deansgate. Neo-Gothic masterpiece that's doubled as a film location. Free entry, ~25 min walk from campus.

Northern Quarter

Street art, indie coffee shops and Manchester's music scene — a good low-cost wander for a free afternoon.

Bee Network Tram (Metrolink)

Into the city centre — 1-day Bee AnyBus+Tram ticket ~£2.75–4.10 depending on zones, or single tram fare from ~£2.

1 travelling

Departs 5:55am, arrives 8:20am.

Robin Legault

3 travelling

Departs 11:00am, arrives 1:20pm.

Jalen Harrison, Thomas Dickinson, Paul Buchanan

Train — Amsterdam Centraal → Rotterdam Centraal

• Intercity Direct: ~40 minutes · Standard IC: ~1hr 05 minutes
• Buy via NS International app or ticket machines at Amsterdam Centraal
• Rotterdam Centraal is one of Europe's most striking train stations — hard to miss

Metro, Tram or Taxi

• If staying at Stayokay Rotterdam (Cube Houses): Blaak Metro station is a short walk — take Metro E or D from Rotterdam Centraal, 2 stops
• Tram 21 or 25 also connects Centraal to the Blaak/Cube Houses area
• Taxi or Uber from Centraal: ~€10–15, ~10 minutes to most central accommodation
• RET app for live tram/metro journey planning in Rotterdam

Train Rotterdam → Amsterdam Schiphol

• Take the train from Rotterdam Centraal direct to Schiphol Airport
• Intercity Direct: ~25 minutes · Standard IC: ~45 minutes
• Cost: ~€15–20 (IC Direct) or ~€12 (standard IC)
• Allow at least 2.5–3 hours before your flight for check-in and security at Schiphol
• Buy via NS International app or Rotterdam Centraal ticket machines

Metro, Tram or Taxi

• If staying near Blaak: Metro E or D to Rotterdam Centraal — 2 stops, ~5 minutes
• Taxi or Uber to Rotterdam Centraal: ~€10–15, ~10 minutes
• RET app for live tram/metro times

Taxi or Bus from City Centre

• RTM is ~8km northwest of Rotterdam city centre
• Bus 33 from Rotterdam Centraal to the airport: ~30 minutes, ~€4
• Taxi or Uber: ~€20–25, ~20 minutes
• Check your ticket — RTM is smaller than Schiphol and handles fewer carriers