We are delighted that the venue for the conference is the very newly-completed TS Eliot Theatre in Merton College Oxford.

On arrival

When you arrive, please come to the Porters’ Lodge at the main college gate on Merton Street (Google map | College map). If you arrive on the evening of Thursday 8 July, the porters will direct you to your room. If you arrive on the morning of Friday 9 July, the porters will direct you to the lecture theatre. Residential rooms will not be available at that time, but there is a lockable room beside the lecture theatre where you will be able to store your luggage until lunch time, when rooms will be available.

Internet access

Fixed-line broadband internet access is available in the residential rooms. A username and password are not required, but please bring a suitable ethernet cable (a standard ethernet RJ45 cable), and set your computer’s network settings to obtain an IP address automatically. Wireless broadband internet access is available in the lecture theatre; please ask for a username and password.

Full information on using Merton’s IT Facilities is available here. If you wish to use an internet telephone VoIP service such as Skype, please follow the Oxford University Computing Services instructions.

Please note: the conference, the college and the university will not be able to provide troubleshooting or technical support for your computer, or for internet access in particular, during the conference weekend.

Merton College

The first fully self-governing College in the University of Oxford, Merton College was founded in 1264 by Walter de Merton (c1205–1277), sometime Chancellor of England and later Bishop of Rochester. It offers an historic and picturesque setting for the conference. Walking through the ancient Lodge Gate, you enter an enclave of learning and contemplation, and its diverse buildings boast modern convenience as well as traditional grandeur. Merton provides:

• Attentive, friendly, flexible conference service,
• The opportunity to dine in the magnificent Hall, built in 1277,
• Buildings of great historical interest set amidst beautiful Quads with award-winning gardens which provide the perfect backdrop for some well-deserved relaxation after a long day of meetings, and
• World-famous museums, monuments, shops and restaurants all just a short walk away in Oxford City Centre.

Getting to Merton College Oxford

Merton is located in central Oxford, which is less than sixty miles from London and is easily accessible from Heathrow and Birmingham airports.

If you’re travelling to Oxford by car, the best way to reach the Merton is to enter the High Street from the east, turning left into Merton Street at the Eastgate Hotel. However, the College is unable to offer parking; information concerning parking facilities available elsewhere in Oxford may be found here, and more details about Park and Ride car parks is available here.

Details of trains and coaches to Oxford are available here and here, (and here is additional information about travel to and from Heathrow and Birmingham airports). The Oxford Tube and Oxford Espress bus services from London stop on the High Street opposite Queen’s lane, which is a short walk from the College.

Here are a Google map and a Multi map showing Merton College’s location in Oxford city centre; other maps are available here, here and here.