Practicalities

Please read the Exoclimes Code of Conduct

Arrival and check-in information

Your conference registration packet will be available for pickup on Sunday from 16:00 to 19:00 in the archway at Merton near the entrance to the college bar, and on Monday in the lobby of the conference venue (T.S. Eliot Lecture Theatre, Merton College).  If you are arriving early enough, please stop by and pick up your packet and badge on Sunday. This will speed things up considerably on Monday morning, and avoid long lines before the opening session.

Local Map

All talks will take place in the T.S. Eliot Lecture Theatre at Merton College, with poster sessions in the vicinity. Lunch and dinner will be served in Hall at Merton. Breakfast will be at Merton for those staying there and Jesus for those staying at Jesus. The bar at Merton will be open every evening from dinner time until 11PM. Wine is provided at the conference dinner, but for other dinners drinks will be available for purchase by the bottle or glass in the bar before dinner.

Local Map

How to get here

Heathrow Oxford can be most easily reached from Heathrow Airport via the 24/7 “Airline” bus (https://airline.oxfordbus.co.uk/). This can be booked in advance with a flexible departure time, or paid for in person. Travel time from Heathrow is about 90 minutes. The “period return” ticket is much cheaper than 2 singles, and the return journey is valid for the next three months. The bus leaves Heathrow from the Central Bus Station (if you arrive at Terminals 2 or 3) and from Terminal 5 (if you arrive at Terminals 4 or 5). Check the website for details of how to find the stop. For the town centre you can get off at the final “Gloucester Green” stop, or for Merton College you can get off a little earlier at the “High Street” stop.

Gatwick The Airline bus also travels to and from Gatwick Airport from the same stops in Oxford. Travel time from Gatwick is about 150 minutes. There is also a train from Gatwick to Oxford, which can sometimes be faster than taking the bus. Birmingham There is a fast and direct train from Birmingham Airport. Other airports Oxford can also be reached via Stanstead or Luton Airports, taking the train via London. This is normally more complicated and expensive than the bus from Heathrow or Gatwick, or the train from Birmingham.

 By train From London two train stations are easily linked to the Eurostar via London tube: Paddington (https://www.gwr.com/) and Marylebone (https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/). Tickets booked in advance can be cheaper than £6 (one way). Oxford can be reached easily by train from virtually anywhere in the UK. Timetables can be checked and tickets can be booked at The Trainline

Things to do-- Outdoor Excursions

Oxford is very bike-friendly, and if you arrange to rent a bike for your stay, it will greatly increase the range of possible excursions. Dockless bikes are available from several companies (account required), but you can get a better bike at lower cost if you arrange to rent one for one or more days from Bainton Bikes. It's good to book online in advance. Remember to bring your helmet!

Outdoor activities at Exoclimes are self-organizing.  Oxford may not have the spectacular mountain scenery of a place like Squamish, but it is rich in pretty country walks, excellent country pubs, opportunities for messing about in small boats, jogging and bicycle excursions. And did we mention excellent country pubs? Here are a few suggestions to get you started

 

Things to do-- Rainy Day