Workshop2011:logistics
Accommodation
The organizers have booked number of rooms in the nearby Churchill College.
Information on the rooms and the college
Churchill College: SIte Map
Description of the rooms from the College's website:
The light, generously proportioned rooms combine the functional needs of a business traveller, including a spacious desk and free broadband internet access, with home comforts such as a hospitality tray and toiletries.
Additional facilities for residents include an on-site laundry, a TV room, an all day bar and cafe (subject to opening hours) and sports facilities including squash and tennis courts and a multi-gym. Sports equipment, irons and hair dryers can all be borrowed from the Porters' Lodge.
Many of the rooms offer views over the inner courtyards or surrounding grounds and gardens.
The rooms we are offering have en-suite toilet and shower and continental breakfast is included in the price. Single room is 63 GBP per night, double is 75 GBP (TBC) per night.
If you are interested in taking this accommodation please state it on your registration form. Number of rooms is limited. You will be asked to pay for your accommodation in advance before 20th of May 2010.
Alternatively, check out one of the following websites, which provide an extensive list of hotels and B&B in the Cambridge area:
The workshop is taking place at the Institute of Astronomy on Madingley Road, so the closest options are Canterbury House (B&B), Benson House (Guest House), the Premier Inn (Hotel) or the Arundel House Hotel.
Travel
By Air
You can check various options at this website, mainly for cheap flights.
A word about taxis We recommend pre-arranging taxi bookings with a Cambridge taxi firm, e.g. Panther Taxis +44 1223 715715, or alternatively contact us by email if you would like us to make a reservation for you (please put the word TAXI in the subject line to help us spot it). Catching a black cab from Heathrow airport could cost you several hundred pounds, at least double the price of a private hire booking.
London Stansted airport
It is the closest and the most convenient airport to get to Cambridge. Some cheap airlines fly there, e.g. RyanAir or EasyJet.
Direct buses to Cambridge are operated by NationalExpress and run almost every hour. Journey takes about 1h. It might be better to buy your bus ticket as soon as you know your flight details, but there is also a possibility for buying your ticket at the counter at the airport.
By car/taxi it takes about 30-40 minutes. Taxi costs about 50 GBP (+30% between 12 and 5am).
A train service is also provided from Stansted Airport to Cambridge. Schedules and prices can be found at http://www.thetrainline.com. It takes about 30 minutes to/from Cambridge.
London Luton airport
Several low-cost air companies fly to/from Luton. Among others check RyanAir, EasyJet and GermanWings.
There is a regular direct bus service from the airport to Cambridge around every 2h. Journey takes about 1.5h. Check times and prices on the NationalExpress website.
By car/taxi it takes at least 1h, depending on the traffic. Taxi costs about 70 GBP (+30% between 12 and 5am).
There is also a possibility to get to London first and then to Cambridge by train. It takes about 2-2.5h.
London Heathrow airport
London Heathrow airport is also an option with all major airlines flying there. From/to Cambridge it takes about 2.5-3h by a direct bus (NationalExpress) and 1.5h by car.
Taxi to/from Heathrow costs around 100 GBP (+30% between 12 and 5am).
Another option is to take an underground (Piccadilly Line) to King's Cross (about 1h) and then a train to Cambridge (another 1-1.5h).
London Gatwick airport
There is a direct bus between Gatwick and Cambridge, but it takes around 4h. Taxi costs about 125 GBP (+30% between 12 and 5am). The easiest option seems to be the Gatwick Express train to/from Victoria Station in London.
London City airport
This small airport is a convenient alternative. Some major airlines fly there (e.g. BA, LH, Swiss). Taxi to/from Cambridge costs about 80 GBP (+30% between 12 and 5am). Another option is the underground (DLR and other lines) to King's Cross train station and a train to Cambridge.
Check Transport for London website for detailed schedules of the underground.
By Train
Eurostar offers quite good fares when buying tickets in advance. So if you are coming from Paris or Bruxells (for more destinations please check the website) consider this option as well. Eurostar trains arrive at St. Pancras International, you will need to get to Kings Cross Station (the two stations are within a few hundred meters) to get the train to Cambridge. For time schedules and prices check this website http://www.thetrainline.com.
Local transportation
Both the Cambridge train and bus stations are quite close to the centre of the city. Local busses schedules can be seen on-line at this website http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/bus_timetables.
Getting to the Institute of Astronomy
The following link takes you to the official map prepared by the University of Cambridge (the map is currently set to show in the centre the location of the Institute of Astronomy but scrolling and zooming are both possible) : link to the map.
There is not direct bus running from the train station to the IoA, therefore we recommend taking a taxi. From the Park Side bus station, or just City Centre, you can take bus no City4. Buy the ticket from the driver to Thompson Avenue. Walk from the City Centre to the IoA takes about 30-45 minutes. From the Churchill College it takes about 10 minutes along Madingley Road (there is also shortcut available through the sports grounds, then enter the "woods" after the college chapel to reach the IoA's Main Library).
The University of Cambridge also has a webpage providing some local information for visitors. This can be found at this link.
