Location

The conference will be held at the Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton UK.

Information about the campus and its location can be found on the University of Southampton’s webpage.

Southampton has its own airport and Flybe uses it as a hub airport. The airport has its own railway station, Southampton Airport Parkway. This is the nearest train station to the Highfield campus. There are taxis from both the airport and the train station next door. The cost will be around £10 to Highfield.

A dedicated bus service, Uni-link, runs between the university, both train stations and the airport. Anyone can use the bus system. The Highfield campus has the main bus interchange.

If you are flying in to either Gatwick or Heathrow, you will find it easier to travel east to London than west to Southampton. You can take a National Express coach from Heathrow directly to the Southampton University bus interchange but this takes time. Gatwick is also linked by trains, but you will have to make at least two changes. An easy way to get from Heathrow or Gatwick to Southampton is to pre-book an airport transfer. The University uses English Rose taxis.

There are not many hotels within walking distance of Highfield campus, although you may find that the Uni-link bus service is helpful.

Highfield House Hotel: popular with visitors to the University. It is about a 10 minute walk away from Highfield (up a steep hill) but there is also a bus. The hotel is near to Portswood High Street which has banks, lots of food shops, a good book shop, restaurants and cafes, as well as Uni-link bus stops.

Further away, there are two reasonably priced hotels called: the Elizabeth House Hotel, and a Travelodge. The Banister Guest House has closed down.

If you have transport or are willing to get on a bus, then Southampton’s town centre has lots of hotels. Please be aware that hotels can get booked up because of the cruise ships coming into port. There are cruise ships arriving and departing on each day from 1st to 8th August.

You can stay outside of Southampton. Chilworth is nearby, but you may need a car. Winchester has lots of beautiful hotels and it is 10- 20 mins from Southampton Airport Parkway station by train. The New Forest is also beautiful, but the forest roads can get blocked up easily in tourist season. There are train links which might be easier.

If you are interested in a quirky hotel, there is the Pig in the Wall by Southampton docks. It is opposite the Grand Harbour De Vere and near to many of the chain hotels catering for the cruise ship trade.

Overall my advice is to try to get into the Highfield House hotel due to its convenient location. If you are willing to spend money and do not mind travelling, then try the Pig in the Wall or a hotel in Winchester. Many hotels in Southampton are set up for the cruise ship trade and they are expensive for what they are. Book early as the cruise ship passengers book up in advance.