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Registration
Meeting schedule
About Lancaster University
Area maps
Local travel information
Travel information
Hotel information

Registration

If you are planning to attend the General Assembly please notify us by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . If multiple people are attending from your institution, you can collect them into a single email. Additionally, when you have booked your hotel, if you are not staying at Lancaster House then please inform us which hotel you have chosen.

Finally, on Monday evening we will eat out at a restaurant, and they need us to decide in advance what we would like to have. Please therefore choose from the below options and inform us of your preference (a 3 letter code will do):

Starter:

A. Carrot and servile orange soup, home-baked bread
B. Pressed terrine of vegetables, green pesto oil
C. Pan seared mackerel, citrus mayonnaise
D. Bury black pudding, wholegrain mustard, poached egg

Main course:

E. Award winning Cumberland sausage, roasted red onion mash
F. Sea bass fillet, curried vegetables, wilted greens
G. Hand made potato gnocci, sun blushed tomato sauce
H. Duck breast, Polenta cake, orange braised fennel

Dessert:

I. White chocolate and Toberone cheesecake, raspberry compote
J. Sticky toffee pudding, toffee sauce, vanilla ice cream
K. Iced marshmallow and passion fruit parfait, lime syrup
L. Plate of award-winning cheese, grape chutney, celery, biscuits

The "local choice" would be D/E/J.

Meeting schedule

This is our preliminary meeting schedule:

On Monday morning we will meet in the foyer of InfoLab and walk together to the conference centre - we will depart at 08:40 if you wish to join us. See local travel details for how to get to InfoLab or the conference centre.

Monday - meeting held in University Central Conference Facility:

Tuesday - meeting held in InfoLab:

About Lancaster University

Lancaster University is a campus university located several miles outside the city centre in an area called "Bailrigg", affording the campus - and particularly InfoLab, home of the Computing Department - scenic views over the Trough of Bowland countryside. The campus was constructed in the 1960's, and is designed around a central "spine" running from North to South, with InfoLab situated at the southern-most tip of the campus on "South Drive".

Area maps

UK Map

Lancaster and the University

Lancaster Campus

Click here to view campus map in pdf form with legend

Local Travel Information

Getting from the train station to the University (general information)
Getting from the train station to the central bus station
Getting from the train station to the Shakespeare hotel
Getting to the meeting venue

Getting from the train station to the University (general information)

Visitors arriving at Lancaster by train can either take a taxi from the train station to the campus, use the X1 bus service direct between the train station and university, or take a short walk to the city's central bus station (see directions below). The X1 service runs until 17:40 on weekdays and until 2100 on Sundays. There are two exits from the train station, one on Platform 3 and the other leading to the main entrance. Taxis and buses are available from the exit on Platform 3.

Buses run from the city's central bus station to the university every ten minutes (bus numbers 2, 2A, X2, 3 and 4). There is also a larger taxi rank at the central bus station. Buses run from early in the morning until 2300 on Sunday, and until midnight other days. Note that the same number buses depart in two directions from the city hub - one direction takes you to the university, and the other to the sea side. Buses bound for the university usually depart from stands number 3 and 4.

Getting from the train station to the central bus station (by foot)

From the main station exit: Turn right as you exit the train station (you cannot go left!) and walk up to the T-junction at the top of the road. Here turn left and walk straight down to the end of this road, passing Lancaster Castle up a side street on your left, to another T-junction. Turn left and walk along this road (China Street), passing The Pub on your right and Bombay Balti on your left, until the road slopes steeply downhill - at the bottom of this hill you will find the cental bus station to your right. Here is an annotated map of this:

Getting from the train station to the Shakespeare hotel (by foot)

From the main train station exit: Turn right as you exit the train station (you cannot go left!) and walk up to the T-junction at the top of the road. Here turn left and walk straight down to the end of this road, passing Lancaster Castle up a side street on your left, to another T-junction. Here turn left and walk along this road (China Street), passing The Pub on your right and Bombay Balti on your left. Just before this road slopes steeply downhill, turn right just after a pedestrian crossing onto Church Street. This street appears to quickly bend around to the left - ignore this and continue straight on past The Sun Hotel, eventually passing the Vue cinema alley on your right, and Bella Italia on your left. Continue straight on beyond this until you come to a 4-way intersection. At this point the main road through Lancaster runs up an incline from left to right in front of you, and on the corner on the opposite side of the road is The Priory. Cross over the road, continuing straight ahead in the direction you have been walking, so that you pass The Priory on your left (this street is St. Leonard's Gate). The Shakespeare is a small green-fronted terraced building slightly further along this road on your left. Here is an annotated map of this:

Getting to the meeting venue

As InfoLab is very close to Lancaster House Hotel, we will meet on Monday in the foyer of InfoLab and depart at 08:40 to walk together to the university's central conference facility. On Tuesday our meetings will be held in InfoLab itself. If you are late on Monday then you will need to find your own way to the conference centre (see maps). You may also wish to go directly to the conference centre if you are staying at a city hotel (see below).

Getting to InfoLab from Lancaster House hotel

This is a five minute walk; leave the hotel grounds via the main gates and turn right:

Walk straight ahead along the road, then onto the footpath, until the path curves to the left:

-

At this point you should be able to see InfoLab to your left:

Enter the building over the footbridge and we will meet you in the foyer:

Getting to InfoLab from a city hotel

The easiest option here is to take a number 3 or 4 bus, available from the central bus station, and ask for a ticket to Lancaster University South Drive. This is a bus stop directly opposite InfoLab. When arriving at the university campus, these buses will first stop at the University Underpass to let passengers get off here, but will not allow new passengers to get on. They will then continue around campus, taking a route through Alexendra Park before arriving at the South Drive stop (you may catch a glimpse of InfoLab before the bus turns away from it to go through Alexandra Park; don't be alarmed by this :-)). They then return to the underpass to allow new passengers there to get on, before departing again for the city centre. Be sure to press one of the square red STOP buttons when you want to get off, as the buses do not automatically stop at every bus stop.

Getting to the conference centre from a city hotel

All other buses to the university will stop at the University Underpass only, which is below the university's central square (Alexandra Square). Attendees in this case are advised to make their own way to the conference centre on Monday, which is about one minute's walk along the North spine from Alexandra Square (see campus map). For Tuesday, the walk to InfoLab is about 10 minutes along the South spine.

Travel Information

Attendees should plan to arrive in Lancaster on Sunday 14th June, and depart late afternoon or evening on Tuesday 16th June. The most convenient way to get to Lancaster is to fly to Manchester Airport, and then take a train to Lancaster from the airport train station - this and other options are described below. All UK train times can be viewed at www.qjump.com (up to three months in advance). Local travel details will be made available nearer the time of the meeting.

Travelling via Manchester

Manchester is approximately 60 miles (96 km) from Lancaster.

Manchester International Airport has three terminals interconnected by indoor walkways - expect a 15 minute walk between terminals. The train station is located below ground level in Terminal 2. Travellers are advised to arrive mid-afternoon at the latest, as trains operate a reduced service on Sunday. Trains run hourly at 25 minutes past the hour, with the last train departing at 8:25pm (correct as of 20th April). The journey takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. There are unfortunately no direct trains on this route on Sunday, so passengers must change at Preston.

Please do not take a standard taxi from the airport - Manchester is a long way from Lancaster, and this would be very expensive. If you cannot use the trains for some reason, please contact us via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , providing your flight details, and we will arrange a special airport transfer taxi for you. While this is still more expensive than the train (even with multiple travellers sharing a taxi), it is much cheaper than using a standard taxi.

Travelling via Blackpool

Blackpool is approximately 40 miles (64 km) from Lancaster.

Blackpool International airport serves a number of low-cost carriers, particularly to Mediterranean destinations. Some flights are also operated to Geneva. Trains are available from the nearby Squires Gate station, approximately 5 minutes walk from the airport. Passengers travelling to Lancaster will need to change at Preston.

Travelling via Liverpool

Liverpool is approximately 60 miles (96 km) from Lancaster.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport serves some international destinations more frequently than Manchester. However, there is no train station at the airport, and visitors must therefore take a bus to one of Liverpool's train stations (e.g. Lime Street). There are also no direct trains from Liverpool to Lancaster, requiring a change often at Wigan.

Hotels

Lancaster House Hotel

Lancaster House is situated alongside the university campus, about 5 minutes walk from InfoLab. This 4-star hotel is by far the most straight-forward place to stay when visiting the university. The university is afforded special pricing for the hotel at £80 per night - WISEBED General Assembly attendees staying here should quote Preferred Booker # 0680001 in their reservation. Reservations will need to be by phone, fax or email to use this reference number.

Telephone: +44 (0) 1524 844822

Fax: +44 (0) 1524 844766

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

For those wanting cheaper accomodation in the city centre, we can suggest the following options:

The Shakespeare B&B - £35 per night

Telephone: +44 (0) 1524 841041

Note the Shakespeare is a strictly no smoking hotel which does not accept any guests who are smokers.

The Sun - £60 per night

Telephone: +44 (0) 1524 66006

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Royal Kings Arms - £65 per night (quote Carol Airey and WISEBED in your reservation to get this rate)

Telephone: +44 (0) 1524 32451

Fax: +44 (0) 1524 841698

Penny Street Bridge - £75 per night (quote WISEBED in your reservation to get this rate)

Telephone: +44 (0) 1524 599900

Fax: +44 (0) 1524 599901

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it