Local Information
ISSAC 2015 will take place at the University of Bath in the UK. The university is in the City of Bath in the South West of England, approximately 115 miles west of London.
Contents
This page contains information on the following:
- Visa Information
- Travelling to Bath
- Travelling to the University
- The Campus
- Accommodation
- Sightseeing
Visa Information
If you are unsure whether you need a visa to enter the UK you can check using this UK government website. If you require an invitation letter then please contact issac2015-local@lists.bath.ac.uk as soon as possible.
Travelling to the city of Bath
The most convenient airports for travelling to Bath are:
- Bristol airport: flies to many European destinations. Options for transferring to Bath:
- Take the direct bus service from the airport to Bath city centre. This takes approximately 1 hour and tickets may be purchased on the bus.
- Take a local bus to Bristol city centre and then a train to Bath. This can be purchased on one ticket in advance from First Great Western.
- London Heathrow airport: many flights worldwide. To transfer to Bath will take approximately 2 hours. There are various options:
- Take the bus from Heathrow to Reading train station, then the train to Bath. Can be purchased on one ticket from First Great Western.
- Take a direct coach service from the airport with National Express.
- Transfer to the centre of London (Heathrow express or London Underground) then take a First Great Western train from London Paddington.
There are other London airports available, but these are less convenient for travelling to Bath.
Travelling to the University from the city centre
The university is approximately 1.5 miles uphill from the city centre: about a 25 minute walk. There are regular bus services from the main bus station (and various other city centre stops). The bus takes about 10 minutes. Exit the bus at the main campus bus stop (this is the second stop inside the university grounds) where there are multiple bus shelters.
You may also consult the University of Bath's travel webpage.
Campus
Click here for a pdf map of the campus. ISSAC takes place in The Chancellor's Building: Building 3 on the campus map.
Accommodation
Rooms in the university campus may be booked through this link. Participants can also arrange their own accommodation in Bath city center; from which the campus is easily accessed by a 25min walk or 10 min bus ride. Bath is a popular tourist destination and so there are many option available, however, July is peak tourist season so we suggest booking in advance. Some of the major hotels are:
- Hilton Bath City Hotel: Double rooms are available at a discounted rate of £90 a night. To obtain this rate please make a phone booking on 08705 515151 and note that you are a University of Bath guest (reference code D424400661).
- Holiday Inn Express Bath: Bookings can be made online here.
- Premier Inn Bath: Bookings can be made online here.
- Travel-lodge (both the Bath City Centre and Bath Waterside locations are suitable). Bookings can be made online here.
We also recommend the official Bath tourist information website, VisitBath, for finding and booking accommodation, including B&Bs and guesthouses.
Sightseeing
There is much to see and do in Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Bath is probably most famous for its Georgian architecture with sites like The Royal Crescent and The Circus just a short walk from the city centre. The most visited attraction is the Roman Baths which we will see together following our conference banquet at the attached Pump Rooms Restaurant.
For more details on sightseeing and tourism visit the Visit Bath website or the Bath Visitor Information Centre situated on the square adjacent to the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey.
Other sites situated a short distance from Bath include the cities of Bristol, Wells and Salisbury (where one of the remaining copies of Magna Carta is kept), and of course, Stonehenge.