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Registration and Information

📝 Registration

Registration for presenters is now closed. Delegates not intending to present can still register via the Ripon College Cuddesdon website. 

Non-Residential Place: £260 (includes lunch and dinner but not breakfast)
Single-Day Passes: £90 
Online/Remote Registration: £65 (includes online access to plenaries and a limited number of panel sessions)

❓ Questions

Questions regarding the conference can be sent to conference@congregationalmusic.org or directed to a particular member of the organising committee.

Questions regarding accommodation and registration should be directed to the college hospitality team.

🗓️ Schedule

The conference runs from 1–4 August 2023. The draft conference programme can be found here

💻 Online Participation

The 2023 conference is, primarily, an in-person event, however we will be accommodating a limited number of online presentations during the course of the event, and we will also be aiming to stream plenary sessions and a selection of panels for those unable to travel to Cuddesdon. The exact details of these have yet to be worked out, however it is likely that our primary online platform will be Zoom.

🛏️ College Accommodation

College accommodation is now full. If you have not already booked accommodation at the college you will, therefore, need to book your own accommodation. Please see the list below for several nearby accommodation options. The conference organisers have arranged for a coach to pick up delegates from Oxford city centre each morning (Tuesday – Friday), leaving from just outside the Taylor Institution Library at 8:10 am. This can be found using the map below.

N.B. If you arrange your own accommodation, you will still need to register for the conference at the non-residential reduced rate using the online registration form.

🏨 Accommodation Suggestions

cuddesdon

  • The Bat and Ball   
    The Bat and Ball was previously a good place to stay directly in Cuddesdon. Unfortunately it has recently closed.

oxford

  • University Rooms  
    Stay in an Oxford University College

  • Central Backpackers  
    Cheap hostel-style accommodation for those on a tight budget  

    Oxford also has a wide range of hotels, B&Bs and budget accommodation as well as private rooms that can be booked via websites such as airbnb or booking.com.

🚌 Coach Pick-Up Point

Map of Coach Pick-Up Point outside the Taylorian

Click here for an interactive map of the coach pick-up location.

📍 Finding Cuddesdon

Map Showing the Location of Cuddesdon

Click here for an interactive map of the local area.

🛂 Travelling to the UK After Brexit

Delegates should note that this is the first time we have held a conference in Cuddesdon since Brexit and that some travel rules may have changed, particularly for European citizens. Information can be found on the official government website.

Some delegates may require a Visa in order to enter the country. You can find a list of nationalities for which the UK government requires a visa here, information on short stay visas can be found here, and there is a step by step process to check whether you require a visa here. Should you require an official invitation letter in order to attend the conference, please request this from the college hospitality team who will be able to issue an invitation under the official college letterhead.

😷 COVID Precautions

There are currently very few Covid-related restrictions in place in the UK, however delegates should check current travelling regulations online before their journey.

During the conference we aim to keep rooms well ventilated through natural ventilation. Anyone with Covid symptoms is advised to quarantine, and those who wish to may bring appropriate facemasks with them to wear as they feel appropriate.

🚉 Arriving by Rail

The nearest Railway Stations are Oxford or Haddenham and Thame Parkway (on the Chiltern Railways London Marylebone to Birmingham Line, half-hourly service - quicker, more frequent and more reliable than London Paddington-Oxford). Book rail travel in advance to take advantage of less expensive fares at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ or https://www.thetrainline.com/. Tickets may also be purchased at the station on the day of travel. International rail tickets from Europe via the Channel Tunnel can be booked via third-party websites such as https://www.thetrainline.com.

The best way of getting to Oxford from London outside rush hours is by bus. The Oxford Tube (from London), the Airline (from Heathrow or Gatwick), as well as Park & Ride Buses stop at the Thornhill Park & Ride on the A40 which is about a ten-minute drive from Cuddesdon. From Thornhill Park & Ride, take a taxi (see list of local taxi services below).

There is no longer any bus service to Cuddesdon.

🛬 Arriving by Plane

Ripon College Cuddesdon is about forty miles from London-Heathrow, and is also easily accessible from the London-Gatwick, Birmingham International, and London-Luton airports.

The easiest way to reach the college from London-area airports is via coach. London-Heathrow to Oxford is via The Airline (£35 for a flexible return ticket, £25 for a one-way journey). You can purchase tickets on the coach or in advance via their app. The coach has wifi, toilets, and can accommodate wheelchair users. If you arrive at Terminal 5 The Airline coach services the terminal, so follow the signs to the pick up point. If you arrive at Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, or 3, follow signs to the Heathrow Central Bus Station. The Airline coach service also travels from London-Gatwick. If you travel via the Airline coach service, we advise you to alight at the Thornhill Park & Ride and then to take a taxi to the college (see below for taxi services).

🚕 Local Taxi Services

estimated taxi fares to cuddesdon from:

Oxford Rail Station: £22-£25  
Oxford City Centre (Taylor Institution Library): £20-£22  
Haddenham and Thame Parkway: £30-£40  
Heathrow Airport (via sedan): £70-£85  
Thornhill Park & Ride: £15-£18

It is recommended that delegates use the group Facebook page or Google Groups list to arrange to share taxis with other delegates if you need to travel to Cuddesdon outside of the scheduled coach times (8:10 am Tuesday 1 – Friday 4 August).

🚗 Arriving by Car

From the East (London) and North (Birmingham) Travel on the M40 and leave at Junction 8A (also signposted Services). At the roundabout follow the signs to Oxford and Wheatley but then turn right to Wheatley before the road joins the A40. Follow signs for Wheatley and half a mile after ASDA fork left at King's Arms pub (signposted Garsington). Pass the Church, then turn left at cross-roads shortly afterwards. (There is the old village lock up by the turning). Go straight over the next crossroads up Station Road which becomes Ladder Hill. Go past Rose's Place chip shop and the Co-op on your left. After about one mile and soon after the Mill View Nursery, turn left (signposted Cuddesdon). Cuddesdon village is about another mile. The entrances to Ripon College Cuddesdon are on the right before you reach the village centre. The first entrance is to the Runcie Building and large Car Park. Take the second entrance for Reception.

From the South (A34) Come off the A34 signposted Oxford; go round the Oxford Ring Road for a couple of miles (towards the A40); turn right just past the Mini Car Factory, signposted Horspath. This is just after the Cowley (Tesco) flyover. Follow the road through Horspath - keep going for a couple of miles, up to the top of the hill, and then turn left towards Wheatley, and then turn right after 100 yards or so signposted Cuddesdon. Cuddesdon village is about another mile. The entrances to Ripon College Cuddesdon are on the right before you reach the village centre. The first entrance is to the Runcie Building and large Car Park. Take the second entrance for Reception.

From Central Oxford it is easiest to take the A40 to London and then come off at the Wheatley exit (about 3 miles from Headington Roundabout). Turn right at the T-junction and then follow the road round to the mini-roundabout. Go straight across and over the next two crossroads up Station Road past the chip shop and Co-op which becomes Ladder Hill. After about one mile and soon after the Mill View Nursery, turn left (signposted Cuddesdon). Cuddesdon village is about another mile. The entrances to Ripon College Cuddesdon are on the right before you reach the village centre. The first entrance is to the Runcie Building and large Car Park. Take the second entrance for Reception.

🔌 Miscellaneous

  • For people coming from abroad, please note voltage in the UK (230V) and bring an adapter for any electrical equipment such as laptops, phone chargers etc. 
  • Washing machines and driers are available on-site. £1 coins are required for operation.
  • Internet access via WiFI is available in most bedrooms, ethernet cables are available. Complementary wifi will be available in the common areas.

↔️ Extending Your Stay

The College can offer, subject to availability, additional nights bed & breakfast accommodation (not including lunch or dinner) either before or after the conference itself. If this would be of interest to you, please email hospitality@rcc.ac.uk. If available, ensuite bed & breakfast is offered at £57 per person per night and standard bed & breakfast at £45 per person per night.

❌ Cancellation Policy

Please note the College’s policy on cancellations and refunds: 

  • Cancellation before 1 May 2023 - full refund, less £15 admin charge
  • Cancellation before 16 June 2023 - 50% refund
  • Cancellation after 16 June 2023 - There will be no refund if less than a month’s notice of cancellation is given.