Parking is limited at Harwell Open Day. We strongly encourage you to travel to Harwell Campus by bus or coach service, and if possible, share lifts with friends and family. In partnership with Oxford Bus Company, we have put on a free coach service from Abingdon, Blackbird Leys, Cowley, Oxford, Reading and Wallingford, as well as a free shuttle service departing every 10 minutes from Didcot Parkway Station. Coaches and buses will drop off visitors in the centre of Harwell Open Day activities, whereas most parking areas will be a longer walk.
Existing bus service
The X34/X35 from Faringdon/Newbury to Harwell will be running a regular Saturday service on Harwell Open Day. The service runs twice an hour from Farringdon or Newbury to Harwell Campus.
We will be offering free tickets for visitors using the existing bus network to come to Harwell Campus on Harwell Open Day. The tickets will be redeemable on any Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel bus. To book your free bus ticket, select the Didcot shuttle bus and existing bus network ticket on our Eventbrite booking page.
Free Didcot Parkway Station shuttle bus
There will be a free, non-stop shuttle bus service from Didcot Parkway Station to Harwell Campus. The shuttle bus service will run every 10 minutes from Didcot Parkway Station and will stop at Fermi Avenue, Diamond Light Source, which is a 4-minute walk from the Registration marquee. The timetable for the shuttle bus can found here.
To book your free shuttle bus ticket, select the Didcot shuttle bus and existing bus network ticket on our Eventbrite booking page
Free coach service
We will be providing a free, bookable coach services to Harwell Campus from the surrounding areas. The timetables for the coach services are below.
To book your free coach ticket, select the coach service ticket on our Eventbrite booking page. After booking, you will be sent a link to our coach booking Eventbrite page, where you can reserve your free coach ticket.
Train
The closest station to Harwell Campus is Didcot Parkway Station, which is serviced by regular trains from Oxford and London Paddington. If you are travelling to Didcot Parkway Station by train, please book the free Didcot Parkway Station shuttle to get to Harwell Campus. The shuttle bus journey is approximately 18 minutes.
To book your free shuttle bus ticket, select the Didcot shuttle bus and existing bus network ticket on our Eventbrite booking page.
Cycling
The National Cycle Route 544 connects Didcot to Wantage via the Harwell site. A local bicycle user group, HarBUG, has mapped additional cycling routes on their website. A few popular routes are listed below. · Harwell Campus from Didcot via Old Railway, Upton Village and Icknield Way (Hawking Way, HI) · Harwell Campus from Didcot via Great Western Park and Harwell Village (Hodgkin Way, H4) · Harwell Campus from Wantage and Grove via Icknield Way, Ginge & Lockinge Villages.
There will be bike racks available on Harwell Campus. The picture below shows bike racks that are available for use on Harwell Open Day and closest to the registration marquees.
If you plan on cycling to Harwell Open Day, please select a General Ticket on our Eventbrite booking page.
Taxi and drop off zone
During Harwell Open Day, there will be a drop off zone at the bus stop in front of the European Space Agency building (see map below).
If you plan on getting dropped off at Harwell Open Day, please select a General Ticket on our Eventbrite booking page.
Car or motorcycle
Parking is limited at Harwell Open Day. We encourage you to consider taking a bus or a coach, if possible, to avoid disappointment. The bus and coach will drop off closer to central activity areas.
There will be two parking zones to the north and south of the central event area, which can be up to a 15 minute walk from the registration tent. Please note you will not be able to park on campus without a car parking ticket.
Hardstanding motorcycle parking will be available in both car parking areas.
To book your free car parking ticket, please select a General Ticket on our Eventbrite booking page, and specify you will be travelling by car or motorbike. You will be assigned a car parking zone in June and emailed a separate car parking ticket at this point.
Blue badge parking
Blue badge parking is available for permit holders and those with reduced mobility. Our blue badge parking areas are close to our reception marquees, will have double width bays and be on level hard standing. Please note you will not be able to park in blue badge parking areas without a valid ticket.
To book your blue badge car parking ticket, please select a General Ticket on our Eventbrite booking page, and specify you will be require a blue badge parking space. You will be assigned a car parking zone in June and emailed a separate car parking ticket at this point.