17^th European Systemic Functional Linguistics Conference & Workshop, King’s College London 2005

Transport and access

Travel in London

The conference will take place in Franklin Wilkins building, Stamford Street, just south of Waterloo bridge. The nearest tube station is Waterloo on the Northern Line.  The fastest way of getting around London is by tube (London Underground). If you intend to make more than two journeys a day in Central London, you will save money by purchasing a one-day or weekend travelcard (valid for unlimited journeys on bus, tube and suburban rail networks); one-day travelcard for zones 1-2, valid after 9.30am, costing £4.70; weekend, 3-day, & 1-week travelcards.

London also has a very extensive bus network. The flat rate for a single bus fare anywhere in London is £1.20.  You may consider purchasing a one-day bus pass which, at £3, offers great savings (purchased from newsagents displaying the London Transport sticker and also some bus stops). Bus passes and travelcards are also valid on night buses.

London's Black cabs are known all over the world, they can be hailed in the street and the fare is calculated on a meter. The Black cabs are licensed and registered with the local authority and it is recommended that Black Cabs are the safest way to travel in London if choosing to travel by taxi.

Since February 2003 a congestion charge has been levied on cars entering the central, most heavily congested area of London. The congestion charge (now £8) applies from 7.00am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. The charge does not apply at weekends.

Getting in and out of London

Heathrow airport is connected to Central London by tube (Piccadilly Line, which is running as far as Hyde Park Corner) and Express Coach to Paddington Station. It is advisable to seek advice about using the tube before starting the journey.

Gatwick airport is thirty miles south of the capital; the non-stop Gatwick Express runs to and from Victoria 2-4 times an hour and takes 30 minutes (£12 single; £23.50 return). Stansted Airport is 35 miles northeast of London; Stansted Express trains to and from Liverpool Street station run every 30 minutes and take 45 minutes (£17 single; £33 return).

London has numerous mainline train stations, all of which have tube stations, and coaches arrive at and depart from Victoria Coach Station. Eurostar trains using the Channel Tunnel arrive at and depart from Waterloo International, which is very convenient for the conference site.

Disabled access at the conference

The conference is wheelchair accessible. A lift is situated just inside the main entrance to the Franklin Wilkins building on Stamford Street, near the security desk; more lifts are located towards the opposite end of the building, down the corridor to the right. the main auditorium B5 requires wheelchair users to take a lift to ground level to avoid the small flight of steps leading to the auditorium. Room B5 is a banked lecture-theatre style auditorium; there is a designated seating area for wheelchair users just inside the entrance on the upper level. Disabled toilets are located on each floor.