Invest in ME Research International ME Conference Week 2024
Conference Venue


We return to the Wellcome Genome Campus for the 2024 conference venue.

The venue in the Wellcome Genome Campus offers a peaceful and quiet location. Set in parkland the facilities includes a large auditorium with seating that is well designed for some social distancing.

Refreshments can be taken outside, providing the weather is fine, and the location will hopefully provide a more restful experience than our previous venues.

The venue is also easy and straightforward to get to - by car or by train. Free shuttle bus transits are available to the venue from nearby train stations for those travelling to the conference by train.


Conference Venue

For this year's conference only we have selected the conference centre at Hinxton Hall.

Set within a one hundred acre estate bordering the River Cam, the Conference Centre is located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside research institutions that are at the forefront of the genomics revolution. Hinxton Hall

The centre blends stunning contemporary architecture with state-of-the-art facilities, alongside a Grade II* listed country house, all set within a beautiful, rural 100 acre estate.

The venue has a unique combination of atmosphere, history and cutting-edge meeting spaces, facilities, and services
It also offers some greater possibility of social distancing compared to the usual venue in central London and offers a number of advantages for assisting in our objectives of building collaboration and expanding knowledge.

Use the buttons below for more details regarding the conference venue.
Contact us if you have questions.

Arrival by Car

From the South:
leave the M11 at junction 9 and take the A1301 towards Cambridge. From the Stump Cross roundabout take the first left (about 800m). At the next small roundabout follow the signpost for the ‘Genome Campus’.

From the North:
leave the M11 at junction 10, eastbound on the A505 (note that M11 junction 9 is restricted and accessible from the south only). Travel a mile or so in the direction of Saffron Walden to a roundabout and take the third exit (A1301 towards Saffron Walden). Pass two turnings to Hinxton, and take the next right, a small roundabout, sign posted to the ‘Genome Campus’.
Satnav: CB10 1SA
Car parking

The Conference Centre has a car park - car park D - for the conference delegates.
There is also a large car park available at Whittlesford Parkway train station which is located only 10 minutes from Hinxton Hall Conference Centre.
There is mini bus shuttle service between Whittlesford Parkway and the conference venue.
Please contact IiMER if you expect the requirement for a car place in order that the conference venue can manage expectations

Arrival by Train

Cambridge Station (about 20 minutes drive) is on the main line from London Kings Cross.
Whittlesford, Great Chesterford (both about 5 minutes drive) and Audley End (about 15 minutes drive) stations are on the line from London Liverpool Street to Cambridge.
Journey time to all stations from London is under an hour.

Timetables are available from Network Rail.

There is the possibility of the free use of a shuttle bus (by prior arrangement) from Whittlesford Parkway train station which is located only 10 minutes from Hinxton Hall Conference Centre.

A useful site:
https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Cambridge-Station/Hinxton

Hinxton Hall Shuttle

The free shuttle to/from Hinxton Hall timetable

Arrival by Air

London Stansted is about a 30 minute drive to Hinxton.

London Heathrow and London Gatwick are about a 90 minute drive.
There is also a direct National Express coach service which is quite reasonably priced and travels to just south of Cambridge or to Stansted airport (both 20 minute taxi rides to the conference centre).
This coach service has only two stops and takes between 95 minutes and 2 hours 25 minutes.

London City and London Luton are approximately 1 hours drive.

By Taxi

For taxi companies use this link - https://www.wellcomegenomecampus.org/locatehere/by-taxi/

Map

Accessibility

Taken from the conference centre web site.

Please note that the entrance to the Auditorium is step-free and is accessible to wheelchair users.
However the stage area is not accessible to wheelchair users.
We are currently reviewing how we can ensure that all areas of the Auditorium are accessible to event speakers and delegates who are wheelchair users.

General and disabled access information

On arrival
As well as a designated Conference Centre gravel car park nearby, there is a drop-off point outside the main Conference Centre entrance for individuals requiring assistance, suppliers and exhibitors with substantial amounts of equipment, as well as for coaches and taxis.

We have dropped curbs wherever necessary to assist wheelchair, buggy, trolley and cycle access.
Free standing directional signage guide guests around the Conference Centre. Written in large black font on a white background and easy to read from a seated position.
Flooring throughout the buildings is short pile carpets or non-slip tiles.
There are handrails on all staircases.
There is seating in all communal areas and meeting rooms.
Delegate registration is not a fixed location and all temporary delegate registration desks are accessible from a seated position and through standard width doorways.

Accessing the Main Conference Centre building
The main Conference Centre building is accessed from street level via automated glass doors. Please note there are no automated doors on conference meeting rooms or bedrooms, but we are always happy to assist. Please ask at reception. There is a low-level reception desk situated in the entrance to the Conference Centre where a member of our team will be able to provide any assistance and check you in to your bedroom, if required. There is seating in the reception area. With the exception of the two Loft meeting rooms situated on the first floor (which are accessed by staircase only) all rooms and public spaces in the Conference Centre are at ground level. Fixed directional signage throughout the Conference Centre is clear and easy to read from a seated position. All communal areas and meeting rooms are evenly and well lit with electric and natural light.

Accessing Hinxton Hall
Hinxton Hall is accessed from street level, via a two short ramps and automated glass doors.
The meeting rooms on the ground floor of the Hall can be accessed via 5 steps and a handrail or using the lift by these stairs.
All communal areas and meeting rooms are evenly and well lit with electric and natural light.

Toilets
In the main Conference Centre building the disabled access toilets are located alongside the main toilets by the Reception area
In Hinxton Hall the disabled toilet is adjacent to the Graham Cameron Bar, which is located centrally on the Hall ground floor (accessible via 5 steps and a handrail or small lift by these stairs.)
Disabled toilets are equipped with non-slip flooring, emergency pull cords, handrails, lever taps and hand driers accessible from a seated position.

Dining Room and Catering
Dietary requirements are included in the booking process. Should there be a request for specific foods without notice we will do our very best to accommodate all guests on the day, a member of our team will liaise directly and assist where possible.
All catering is served at a level accessible from a seated position.

Peep

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) Information
Provided from the conference venue's site.'

The main objective of the Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is to safely evacuate any individual requiring additional assistance during an emergency event at Hinxton Hall Conference Centre.

We therefore ask conference organisers to declare the attendance of anyone requiring an individual PEEP (as an example; this could include any individual with mobility or sensory impairment). This information will then be added to a PEEP form, which we will create and the individual will be asked to clarify the document, prior to arrival at the Conference Reception.

The requirement for an individual (PEEP) is specifically focused on those who cannot be adequately protected by the Wellcome Genome campus standard fire evacuation provision. The (PEEP) will highlight the required measures needed to safely evacuate the individual in the event of any emergency scenario that could occur whilst visiting HHCC associated buildings.