We look forward to welcoming you to East London for British Science Festival 2024!
We hope that the information below will help you have a great experience. If you cannot find an answer to your question, please email us at [email protected].
Find out about:
- Attending events
- Getting to London
- Moving around
- Accommodation
- Accessibility
- Places to eat
- Terms & Conditions
- Sustainability
ATTENDING EVENTS
This year, the British Science Festival is taking place in venues across Newham, in East London. Events will take place on the University of East London Docklands Campus (Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 September) and around Stratford (from the evening of Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 September).
You can find a map of all British Science Festival venues and their facilities here. Click on the icons on the map or on the left-hand menu for more details.
Go to the ‘Book Now’ page to see our full programme and book your tickets. All events are free, but booking is required for most events.
All our festival events are recommended for 16+ but are open to all ages.
If for any reason you are unable to attend, please cancel your tickets as soon as possible to allow entry for other visitors.
Unsure which of the over 100 events to attend whilst at the festival? Need help with finding a venue? Have an urgent question between events? Head to one of our Info Desks where our Festival Assistants can help you with your queries.
- UEL Docklands Campus Info Desk: 10.30 – 17.00 | 11-12 September | University of East London, University Way, London E16 2RD
- UEL Stratford Campus Info Desk: 10.30 – 17.00 | 14-15 September | University of East London, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ
To gain entry to ticketed events, please make sure to bring your tickets with you on an electronic device or as a printout. You can access and print your tickets through your confirmation email from Ticketsolve. There will be no printing facilities available on site.
Please note that, right before the start of each ticketed event, we will be offering any empty seats to walk-in audiences without tickets. As such, your ticket does not guarantee admission past the event’s start time.
Regardless of room capacity, doors to ticketed talks close 15 mins after start time to avoid disturbance to speakers and other attendees. You will not be able to gain admittance to ticketed talks after that time.
GETTING TO LONDON
This year, the British Science Festival is taking place in venues across Newham, in East London.
By train
There are many ways to travel to London by train, which can often be faster than driving or flying. You can see all the different options on the Visit London website.
Stratford (London) Station and Stratford International Station are the main railway stations in Newham. They are no more than a mile from our Stratford venues (up to 15 minutes’ walk). They are also well connected to the rest of London and our Docklands venues (~40 minutes by public transport).
By coach
Coaches are a good option for cheap travel to London from almost anywhere in the UK or Europe. You can see all the different options on the Visit London website.
National Express services stop at Stratford City Bus station. This provides an easy connection to Victoria Coach Station where coach services to and from most towns and cities throughout the UK operate. Visit National Express or call 08705 808080 for information on routes and prices.
By car
Please consider joining our sustainability pledge and avoiding driving to our events. We recognise that using public transport is not always possible. For those times, please make sure you check and plan your route before your travel.
You can find detailed information about driving to and around London on the Visit London website. The M25 and M11 link East London to motorways from all over the country.
Please be aware that Newham is covered by the Ultra Low Emission Zone. Please check the zone requirements before driving.
If you plan to drive in London, plan ahead by researching car parks near your destination, pre-booking a space and, if necessary, pre-paying the London Congestion Charge. If you want to plan ahead, visit the Parkopedia website to search for parking spaces at your destination.
MOVING AROUND
This year, the British Science Festival is taking place in venues across Newham, in East London. Events will take place on the University of East London Docklands Campus (Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 September) and around Stratford (from the evening of Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 September).
You can find a map of all British Science Festival venues and their facilities here. Click on the icons on the map or on the left-hand menu for more details.
Public transport
Public Transport is the best way to get around London and to our Festival venues.
To plan your journey around London, we recommend Citymapper; it provides reliable travel instructions and updates when travelling around London. Download the app here or use the browser version here.
For more information on public transport options and how to pay for your journey, visit the TfL and Visit London websites.
The University of East London Docklands Campus is best reached by DLR to the Cyprus Station. The DLR is operated by Transport for London and connects with the rest of the underground network. You can also reach the Docklands Campus by Bus, routes 366, 376, 474 and 678 stop near the entrance to the University; you can find out more here.
All our Stratford venues are less than a mile distance (up to a 15-minute walk) from Stratford (London) Station. Stratford Station is connected to the underground network (DLR, Central, Jubilee, and Elizabeth tube lines) as well as the Overground. These provide connections across London. There is a large bus station at Stratford Station served by many different bus routes; find out more here.
The closest tube station to the University of East London Stratford Water Lane Campus is Maryland Station, at a 6-minute walk from the campus. The Elizabeth Line stops there.
A free shuttle bus runs between the University of East London Docklands and Stratford campuses. You can find a timetable here.
Cycling
London has lots of cycling routes across the city, with some cycle-only lanes.
Find out more about cycling around London and more information about routes here. You can also hire a bike using London’s public bicycle hire scheme.
The University of East London has bicycle racks available on all campuses.
Parking
Please consider joining our sustainability pledge and avoiding driving to our events.
We recognise that using public transport is not always possible. For those times, please make sure you check and plan your route before you travel.
You can find detailed information about driving around London on the Visit London website. Please be aware that the parts of East London the Festival is taking place are covered by the Ultra Low Emission Zone. Please check the zone requirements before driving.
Parking in London can be difficult. If you plan to drive in London, plan ahead by researching car parks near your destination, pre-booking a space and, if necessary, pre-paying the London Congestion Charge. If you want to plan ahead, visit the Parkopedia website to search for parking spaces at your destination.
There is no parking available on any of the University of East London campuses.
Parking options near the Docklands campus can be found here. Car parks near Stratford can be found here.
If you are attending an event in Westfield Stratford, there is pay and display parking available.
For information on disabled/blue badge parking, you can visit our ‘Accessibility & Venues’ page or email us at [email protected].
Taxis
There are taxi ranks located across Stratford, including outside Westfield Stratford. You can also wave down a black taxi in London, if the yellow light at the front is on. There are also a number of private hire taxi services available.
Find all the options available on the Visit London website.
ACCOMMODATION
There are several hotels located in East London. You can find suggestions on the Visit London website.
If you are planning to attend events across all Festival days, please note that our Docklands and Stratford locations are ~4 miles apart (~40 minutes by public transport).
ACCESSIBILITY
We endeavour to be a Festival that everyone can enjoy and aim to provide as many details as possible to help you plan your visit.
Please visit our ‘Accessibility & Venues‘ page for general accessibility information, as well as details for each British Science Festival venue.
If you have additional accessibility questions, please email us at [email protected].
PLACES TO EAT
Food on the University of East London Campus
There are several food outlets available at the University of East London Docklands and Stratford Campuses. On this link, you can see the locations and opening times.
Please note that the campus is cashless – only card payments are possible on University of East London outlets.
There are water fountains and bottle filling stations located in all of our campus venues on campus – please ask our Festival Assistants for directions.
Food around Stratford
Stratford has lots of food outlets offering a wide variety of choices.
A number of our festival venues sell food and drinks on their premises. You can see different options on our festival map here. Click on the icons on the map or on the left-hand menu for more details:
- Bat & Ball, Westfield Stratford
- Cabana, Westfield Stratford
- The Orange Room
- Vue Cinema Westfield Stratford
- Westfield Stratford
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Film & Photography
Filming and photography will be taking place at events. If you don’t wish to be filmed/photographed, please ask one of our Festival Assistants for a yellow lanyard at the door of our events or at one of our Info Desks.
Code of Conduct
Whilst the Festival endeavours to be a platform for constructive debate, it is also dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone regardless of their gender, race, nationality, ethnicity, disability, religious or other similar belief, sexual orientation, or age. We do not tolerate any form of harassment towards Festival speakers/participants, staff, volunteers, or attendees. We retain the right to refuse admission to an event or the Festival as a whole to anyone who we reasonably consider does not abide by this Code of Conduct.
Safety & Security
Please notify a member of staff in case of injury. We have First Aid provisions across the Festival site and will be able to help.
For your safety, enhanced security measures will be in place and we will be conducting random bag searches. We retain the right to request identification of or remove anyone for the safety and security of all Festival speakers/participants, staff, volunteers, or attendees.
Please note that there are no cloakroom facilities available throughout the Festival, so please make alternative arrangements for any large bags. You will not be permitted to leave any personal belongings unattended or in spaces where they pose a health & safety risk or disrupt the other attendees’ experience (e.g. aisles, fire exits, seats/chairs in busy event venues).
SUSTAINABILITY
Visit our ‘Our sustainability policy‘ page to see how we have redesigned our approach to improve the Festival’s environmental and social sustainability, and find ways to join us in our sustainability pledge!