Conference Location

Southampton Solent University Conference Centre

157-187 Above Bar Street

Southampton

Hampshire SO14 7NN

United Kingdom

Click here to see a Googlemap of the conference locations or type ECKM 2008 Southampton into Google Maps

Conference Centre

Meeting Room


Meeting Room


Conference Centre


Southampton Solent University


The Solent Sport


One of Southampton’s parks


Southampton’s Clock Tower


Statue of Isaac Watts


The Cenotaph

University information

Southampton Solent University has existed in its present form since August 2005, but can trace its history back more than a century when its predecessors pioneered vocational education in the city. So although our name is new we're well known for the distinctive way we link together student learning, applied research and service to business and the community. In this way we give our students the best learning experience and the best start to their future careers that we can.

We offer our 16,000 students a choice of courses at undergraduate masters and PhD level, plus a variety of professional and short courses. Since 1992 we've awarded more than 100 research degrees.

At Southampton Solent University we educate for careers and for life, transforming potential into long-standing achievement, creating exciting opportunities and giving our students the confidence to achieve their goals. We are committed to teaching excellence, with lecturers who have real-world experience and strong ties to business and industry. Besides the’ normal’ range of careers our graduates have in the past year won both world sporting titles and the US ‘The Apprentice’ competition!

We like to think of ourselves as a friendly, open and supportive institution in the heart of a great city and we look forward to welcoming a record number of participants to ECKM 2008.

Conference accommodation

The conference Hotel is the Jury Inn – Southampton. You can find more details about the hotel by clicking on the link. To reserve accommodation at the conference rates, see the registration page.

Conference dinner venue

The conference dinner venue is Leith’s at Beaulieu. This is located in “the Domus”, part of the 13th Century Beaulieu Abbey. Click here for further details. For car enthusiasts, the National Motor Museum is also located at Beaulieu.

General information about Southampton

Southampton is an important city and port on the south coast of England, just over an hour away from London. The city has its own regional airport, providing good connections to a number of European cities. There are also coach and rail links providing direct services to the major London airports and to the rest of the country.

If you’re looking for a more leisurely way to get here, Southampton is the home of the cruise liner, with large ocean-going vessels providing a regular addition to the city’s skyline. At the other end of the scale, the Solent is world famous for competitive water-sports including the Cowes regatta, and many visitors arrive here in their own boats.

Once here there’s loads to keep you amused, from shopping in the West Quay retail centre – the largest on the south coast - to catching a film at one of the local cinemas, dining in our cosmopolitan restaurants, chancing your luck in the casino or sampling the active clubbing scene. If you like your entertainment live, the city’s Guildhall attracts numerous top name bands and orchestras, or you could spend an evening watching a musical at the Mayflower Theatre.

If you’d rather escape the bustle of this cosmopolitan city, the New Forest is just on the doorstep. A popular place for walking and cycling, the forest is home to a variety of wild animals; horses, cows and even deer can be found wandering the country lanes. Meanwhile, in the Beaulieu area you could just as easily come across a classic motorcar barrelling along the roads around the popular National Motor Museum.

Back in the city you can explore the remains of the Medieval town, or visit Mayflower Park, and see the port where settlers first left the UK to travel to the New World. Check out more at the tourist website at  http://www.visit-southampton.co.uk/site/sitemap

We are twinned or have similar special relationships with a range of cities – mainly seaports – around the world. Check at http://cityweb.southampton.gov.uk/thecouncil/thecity/linkedcities.asp#0 if your city is one of these.

Getting to Southampton

By Commercial Airlines
Southampton International Airport has direct flights to several Major European cities as well as regional airports. Many of these are operated by Flybe – a low cost but high quality airline. Other cities are conveniently served by connections via Paris or Amsterdam. The airport is only 4 miles from the City Centre where the Conference Venue is situated and is a very convenient and well managed airport and enables visitors to avoid the crowded international hubs, often at lower cost. There is a direct main line train service from the airport to Southampton Central Station several times each hour. There is also a regulated taxi service for those preferring this mode of transport which costs less than £10.

Bournemouth International Airport is 30 miles away and has several low cost flights via Ryanair, Easyjet, Air Berlin and other airlines. Onward travel from Bournemouth is via taxi to Bournemouth railway station (about £15) and train to Southampton Central station (about £15 return).

The major UK international airports at Heathrow and Gatwick are only 65 and 90 miles away respectively and have direct flights to most parts of the world. From Heathrow there are regular coach services direct to Southampton which we would recommend participants take rather than travel via central London or by train. These are run by National Express From Gatwick there are coaches or a train service.

London Luton airport and London Stanstead airport are on the other side of London and travel is much more difficult involving two changes of train. We do not recommend coming through these airports.

By Train
The main railway station for Southampton is Southampton Central. The London terminus for this line is London Waterloo, served by South West Trains. Those coming from north or west of London can also come via Reading or Salisbury. Train information can be obtained at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ and there are links from this site to buy tickets in advance of travel. Trains to and from London take as little as 1 hour. After Southampton the line goes to Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. This is convenient for some air and ferry connections as indicated below.

The coach and train stations in Southampton are located conveniently close together.  They are within easy walking distance of the Conference Centre and several hotels.

By Coach
National Express coaches serve Southampton from many parts of the UK. Coach travel from many parts of Europe is also possible via London. Special student rates are often available. See http://www.nationalexpress.com and your local coach operators for details.

By Car
Maps of the Southampton area including motorway links are available at www.solent.ac.uk/findus If using a Sat Nav enter the postcode <<SO14 7NN >> for the Conference Centre. There is only drop-off parking available at the Conference Centre, but long-term multi-storey car parks are within easy walking distance and the main hotels all have private parking. Check with your chosen hotel for details and costs.

By Sea via Ferries
Travelling by car from continental Europe is a viable option, particularly if you want to stay and explore the area before or after the Conference. It may also make financial sense if several people are travelling together. There are car ferries from Bilbao in Spain and Caen or Cherbourg in Northern France into Portsmouth, which is only a 40 minute drive from Southampton, as well as Poole or Weymouth (60 and 90 minutes respectively). From Belgium, Holland and Germany travel via Dover may be cheaper and more convenient. Direct Ferries is one of several booking agents which will show available routes for the conference period.

The car ferries also take foot passengers, and Portsmouth, Poole and Weymouth have good rail links to Southampton.

By Sail or Power Boat
The Solent is world famous for leisure and competitive sailing and other water-sports - so many visitors choose to sail to Southampton themselves. Recent conference participants have sailed up from the Med or down from Finland as well as across from France. The University has a second maritime campus outside the city on the shore of the Solent at Warsash. Please ask us for advice if you want to sail yourself to Southampton for ECKM 2008.

Climate in conference month

Southampton is located on the south coast of Britain and has a mild climate all year because of the strong influence of the Atlantic Gulf Stream. In September is still possible to eat and drink outside, although a jumper or jacket is recommended in the evening. There is some possibility of rain, but probably only showers. Heavy, waterproof clothing is not required unless you want to go sailing. Check the 5 day forecast on http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather before departure.

Currency and exchange rates

The local currency in the UK is the Pound Sterling (£), divided into 100 pence. This is also known as the United Kingdom Pound (GBR). To give some idea of value, a coffee in an international chain might cost from £1.80 to £2.50 and a pizza could cost from £5.00 to £8.00. A pound might also buy an half to one hour on-line in an internet café. Click here to find up to date currency exchange rates for other currencies against the pound.

Other useful links

ACI are not responsible for the content of external websites. Links are provided for your convenience.

The tourist website is noted above. Local information can also be found on

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/leisure/default.asp

Updated 18 December 2007