Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Contents

How to get to Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Contact

Science and Technology Facilities Council
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Harwell Campus
Didcot
OX11 0QX

Telephone: 01235 445000

Email: enquiries@stfc.ac.uk

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory campus maps.

Directions

Google Maps view of Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL).

Google Maps view showing all STFC institutions.

It is easy to visit RAL, with excellent bus, rail, bike and road connections from all over England.

RAL is part of the Harwell Science and Innovation campus, located in beautiful countryside just south of Oxford, one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. Oxford city centre is just over 20 minutes drive away, Heathrow is 55 minutes by road, and nearby Didcot Parkway station connects you to London Paddington in just 42 minutes.

Rail

Didcot Parkway rail station is five miles away, with direct services to London (Paddington) in under 45 minutes and Oxford City in under 15 minutes. It is easy to cycle from the station to Harwell campus, and there are frequent bus services and taxis available for onward travel to RAL.

The launch of Crossrail and the upgrade to the Didcot Parkway Line mean it will soon be possible to reach central London Underground stations in under one hour.

Bus

Bus stops and routes on campus can be found on the Harwell Campus travel map (PDF, 9MB).

Details of all bus services serving Harwell can be found on the Oxford Bus Company website, including:

  • ST1: Oxford, Broad Street direct via A34 to Harwell Campus
  • X34 and X35: Didcot, Great Western Park, Harwell Campus then Wantage and Faringdon (X35) or Chilton and Newbury (X34)
  • 43: Oxford City Centre, Abingdon, Drayton, Steventon, Harwell Campus
  • 94: Didcot, East Hagbourne, Blewbury, West Hagbourne, Chilton, Harwell Campus

Bike

Oxfordshire has a great cycling community so why not get involved. We have bikes available from Didcot Parkway railway station, head to the bike hub outside the station and look for the Harwell Campus bikes and e-bikes.

Cycle Route 544 connects Harwell, Didcot and Wantage, Sustrans cycle map route 544.

Lifeshare

If you’re interested in car sharing please find information about the Harwell Liftshare scheme.

Car

There is a visitor car park outside the main entrance to RAL as well as electric vehicle charging points.

Air

London Heathrow is less than one hour by road or train. Birmingham, Luton and Gatwick are all accessible by public transport.

Last updated: 21 August 2023

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