Travel and Accommodation

The following information is compiled to the best of our knowledge. We cannot accept responsibility if any of the information is no longer correct; please check with the relevant provider before you travel.

International travelers are reminded to check the entry requirements into the UK. Most visitors to the UK now need to apply for an electronic travel authorization (ETA).

Airports

Exeter has a small international airport with a few direct routes to Amsterdam and destinations in southern Europe. There are connecting routes to the US via Dublin, with the convenience of US pre-clearance in Dublin. The international airports of Bristol, London Heathrow, and Birmingham are within easy reach, with convenient train and coach connections to Exeter.

Rail

Exeter St Davids is the city’s mainline train station with direct connections from London Paddington, London Waterloo, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, and Edinburgh, inter alia. From Exeter St Davids, the city center and the university are within walking distance. Alternatively, there are connecting train services to Exeter Central or local bus services to the university and the city center. Train tickets can be bought online through the website or app of any UK rail company or third-party platform, at ticket machines, or at staffed ticket offices (where available).

International rail travelers arriving by Eurostar at London St Pancras can connect to trains out of London Paddington with a short journey on the London tube. Remember to allow sufficient time for security and passport control.

For conference delegates, Great Western Railway (GWR) offers special discounted return tickets on their network with savings up to 80%. To use this offer, tickets must be booked on the dedicated GWR website, and written confirmation of the conference registration must be shown to the train manager upon ticket inspection. The discount is not available from London Heathrow Airport, and therefore a separate ticket should be bought from the airport to London Paddington.

Coach

For the budget-conscious traveler, direct coach connections are available from London, Bristol, and Birmingham. The megabus South West Falcon provides an hourly connection from Bristol Airport, stopping at the outskirts of Exeter (Honiton Park&Ride), from where you can connect with local bus services to the city center. National Express provides regular coach journeys from London (including Heathrow Airport), Bristol, and Birmingham. South West Falcon tickets can be bought on the coach (subject to seat availability) or online; National Express tickets can be bought at ticket machines at the Heathrow Central Bus Station or online.

Car

Exeter is accessible by car via the motorway M5 from Bristol, which connects to the M4 from London.

Ferry

For those international travelers who are more adventurous and with more time at their disposal, a ferry journey from France or Spain to Plymouth could be an alternative, especially if combined with a holiday stay in Devon or Cornwall before or after the conference. From Plymouth, you can easily get into Exeter by rail or coach.

Local Transport

The University of Exeter Business School is within walking distance from the city center (about 20-30 minutes) and Exeter St Davids rail station (15-20 minutes). The university is also served by a regular bus route (Stagecoach route 4) from Exeter St Davids, the city center, and Honiton Park&Ride. Exeter Airport can be reached from the city center by bus within 25 minutes (Stagecoach route 4A). Bus tickets can be bought on the bus or on the Stagecoach Bus app. There are also a few taxi companies; the largest one is Apple Taxis.

Accommodation

Exeter has an excellent range of hotels, bed and breakfasts, and private holiday lettings, speaking to various tastes and budgets. We have reserved a range of rooms for conference participants in the Rougemont Hotel, Hotel du Vin, Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel, and Leonardo Hotel Exeter. There is also a cheaper on-campus bed and breakfast option. Please check again later for discount codes. While early July is still before the main holiday season, it can already become quite busy with tourists stopping on their way to the South West holiday destinations. Early booking is recommended.

Please note that UK power sockets are of type G (230V voltage). Most international travelers will need adapters.