We have put together a range of information to help you with your research planning- click on the headings below to find out more.
Diamond is located in beautiful countryside, only a short distance from the historic city of Oxford. If you would like to extend your stay for a few days, there are lots of things to do and see in the local area.
Regular train and bus services travel between London and both Oxford or Didcot Parkway (the closest railway station) and access to the M4 (via the A34) allows easy access to Heathrow Airport. For more information on travel to Diamond, see below.
There are a variety of accommodation options close to Diamond, including our on-site guest house, to cater for all tastes and budgets.
An on site restaurant serves breakfast, hot lunches and evening meals to meet your needs during an experiment, and there are also a variety of cafes and restaurants onsite and close by.
Diamond is located on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
near Didcot, Oxfordshire.
Address:
Diamond Light Source Ltd
Diamond House
Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
Didcot
Oxfordshire
OX11 0DE
Please note:
Some Satnav users may find that using the postcode above directs them to Didcot town centre.
Further information is available below.
* Map key: Main gate in purple; Diamond House in red.
Travelling to the UK
The UK government provides a wide range of information for those travelling to the UK. You can find this on the following website: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/tourist-short-stay-visas Please check these details before your trip.
Before travelling to the UK, you will need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA).
An ETA gives you permission to travel to the UK. For more information and to apply, please follow this link.
Maps
Arriving at Diamond
Go to the RAL Main Gate and notify reception of your arrival. You will be given a pass and directed to Diamond House.
Getting here
Please note:
Parking on the Harwell Campus is limited, and visitors’ parking for some events cannot be guaranteed. We recommend travelling by public transport, where possible, if you are attending a meeting or event at Diamond.
Ridgeway House
Diamond has onsite accommodation for users, providing a place to rest for those working overnight or for longer periods. Ridgeway House offers comfortable rooms within easy walking distance of the synchrotron building. Accommodation can be reserved once you have received the dates for your experiment.
All rooms are equipped with flat screen televisions, internet access, 24 hour security, private en suite bathroom, hairdryers, radio alarm clocks, blackout blinds and tea and coffee making facilities.
Ridgeway House has a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, seating 64 guests. Breakfast, which is included in the room price, is served in the dining area, and comprises either a fully cooked English breakfast or a continental style breakfast. There is a leisure room on the second floor where guests can relax and enjoy chess, pool, darts, and a 42" plasma television.
Other accommodation options
There are a number of hotels and bed-and-breakfast options in the immediate vicinity of Diamond. Further information and advice can be obtained from the User Office.
Hotels within a short driving distance of Diamond include:
Diamond is approximately 30 minutes drive from Oxford city centre, which has a wide range of hotels and accommodation options.
On-site restaurant
The on-site restaurant, which is just a few minutes walk away, sells snacks, breakfasts, hot lunches, and evening meals. There are also a number of other food options across the Harwell campus.
Off-site options
The nearby towns of Didcot, Wantage, and Abingdon offer a range of dining options and many of the local villages have good pubs serving food.
The closest supermarkets can be found in Didcot and Wantage, along with pharmacies, doctors, and dentists. Smaller convenience stores with extended opening hours are available in Steventon and at the Milton Interchange service station.
Here at Diamond, we understand that research and development often requires a multi-technique approach and to this end, we are able to offer and assist you with access to a number of complementary facilities.
Details are below, but if you are unsure where to begin, please just give us a call on +44 (0)1235 778797 or drop us an email at industry@diamond.ac.uk. Our experienced scientists would be happy to guide you with your research and help you develop a strategy to solve your research problem.
ISIS is a world-leading centre for research in the physical and life sciences at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford in the United Kingdom. Their suite of neutron and muon instruments gives unique insights into the properties of materials on the atomic scale.
The ISIS Collaborative R&D programme is a fast-track route for industries with a UK manufacturing or research base to use ISIS neutron and muon beams. Requests for beam time can be made at any time, and will be considered outside the normal ISIS academic peer-review process. It is recognised that some industrial problems require very fast responses, and the ISIS Collaborative R&D programme will give access to neutron and muon beams within two weeks of submitting an application.
For more information please visit their website or contact a member of the Industrial Liaison Team to discuss your requirements on industry@diamond.ac.uk or +44 (0)1235 778797
The Central Laser Facility (CLF) carries out research using lasers to investigate a broad range of science areas, spanning physics, chemistry and biology. Research topics range from investigating complex biological reactions within cells to examining new ideas for future energy production. Their suite of laser systems allow them to focus light to extreme intensities, to generate exceptionally short pulses of light, and to image extremely small features.
Access to CLF’s world class facilities is provided free of charge to the UK academic community but it is also available to commercial users at contract rates. The revenue from this activity is channelled back into scientific research and new facility developments for the benefit of the scientific community as a whole.
For more information please visit their website or contact a member of the Industrial Liaison Team to discuss your requirements on industry@diamond.ac.uk or +44 (0)1235 778797
Backed by over £170 million of government funding and significant strategic partnerships with organisations such as IBM and Atos, the Hartree Centre is home to some of the most technically advanced high performance computing, data analytics, machine learning technologies and experts in the UK.
From early stage SMEs to international corporations, they work with industry and the research community to address real life challenges and accelerate the adoption of high performance technologies, delivering transformative gains in performance, productivity and time to market.
Their emerging technologies and expertise offer significant opportunities for UK industry to revolutionise processes and soak up significant economic advantages, whilst also supporting academic researchers with the tools they need to push the boundaries of pioneering UK and international science.
For more information please visit their website or contact a member of the Industrial Liaison Team to discuss your requirements on industry@diamond.ac.uk or +44 (0)1235 778797
