WARNING:
This file may still have errors as I don't update it often.
Please check all information, e.g. about travel by train and coach
by looking at more official travel web sites, e.g.
For further details, See the school's web sites:
http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/about/directions.php
(Includes information about car parking.)
http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/
CONTENTS -- Where we are -- Online information on the University's web page -- Online train time tables -- ROUTES BY CAR -- From HP, Bristol, etc. via M5 -- From South East, e.g. Brighton, London -- From Reading or Oxford etc. -- From M40 -- Approaching northwards from Selly Oak on A38 -- From Coventry, along A45 -- From the north, via M6 -- Coming south on A38 from City Centre -- The South Car Park from Edgbaston Park Road -- Coming in through main entrance to the Campus in Edgbaston Park Road -- From South Car Park -- From the centre of the university -- Coming by air -- -- Arriving Birmingham International airport -- -- Arriving Gatwick Airport -- -- Arriving Heathrow Airport -- By Train (train times on the web) -- By taxi from New Street station -- -- Via Edgbaston park road -- Staff room and phone numbers
View downhill from University Railway Station towards Faraday sculpture and Computer Science building beyond it (red bricks and glass) Note: there is now a shiny new metallic tunnel (linking services) on the right of the bridge, instead of the hoardings shown in the picture.
Aaron Sloman's office, is room 223 (since October 2012), on level 2 (second level up from ground floor level). The room is roughly where the blue oval is in the picture, two levels up from the reception level, at the end of a small corridor between two offices.
Website for Maps
and Directions
NB: we are on the Edgbaston Campus, as is the conference park including
Lucas house where visitors often stay.
We are in Building
Y9 in the 'yellow zone' in
on
The edgbaston campus
map.
The Computer Science building is roughly on a line from the station to the clock tower, very close to the station. There are two new symmetrically placed buildings. ours is the one below the line as you look at the map, or on the right as you walk from the station towards the centre of the university (past the big statue).
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
Ask for trains to "University" (station adjacent to the campus,
as explained below.) Normally you'll come via Birmingham New Street
station.
If that one is not working try: http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/ttables/ttble.htm
Come up the M5 until you get to Junction 4 and then take the A38 towards the centre of Birmingham for a few miles. (Do NOT be tempted to go onto the M42 at junction 4a.)
Once on the A38 you'll find it wiggles a bit then straightens out. There are dual-carriageway bits and then eventually it gets to a junction with traffic lights, and several big shops on left (Sainsbury's, Halfords, A pizza place, a Pub, etc.) carry straight on across the junction. The road narrows and gets slower.
That's where you enter Selly Oak, so see section labelled "Approaching from Selly Oak on A38"
If you start in Central or North London, take the M1 north, and then turn west into M6 at junction 19. Proceed to Junction 6 on M6, then see section below headed "From the north, via M6".
If you start south or west of London, take the M25 or whatever you need to get onto the M40 going away from London towards Oxford and Birmingham.
See section headed "From M40"
Get onto the A34 heading north, until you join the M40. Turn left onto M40 and continue towards Birmingham.
Many miles after joining the M40 you'll get to the junction with the M42. Go STRAIGHT on. (Do not take the left branch, as that curves round, crosses over and then joins the M42 heading north towards Birmingham International Airport, the NEC and M6.)
Proceed along M42 (about 5 miles) until you reach junction 2 and then turn off and go right (North) along the A441, signposted Birmingham City Centre.
The A441 has several bends but is clearly the main road (later marked Redditch road).
After the first roundabout you'll pass a slightly built up area labelled "Hopwood".
At the next roundabout turn LEFT into Longbridge Lane (It should be signposted "Longbridge").
Keep following Longbridge Lane (which wiggles a bit and crosses other roads and goes past Longbridge Railway station, and past the Austin/Rover works) till you meet a large dual carriage way, at a Tee junction with traffic lights.
That's the Bristol Road South, also labelled "A38".
Turn RIGHT into the A38 (i.e. roughly North East), following signs to Birmingham City Centre.
Keep going along the A38 towards the City centre for two or three miles.
You'll reach a major junction at Selly Oak, with a large Shopping Centre, on the left including Sainsbury's, etc.
Go straight on. See the section labelled "Approaching from Selly Oak on A38"
Selly Oak is just south of the University.
WARNING: there have been major changes to roads in the vicinity of the
University and the A38 coming north has been re-routed under a new
railway bridge close to the university, as shown here
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Bristol+Rd%2FA38&daddr=52.446463,-1.940546+to:Edgbaston+Park+Rd&hl=en&geocode=FTYUIAMd_0zi_w%3B%3BFcxRIAMdxJri_w&sll=52.443847,-1.931834&sspn=0.020587,0.055146&vpsrc=0&t=h&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=15&via=1&ie=UTF8&z=15
A portion of the old A38 is shown as B38 on that map though it's actual number is a new A number (to be inserted here later). The old route is shorter, and can be used but may be congested.
You may start seeing the big redbrick clock tower ahead on left, in the University grounds, from some distance away.
Eventually, whichever way you go, just past a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights you'll come to big gates into the University on your left, Bournbrook road on right. The entrance through the gates can only be used by card holders, and before 11am. After that the road is used as an exit only.
If you cannot get in at the main gate on the Bristol Road, carry straight on a couple of hundred yards (still A38 Bristol Road), past the "Gun Barrels" pub on left (horrible orange/yellow coloured building also labelled "It's a scream") to the corner next to the pub car park.
Turn LEFT (opposite fire station on your right) into Edgbaston Park Road.
This turn is just before another pedestrian crossing, where the road splits into dual carriageway. If you go onto the dual carriageway you have missed the turning!
See section "Car Park from Edgbaston Park Road", below.
Head towards Birmingham following signs for A38, the University of Birmingham. Eventually you'll reach the intersection between the ring road and the A38, where you'll see a large Maconalds on the opposite side of the junction.
Turn left into the A38 (Bristol Road, heading south).
See section "Coming south on A38 from City Centre"
Come in to the north of Birmingham via the M6, and then at junction 6 turn south into the A38(M), sign-posted to City Centre.
Directions: come along M6, then head down A38(M) into centre of Birmingham. Keep going straight on after it becomes A38. You'll go under about three tunnels. Follow signs to A38 / Bristol. Eventually you'll pass a large Macdonald's on the right at a big junction with traffic lights.
After you've passed the Macdonalds continue straight on, still on the A38 Bristol Road. You'll eventually pass Pebble Mill (a road, and BBC Centre) on your left. Much of the road is dual carriageway.
Just before you get to the University you'll come to a pedestrian crossing, where the dual carriage way ends, and the Gun Barrels Pub (horrible orange/yellow coloured building labelled "It's a scream") is visible on the right, beyond the crossing.
Turn RIGHT into Edgbaston Park Road, at the intersection just after the pedestrian crossing, and just before the Pub. It's a nasty turn. Be careful.
Once in Edgbaston Park Road, you will see on your left the 'Scream' pub, with its car park. A short way after that you'll find the University's three-storey car park on the left, set back some way from the road, opposite Lloyds Bank.
It does not look like a very imposing entrance, so you may miss it if you expect something well sign-posted! It is the very first turn left after the Pub's car park.
Park in there, and continue on foot into the university, i.e. NOT the way you drove in. See section "From South Car Park" below.
If you miss the car park entrance, or if you cannot find a spare place, or if you cannot get in because of the new barrier system, back out and continue up Edgbaston Park Road. You will very soon come to the main University entrance on the left, with a barrier and a security officer in charge. You should say you have come to visit me to give a talk, and ask to be let in. It may or may not work.
After coming in through the barrier, take the first turn left, into the southern ring road.
As the road goes downhill and curves round to the right, you'll see the car park on your left. Go and park in there, and then retrace your steps to the ring road.
If you drove in from Edgbaston Park Road, do not walk out that way. Continue on foot towards the centre of the University heading in the general direction of the big clock tower. To the left of the clock tower, you should see the light-coloured domes at the top of the Aston Webb Building. Walk towards them while you can see them.
After crossing the "ring road" near the car park, go straight on up the path to the left of the tall building (about 7 floors), under the footbridge. At the end of the path (about 20 metres), turn left, and at the end of the big building on your right turn right.
You should then be in an area with cycle racks on both sides. A bit further on there is a door on the right labelled "Bindery reception" and some concrete posts.
Ahead are some steps leading up to the centre of the university. Go up the steps, past the clock tower, through the big archway, into the University's central square (the great court) and then turn left.
In the great court go under the arch in the building labelled "Staff House". On the right is the bookshop and a bank and a little statue of a girl with a hat. Go straight on past them.
Cross the ring road, and continue up the hill, with Chemistry building on your left and Biology on the right.
Eventually (in a minute or two) you will come to the two new symmetrically placed buildings made of glass and concrete and bricks, with a pedestrian walkway and cycle racks between them and big statue ahead.
The Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence building is on the LEFT, as indicated on the sketch map at the top of this file.
From Birmingham International airport, there's a frequent free 'railair' link to Birmingham International railway station upstairs in Terminal 1. Look for signs to British Rail, or Birmingham International Railway station, or Trains.
Frequent trains go to Birmingham New Street, and normally take no more than about 15 minutes. (You should get a return ticket to the University station at Bham International.)
See instructions "By Train" below, for further details.
If it is raining or you have heavy luggage you may prefer to come direct by Taxi from the airport. Ask for the University of Birmingham, Edgbaston park road, and ask to be dropped at the school of Computer Science (building 14 on Map).
Please ask taxi driver for a receipt.
See instructions for coming by taxi from New Street station, below.
There are three ways to get to Birmingham (apart from driving yourself):
(a) by Flightlink coach from Gatwick. Convenient and cheap but slow as the coach has several stops on the way.
Or by train via one of two routes (See section "By Train" below for more information on travel by train.)
(b) by train to Victoria, then tube to Euston then train to Birmingham New Street.
(c) by "Connex service" train from Gatwick to either Watford Junction or Milton Keynes. Then change to get a train to Birmingham New Street. This is less hassle than going through London, but may be marginally slower if you don't have a good connection at Watford or Milton Keynes. Enquire at Gatwick regarding times and where to change.
There are three ways to get to Birmingham:
(a) by Coach from Heathrow. Convenient and cheap but slow as the coach has several stops on the way. See www.gobycoach.com
Or by train via one of two routes (See section "By Train" below for more information on travel by train.)
(b) by tube to Green Park, then tube to Euston then train to Birmingham New Street.
(c) by high speed train from Heathrow to Paddington, then tube to Euston Square, then train from Euston station to Birmingham New Street. (I have never used this route, which is new).
This web site is very useful for planning train journeys.
http://www.rail.co.uk/ukrail/planner/planner.htm
I think the general phone number for train timetable enquiries is 08457-484950
The main railway station in Birmingham is Birmingham New Street, though there are two other stations, Moor Street and Snow Hill which are used by certain routes.
If you come via Birmingham New Street it is very convenient to go on from there by local train to the University station. The only station in Great Britain called "University" is the Birmingham University campus station.
Correction 13 Jun 2011:
The above previously read 'The only station the UK...'
I am very grateful to Richard Huss, IT services, for kindly pointing out my error, and informing
me that there is another University station, operated by Northern Ireland Railways and serving
the Coleraine campus of the University of Ulster as confirmed here:
http://www.ulster.ac.uk/information/location/colerainesigns.html
He pointed out that, in theory, one ought to be able to buy a through ticket --
from University to University!
When coming by train it is worth finding out return train times either at your starting station or at the information desk on the concourse at New Street station or at the University station. Alternatively, once you are here it should be possible to consult the online timetable service.
If you come by train, you'll probably need to get to "University" station (buy a ticket to University: it should cost the same as a ticket to New Street, from most parts of the country.)
(If it's raining or you have heavy luggage, or if there's any announced problem with trains going south from New Street (Redditch line) then a taxi from New Street station may be preferable, though it won't necessarily be any quicker, especially as we have recently moved into a nice new building very close to the university railway station. It may be much slower during rush-hour periods. See "By taxi from New Street" below.)
If your best train arrives at the Snow Hill or Moor Street station, then you should probably take a taxi from there instead of walking across to Birmingham New street to get the local train.
To get the local train, change at Birmingham New street. You'll probably have to go to a different platform from the one you arrive on. Take southbound train (to Five Ways, University, Longbridge, etc. ... to Redditch.)
University is the second stop. It takes about 7 minutes to get there.
They leave roughly every 15 minutes or more frequently for most of the day. There's an information desk on the main concourse near the platform. Check displays. If you have a through ticket to University it saves going out through the ticket barrier then coming back in again.
It's at most a 2 minute walk to the School of Computer Science.
Come out of the University station. Turn left. Turn left again, and cross over the railway line and canal into the University grounds.
There are two new symmetric red brick and glass buildings on either side of a pedestrian walkway leading down from the railway station towards the clock tower. The school of Computer Science is in the building on the right, very close to the station.
To get in you'll have to push the a square sitting on a pole to the left of the doorway to make the doors open. Likewise when you get past the outer door and need to open the inner door.
I'd normally suggest the local train service (see instructions above). If you come by taxi and will be claiming for expenses, please ask taxi driver for a receipt.
You can get a taxi outside the main station on the left as you go out. Say you want the new computer Science building which is close to the University railway station. That entrance is much closer to our building than the main university entrance on Edgbaston Park Road.
(Also make sure the driver does not think you want to go to the Computing Centre in Elms Road!)
After 10.30 am the south gate on the Bristol Road is used only as an exit, so the taxi will have to turn off the Bristol road into Edgbaston park road, and come in via the main East gate on Edgbaston Park road.
After going through the University entrance, tell the driver to turn left immediately (downhill) and follow the ring road round a 90 degree arc, curving right, then with playing fields below on your left.
Continue on round the ring road, keeping the clock tower on your right.
Eventually you should get somewhere near the school of computer science.
If in doubt stop and ask the way to the railway station: our building is very close to it. See the sketch map above.
To get up to date information, use this list:
http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/people/
Last updated: 7 Jul 2008; 13 Jun 2011
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