Below we provide you with a range of travel options from each of the London airports to Goldsmiths in New Cross. Most airports offer an Express train which is usually the quickest way to get from the airport to central London. However, the tickets can be expensive. Please note that average journey times and journey costs are variable.
Both the London Underground and local bus services use a travel card scheme called the Oyster Card. This is an electronic card that can be topped up with cash or credit card using machines at all stations, and in some local shops. We recommend that you purchase an Oyster Card (£5 deposit which you get back once the card is returned) and top up your card using ‘pay-as-you-go’ credit. This offers the cheapest fares available. You can return your Oyster card to any underground station office and receive a full refund of your £5 deposit and any unused balance (though receiving your refund is easiest if you always top up your Oyster using the same payment method — either cash OR a credit/debit card). Ask staff in underground stations for more details.
Flights to different London airports can be seen by using the appropriate airport code at http://www.skyscanner.net
Local transport information at http://www.tfl.gov.uk
LONDON HEATHROW (LHR)
The largest international airport, total 90 minutes travel time to Goldsmiths.
Option 1:
- Take the Heathrow Express to London Paddington *(Time: 15 – 20 minutes. Cost: £21 for single and £34 for return)*
- From Paddington take the Bakerloo line to Baker Street
- Change onto the Jubilee line to Canada Water
- Change onto the London Overground to New Cross or New Cross Gate *(Time: 35 minutes. Cost: £5)*
- You can also take the 436 bus from Paddington to New Cross Gate *(Time: 1 hour. Cost: £1.40 with Oyster / £2.40 cash)*
Option 2:
A cheaper option is to use the London Underground from Heathrow Terminals 1-3.
- Take the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Green Park
- Change onto the Jubilee Line to Canada Water
- Change onto the London Overground to New Cross or New Cross Gate *(Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes. Cost: £5 – £7)*
Option 3:
The cheapest option (but not the quickest!) is to take the National Express Coach from Heathrow to New Cross Gate. Tickets costs around £10 and the average journey time is 2 hours. For more information or to book tickets, visit the National Express website.
LONDON GATWICK (LGW)
The major airport closest (50 min) to Goldsmiths with excellent European and international connections.
Option 1:
- Take the First Capital Connect train towards Bedford and get off at East Croydon Rail station
- Then take the Southern train to New Cross Gate *Please note, you must buy a separate ticket for these trains, you cannot use your Oyster card (Time: 35 minutes. Cost: £5 – £10)*
Option 2:
- Take the Gatwick Express to London Victoria *(Time: 30 minutes. Cost: £17.70 for a single and £31.05 for a standard return ticket)*
- Using the underground from Victoria, take the District or Circle line to Westminster
- Change onto the Jubilee Line to Canada Water
- Change onto the London Overground to New Cross or New Cross Gate *(Time: 40 minutes. Cost: £3 – £5)*
- You can also take the 36 bus from Victoria to New Cross Gate) *(Time: 40 minutes. Cost: £1.40 with Oyster / £2.40 cash)*
LONDON CITY AIRPORT (LCY)
The closest airport to central London (40 minutes to Goldsmiths) with mainline carriers servicing European destinations.
Option 1:
This is by far the closest airport to Goldsmiths. Take the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Canning Town Underground station
- Change onto the Jubilee line to Canada Water
- Change onto the London Overground to New Cross or New Cross Gate *(Time: 30 minutes. Cost £3 – £5)*
LONDON STANSTED (STN)
Airport servicing European low cost carriers, total 90 minutes travel time to Goldsmiths
Option 1:
- Take the Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale Underground station *(Time: 40 minutes. Cost: £12 for a single and £24 for a standard return)*
- Then from Tottenham Hale take the Victoria line to Highbury & Islington
- Change onto the London Overground to New Cross or New Cross Gate *(Time: 40 minutes. Cost: £3 – £5)*
Option 2:
- Take the National Express Coach from Stansted airport to Stratford *(Time: 45 minutes. Cost: from £8)*
- Then from Stratford take the Jubilee line to Canada Water
- Change onto the London Overground to New Cross or New Cross Gate *(Time: 25 minutes. Cost: £3 – £5)*
LONDON LUTON (LTN)
Airport servicing European low cost carriers, total 2 hours travel time to Goldsmiths
Option 1:
- Take the 888 bus to Luton Airport Parkway Station. *(Time: 10 minutes. Cost £2 – £7)*
- Take the First Capital Connect train to West Hampstead Overground station. Then take the London Underground, Jubilee line from West Hampstead to Canada Water.
- Then take the London Overground train from Canada Water to New Cross Gate. *(Time: 1 hour 40 minutes. Cost between £17.90 and £39.00)*
Option 2:
- Take the EasyBus to Baker Street – tickets cost around £8.50 and are available from the airport’s Onward Travel Centre. The EasyBus takes around 40 minutes.
- Then from Baker Street, take the London Underground Bakerloo Line to Waterloo.
- Change onto the Jubilee Line to Canada Water.
- Then change onto the London Overground to New Cross Gate. *(Time: 1 hour 30 minutes. Cost: £15.00)*
Option 3:
- Take the National Express Coach to London Victoria. *(Time: 1 hour and 3o minutes. Cost: from £10.00)*
- From Victoria, take the Circle and District line to Westminster.
- At Westminster, change onto the Jubilee line to Canada Water.
- At Canada Water, change onto the London Overground line to New Cross Gate. *(Time from Victoria: 25 minutes. Cost £3 – £5)*
LONDON SOUTHEND AIRPORT (SEN)
Option 1:
- Take the Greater Anglia train to Stratford *(Time: 50 minutes. Cost: from £13.10)*
- Then from Stratford take the Jubilee line to Canada Water
- Change onto the London Overground to New Cross or New Cross Gate *(Time: 25 minutes. Cost: £3 – £5)*
You can find more information about travelling to and from London Airports here.
The staff in all of the Underground and Overground train stations are there to help you so you can always ask them what the best option for your journey is.
VISA
We encourage and welcome delegates from around the globe to attend or take part in NIME 2014. It is important to note that under the Immigration Rules of the United Kingdom and in order to attend an academic conference in the UK, nationals of certain countries must apply for a visa before travelling. The list of countries whose delegates require a UK visa can be found on the UK Border Agency Website.
You may also use refer to the the page, Do you need a visa? quoting ‘Visit’ as the purpose of your trip and ‘Business Visitor’ as the type of visit.
If you are a national or citizen of one of the countries who require a visa for entry to the UK, please ensure that you leave enough time for the application process which can take up to 12 weeks.
You must also register and pay your delegate fee before a letter of invitation can be authorised. Once the organisation team have received your full payment and registration details, we will provide you with an invitation letter.
Please contact the conference producer if you have any queries or require a letter of invitation: sh@goldsmithsdigital.com