We look forward to welcoming you in Colchester in April 2026 for the 59^th Annual International Meeting of the ESR Spectroscopy Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Go to bottom of the page for travelling information.

 

 

 

The meeting will start with an afternoon session (3 pm – 6 pm) on Monday 13^th April at EBS (Essex Business School), followed by a hot buffet and a reception – from 6pm.

On-site registration and check-in to on-campus accommodation will be open from 12 pm on the day, at the same venue – EBS.

The conference will come to its finale in the evening of Thursday, 16 April, with the conference dinner at Wivenhoe House (also on campus).

Wivenhoe House, it appears in a painting by John Constable.

 

There will be a free afternoon on Wednesday, 15 April, when you will have the opportunity to explore the oldest recorded town in England (spoiler: it is Colchester) or discover the university campus, which has a long and remarkable history.

Balkerne Gate to Camulodunum (now Colchester), where the Roman road from Londinium (now London) entered the town walls. Probably the best-preserved Roman gateway in the UK, dating from the 2nd century AD.

 

How to get to the University of Essex by Planes, Trains and Automobiles?

The closest airport to Colchester is London Stansted (about a 45-minute drive). There are bus services from Stansted to Colchester.

If you are travelling by train, you may wish to use one of several journey-planning websites, for example this one.

There are two train stations in Colchester. The main one, with more frequent services, is Colchester North. The other is Colchester Town, which is closer to the university but is served by fewer trains.

You could also plan your journey to Hythe station, which is pretty close to the university, but public transport from there can be challenging to navigate, so the best option would be to take a taxi or Uber.

Yes, Uber has arrived at Colchester, and you might find it helpful.

If you plan to drive to Colchester, it is just off the A12.  If you’re coming from London on the A12 northbound, stay on the A12 past Chelmsford and take Junction 27, then follow signs into town.  If you’re coming from Ipswich on the A12 southbound, continue past Hadleigh/Newbury and use Junction 29 exit for Colchester, then follow the local signs into the town centre and University of Essex.

By ferry

A ferry service operates from the Hook of Holland in the western Netherlands to Harwich International Port, which is just 17 miles (27 km) away from Colchester via A120. Train service to Colchester is also available.

Buses in Colchester

Finally, the bus system works well for getting around Colchester.  You may want to use the mobile app called First. First is one of several bus companies operating in Colchester and the surrounding area, but the First app allows you to see all available services that can take you from A to B.

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To participate in the conference, please note the following key dates:

• Register by the extended deadline 2 March, this is also the deadline for submitting an abstract if you wish to present a talk or poster.
• Pay the registration fee by 16 March 2026 to secure your place at the conference and, if you have submitted an abstract, to ensure that your presentation is publicised.