Conference Welcome & Guest Information

Merton College, the first fully self-governing College in the University, was founded in 1264 by Walter de Merton, sometime Chancellor of England and later Bishop of Rochester.

Merton College was originally founded for 20 fellows, with undergraduates being formally admitted in the early 1380s. It was then that John Wyliot, a former Fellow and Sub-Warden, endowed a number of scholarships known at Merton as Postmasterships. Over the centuries, many eminent scholars and cultural leaders have called Merton home. They include four Nobel Prize winners, the mathematician who solved Fermat’s Last Theorem, the physician who discovered the circulation of blood, and the founder of the Bodleian Library.

Mob Quadrangle, the oldest quadrangle in the University, was built in three phases: The Treasury and Muniment Room c.1288-91; the north and east ranges and the Sacristy c.1304-11; and the Library on the south and west sides 1373-8. Mob Library is the oldest continuously-functioning library for university academics and students in the world. The Gatehouse dates from the early fifteenth century, when Henry V granted a royal 'licence to crenellate', which allowed for the construction of the battlement tower above the present-day Lodge.

Mob Library

What is now the quire of Merton Chapel was begun in the late 1280s, as part of the Church of St Mary & St John. It was built to replace the Parish Church of St John the Baptist which stood on the site now occupied by the north wing of Mob Quad. The transepts (what is now the Ante-chapel) were added in the 14th and early 15th centuries, and the tower was completed in 1450. To this day, the Chapel contains one of the finest pre-Reformation lecterns surviving in England, originally given to College in 1504. A screen by Christopher Wren was added in 1673. Edward Blore, William Butterfield, and Sir Gilbert Scott contributed to its restoration during the Gothic revival of the 19th century.

The present unity of the Garden, stretching, as it does from the Grove in the west, then eastwards and northwards, following the City Wall, up to Merton Street, disguises the fact that until 1904, there were here three separate, private gardens. During the eighteen century, Merton Garden became a fashionable resort for both the University and the Town. The College, for a time at least, grew tired of its visitors so that in 1790 Merton’s Garden was closed to the public. The nineteenth and twentieth century saw the gradual ramification and unification of the gardens.

“We need to get serious about climate change – and that means solutions, not guilt. Regarding climate, I want Oxford to lead in addressing what is now the most pressing issue of our times. This is an interdisciplinary problem, and we are very well placed to take a bold and innovative lead.”

Professor Irene Tracey CBE, FMedSci. Oxford University Vice-Chancellor

Merton College have been awarded the Gold Green Impact award.

Travelling to Merton

Oxford is a great city to explore using sustainable forms of transport, including good train links, bus services and a cycle friendly city. 

By Train

Merton College is a 20 minute walk from Oxford Railway Station with regular trains to and from London Paddington and London Marylebone stations, as well as Birmingham and Manchester.

By Bus

The nearest bus stop to Merton College Queens Lane, which is a 2-minute walk. The college is a 15-minute walk from Gloucester Green Bus station which runs regular buses from London airports. The Oxford Tube, a London to Oxford coach service, runs 24/7. The National Express website has information about coach connections to other parts of the UK.

By Bike

You will see plenty of cycling around Oxford as it is cycle friendly and a great way to see the city. Merton has secure bike parking available onsite.

By Car

If we are travelling by car, we recommend that you use the popular Park and Ride system that operates from various locations on the Oxford ring road. Limited paid parking is available in Oxford City centre.

By Airplane

If you are arriving by airplane to the UK, we recommend using public transport to transit to Oxford. 

Biodiversity and sustainability

The College has created a carbon strategy, implemented new initiatives like renewable energy schemes, and enhanced biodiversity throughout all its grounds after completing a natural capital and biodiversity audit. We have an iNaturalist project set up for Merton College to monitor the biodiversity we have in our grounds and contribute to a large citizen science project.

Food waste 

Cutting Food Waste daily. We send our waste to a local digestion plant to be converted into green energy and bio fertilizer. Our catering team work hard to minimise any food waste from the kitchen, as well as monitor and report “plate food waste” from our halls with the aim to reduce this.

Reducing Energy use 

We want to reduce the energy we use and cut any wasted energy, therefore we would ask that you only boil the water required in the kettle and turn off electrical equipment and lights when not using.

Catering

At Merton we are working to reduce our carbon emissions across the college, including in our dining halls. Food production accounts for 25% of total global greenhouse emissions and Oxford research shows that the most effective way to reduce the climate impact of our diet is to consume less meat and dairy and eat more plant-based foods. Our catering team create excellent vegetation and plant-based meals and we would encourage you to try these. 

Check in and Check out times

Check-in is available from 3pm on the day of arrival and check-out is by 9am on the morning of departure (unless are-arranged with the Events team). Keys must be collected from and returned to the Lodge. There is a charge for non-return of keys and charges can be incurred for late check out.

Guests

We request, due to Fire and Health and Safety regulations, that no guests are brought into the College without prior permission from the College and your Conference Organiser. No guests are permitted to stay overnight.

Housekeeping

Rooms are serviced daily Monday to Friday between 9am and 2pm.  Please be aware that as our staff work limited hours, we are unable to alter the service times. 

Merton College is committed to reducing its environmental impact. To this end we have implemented the following:

• If you do not wish to have your room serviced on a particular day, then please hang the ‘No Service Today’ sign on the outside of your door. The sign can be found on the inside door handle.
• We do not change towels/bedding on a daily basis. If your stay is more than 5 nights a towel change will be made and for stays for more than 7 nights a full linen and towel change will be made.
• We offer a dark blue towel for occasions when it is necessary, such as when removing makeup or colouring hair. You can find this next to your normal towels. 

Maintenance

Any major maintenance issues should be reported to the Lodge immediately, and a maintenance person will attend as soon as possible.

Bathrooms

Not all rooms in Merton College have bathrooms, and if you have a room without a bathroom this will have been pre-booked with the conference organiser. If you are in standard accommodation, there will be at least one shared bathroom on your staircase.

Toiletries

Please note Merton College will provide soap only in the rooms. For any additional toiletries the Lodge will be happy to provide you with directions to the local shops.

Tea & Coffee making facilities

Tea and coffee making facilities are available in all bedrooms

Laundry Services

Laundry facilities are available, please contact the Lodge for more details.

An iron and ironing board are provided in each of the two laundry rooms.  These are in the basement of St Albans Quad and in Rose Lane 5 Building. 

Meals
Breakfast is served in Hall. Your Conference Organiser will have advised you of what time your breakfast is (shown below). For breakfast we serve a mixture of a Full English Breakfast during the week and Continental Breakfast at the weekend, as well as cold buffet selections, cereal, juice, tea and coffee.
Lunch is buffet service unless otherwise arranged by the Conference Organiser.
Dinner is a 2-course chef’s choice menu, unless otherwise arranged by the Conference Organiser.

Meal times are:
Breakfast 8.00am (Saturday & Sunday 8.30am)
Lunch – check with event organiser
Dinner – check with event organiser.

Dietary Requirements
Any special dietary requirements should have been discussed with your Conference Organiser before your arrival. We can only cater for the 14 known allergens. However, if you do have any special dietary requests, please let your organiser know as soon as possible and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Chapel
The Chapel is open to all College guests from 7am - however, occasional bookings, such as recordings, require the Chapel to be closed. There are normally no public services during the vacation period. However, any services taking place are listed on the Chapel noticeboard outside the Lodge.

Bar
The College bar will only be open if it has been pre-booked by your Conference Organiser.

Library
The medieval library in Mob Quad is only accessible by prior arrangement and as part of an accompanied tour. If you wish to enquire about a tour during your stay, please email tours@merton.ox.ac.uk. There is normally a modest charge per person.

Accident reporting
All accidents and injuries must be reported to the Lodge.

Accident and emergency
All Porters are first aiders and there is a first-aid kit in the Lodge. The closest A&E to Merton College is at the John Radcliffe Hospital. If you need assistance getting there, please speak to the Lodge who will be happy to arrange a taxi for you.

Telephone Lodge 01865 276310

Fire alarms
Fire alarm testing takes place each week throughout the College. Notices advising which day this will take place are posted in each staircase.
In the event of alarms sounding outside of published times for testing, you are required to evacuate via your nearest exit following the green arrows. Go to your appointed assembly point and make yourself known to the Porters, you should remain there until advised it is safe to return.

Fire evacuation procedure
Fire notices are posted throughout the College. Please read these notices and be aware of:

Escape routes and assembly points
You must know what to do in the event of Fire or Fire Alarm

• If you discover a fire, vacate the area immediately and raise the alarm then proceed to your Assembly Point

• Do not re-enter the building until advised to do so by the Fire Officer

Fire testing & evacuation
−Call point testing takes place daily on Mon-Fri between 10:00 & 12:00. Testing consists of the alarm sounding for short burst over a few minutes, you do not need to leave the building when testing is taking place
− Allocated test areas:
• Monday – Mob Quad / Grove / Chapel
• Tuesday – Front Quad / St Albans Quad
• Wednesday – Owl Library / Merton Street
• Thursday – Rose Lane / North Lodge / Mure / TSE Theatre
• Friday – Fitz James / Fellows Quad / Hall

Fire evacuation

• On hearing a continuous alarm you must leave the building immediately using the nearest available exit & proceed to the general assembly point (see map below).
• DO NOT stop to collect personal belongings
• Please close all doors behind you
• Stay calm, walk, DO NOT run
• DO NOT re-enter the building until you are told to do so by the duty porter or fire service personnel
• NOTIFY the duty porter or fire service personnel if you are aware of the cause of the alarm Action for first person exiting each staircase, house or building:
• Pick up Hi-Vis Jacket, log sheet & pen located on the wall by the exit door
• Stand a safe distance from the building & log each person leaving against their room number
• Clearly indicate to each person leaving to move to the nearest assembly point once you have received their room number
• Fill in the top of the evacuation log with your name, room number & the time of the incident
• Hand clipboard to porter on arrival
• On arrival to an activation the porter will take the evacuation log, check the area the alarm activated & any rooms not listed as evacuated on the log. The porter will then notify you if it is safe to re-enter the building

Bus services

There are regular bus services in and around Oxford, including local buses and National Express long- distance services. There are two coach services to central London (Oxford Tube, Oxford X90) which leave from the High Street (a short walk).

See further details on Park and Ride. 

Taxi services

The Lodge will be happy to book taxis for you or you can call Royal Cars on 01865 777333. Drivers must be paid directly.

Train services

See details on national train services. 

Banks and ATM machines

Directions can be obtained from the Lodge to the nearest Bank and ATM machines. There are a number of banks in Oxford within easy walking distance of the College. If you need directions to a specific branch, please speak to one of the Lodge Porters who will be happy to help.

Chemists/pharmacies

There are a number of chemists in Oxford, including some which are open 24 hours a day. If your requirement is urgent, please speak to the Lodge and they will provide you with the required information.

Restaurants and bars

Oxford has an excellent and varied selection of restaurants, cafés and drinking venues. Please visit the Oxford City website for more information.

Oxford attractions

Oxford is a beautiful and historic city full of exciting attractions, theatres, galleries and museums. Please visit the Oxford City website for more information.