Meeting Locations

For some years, we have been holding all our Branch Meetings except visits, at the offices of Steria Limited in Hemel Hempstead. Steria's generous hospitality has been much appreciated.

This year, we have been offered the use of lecture rooms in the Lindop Building by the University of Hertfordshire. The advantages to us is that their lecture rooms can accommodate many more people and the location would be more convenient to members living in the main part of Hertfordshire. There may be some additional expense to the BCS but this should be within reasonable bounds and would still be less than would be involved in other venues.

For the 2012 - 2013 season, therefore, we are trying the effect of alternating our events between Steria's Hemel Hempstead office and the University of Hertfordshire's Lindop Building.

Maps and travel directions are given below for the Steria venue and for the University of Hertfordshire, Lindop Building.

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Steria Limited, Hemel Hempstead

Steria's full address is:

STERIA LIMITED, Three Cherry Trees Lane, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, Hertfordshire HP2 7AH

You may, of course, create your own map using Steria's postcode in Google Maps, or whichever internet mapping service you prefer. However, Steria provide their own map which we can firmly recommend.

Trains - to Hemel Hempstead Station from Euston/Milton Keynes. From there take a taxi - alternatively by H13 bus (a circuitous route) to Atlas Copco in Queensway near the end of Swallowdale Lane.

From the famous (“Magic”) Roundabout.

Take the A414 (St. Albans Road). At the roundabout signed Industrial Area, turn left on to Maylands Avenue. Follow this road for just short of a mile, past two junctions with traffic lights and one set of pedestrian crossing lights, still in Maylands Avenue, at the first roundabout you come to, turn right (3rd exit) on to Swallowdale Lane. Take 2nd right on to Three Cherry Trees Lane. STERIA is the first building on the right.

From M1 Junction 8.

Travelling towards Hemel Hempstead on the A414, at the 2nd roundabout turn right (3rd exit) on to Maylands Avenue. Follow this road for just short of a mile, past two junctions with traffic lights and one set of pedestrian crossing lights, still in Maylands Avenue, at the first roundabout you come to, turn right (3rd exit) on to Swallowdale Lane. Take 2nd right on to Three Cherry Trees Lane. STERIA is the first building on the right.

Important information for attendees

Steria close the car park gates outside office hours.

Should you arrive for an event and find the gates closed, you will have to ask the security staff to open the gate. The inset picture shows what you will see (click to enlarge): the gate closed; a box mounted on a cranked pole about five yards from the gate, on the right of the driveway. The box is equipped with a call-button and an intercom. Press the button and tell the security officer that you have come for the "Steria-BCS meeting".

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University of Hertfordshire, Lindop Building

The venue's full address is:

The Lindop Building, UNIVERSITY of HERTFORDSHIRE, College Lane, HATFIELD, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB

Note that this is in the College Lane campus.

Trains - to Hatfield Station from Kings Cross, Moorgate, Cambridge, and Stevenage. From there take a 603 bus to the University.

Buses - see the Unobus guide.

The inset map (courtesy of Google Maps) shows the location of the Lindop Building in the College Lane campus.

The roundabout in the map is the roundabout at the A1(M) Junction 3, immediately south of the tunnel under the Galleria shopping centre in Hatfield.

From St. Albans, the easiest route is along the A1057 Hatfield Road, turning right at the Comet roundabout on to Comet Way (see inset map).

From Hemel Hempstead, Watford, the M1 Junctions 6 and 8, M25 Junctions 21A and 22, the best approach is probably along the A414 North Orbital Road (see inset map).

From the A1(M) Junction 3 roundabout take the exit on to the A1001. After about 300 yards, turn left at the traffic lights on to College Lane.

Drive gently and you will see the Mercer Building on the left, followed by the Lindop Building. Turn left immediately after the Lindop Building and behind the buildings are a number of car parks. Park there. Ignore the "Pay & Display" signs: parking is free for evening events.