How to find us
JRI is based at the University of Gloucestershire, Francis Close Hall (FCH), near Cheltenham town centre, with entrances from Swindon Road and St Paul's Road as shown on the town map. Below there is guidance on getting to Cheltenham and finding the venue.
- Map of Cheltenham locating FCH campus
- Plan of campus locating JRI and venues
Cheltenham
Rail
Cheltenham Spa has rail services from London Paddington, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The railway station just over a mile from Francis Close Hall. Taxis include Connections (01242) 239939, Starline 250250 and A2B 580580.
During term-time the University's intercampus bus service runs from the Rail Station hourly from 8.20 to 23.20, to Francis Close Hall via Park campus and the town centre. Take care at the Rail Station not to catch the bus going the other way, to the Gloucester campus.
Road
Cheltenham is near junction 11 of the M5, and also accessible via the M40/A40 (Oxford) or the M4 (Swindon exit). National Express and local services arrive at the town centre Bus Station, half a mile from Francis Close Hall.
From Oxford & A40
Follow the A40, London Road in to Cheltenham through the Charlton Kings area. Go straight on at all junctions following signs to Town Centre. Straight after traffic lights junction with College Road and Hewlett Road the A40 joins the inner ring road and becomes one way: go immediately into the right hand lane after the traffic island. Take the first turning on the right (St James Street) sign-posted to Tewkesbury and Evesham. This is a one way street; stay in the left-hand lane. Bear left at the end, straight through the traffic lights. Pass through three more sets of traffic lights and turn right into Monson Avenue, just past a large open plan car park on your right. Turn left at the end of the road. Francis Close Hall car park is about 500m on the left, identifiable by the black iron railings.
From the M5 (northbound)
Exit the M5 at junction 11 and follow A40 Cheltenham. At the second roundabout turn right towards the Town Centre following the A40 (Lansdown Road). Join left-hand filter into Gloucester Road before traffic lights opposite the Shell Petrol station. Continue along Gloucester Road straight on at all junctions. After pedestrian crossing by Tesco move into right-hand lane - go straight on at traffic lights into one-way street, move into right-hand lane and turn right at the end. Take immediate tight left-hand turn under railway bridge (Carlton Place), and turn right at the end into St Pauls Road. Ignore red-brick wall gateway and turn into black wrought iron gateway which enters directly into Francis Close Hall car park.
From the M5 (southbound)
Exit the M5 at junction 10 and join Tewkesbury Road (A4019) at give way. Continue along Tewkesbury Road for approx. 2 miles, going straight on at all junctions. Look out for the large Tesco store on the right and Wicks / Office World on the left. At next set of lights filter left following sign for Recreation Centre. Move into right-hand lane (one-way street) and turn right at the end. Take immediate tight left-hand turn under railway bridge (Carlton Place), and turn right at the end into St Pauls Road. Ignore red brick wall gateway and turn into black wrought iron gateway which enters directly into Francis Close Hall Campus car park.
Air
Heathrow is less than 100 miles from Cheltenham. There is a rail/bus link via Reading and a direct National Express coach service. Birmingham International Airport and Bristol Airport are both approximately 50 miles from Cheltenham.
Francis Close Hall
To find our office (QW212) follow the signs to the Department of Theology and Religious Studies on the 2nd floor at location [12] on the siteplan below.
The main lecture theatre is in the Teaching Centre on the ground floor at [8].
The main reception is at location 1. For evening visitors, the porter's lodge is at [9].
Bicycle parking facilities are available at location 14, and inside the quadrangle. Car parking spaces on-site must be booked in advance. There is on-street parking in St Paul's Road.
An InterCampus bus runs every 20 minutes from Cheltenham Rail Station to the Swindon Road entrance, location [13].
The full site key is available as a PDF requiring Acrobat Reader.