Social Programme

Monday 13^th April

Welcome Reception, Worcester College

Included in your registration fee is the Welcome Reception, taking place at the Worcester College on Monday 13^th April, from 17:30. Join your fellow conference delegates for an evening of relaxed networking and conversation. Drinks and snacks will make this the perfect informal start for HAXPES 2026.

Monday 13^th April 

Tour of Diamond Light Source

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. By accelerating electrons to near light-speed, Diamond generates brilliant beams of light from infra-red to X-rays which are used for academic and industry research and development across a range of scientific disciplines including structural biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, earth and environmental sciences.

Book a space for the Diamond Light Source Tour during your registration. Spaces will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Wednesday 15^th April

Conference Dinner, Balliol College (Oxford)

Located in the heart of Oxford, Balliol College is one of the oldest Oxford colleges, founded in 1263, which means that by visiting it you will experience life in a traditional, working college with a 750-year history and a worldwide academic reputation.

By joining the HAXPES conference dinner you will step in the college stunning Hall, where you will indulge in a truly remarkable dining experience. The vaulted ceiling, adorned with exquisite portraits, creates a grandiose ambience that will leave you in awe. 

Book a place for the HAXPES 2026 dinner, for an additional fee, during your registration. Spaces will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Wednesday 15th April

Oxford Walking Tour: A Journey Through Oxford’s History

Oxford has been at the centre of English history for over a thousand years, from being one of Alfred the Great’s chosen cities, to the invention of the Astra-Zeneca covid vaccine. Traverse the historic streets and see the famous landmarks of the city and the University, while our expert guides share with you their knowledge of Oxford and its stories over the centuries.

During the tour you will get a chance to see the hystoric buildings of Oxford University, you will catch a glimpse into life here and now or be immersed in the lives of the people of the past and how they shaped Oxford, such as the Oxford Martyrs, King Charles I, and C.S. Lewis amongst others.

You will walk around the architectural monuments recognised around the world, such as the Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian Library, and wander down the hidden passageways which lead to Oxford institutions such as the Turf Tavern.

Book a space for the Oxford Walking Tour, for an additional fee, during your registration. Spaces will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Thursday 16th April

Excursion to Blenheim Palace 

Blenheim Palace is a magnificent Baroque country house in Oxfordshire, England, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the ancestral home of the Dukes of Marlborough, known for its grand architecture, vast parkland landscaped by Capability Brown, and its historical significance as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Built as a reward for a military victory, it's a major tourist attraction, offering tours, stunning formal gardens, adventure play areas, and events, while housing impressive collections of art and antiques. 

This tour of the Palace will take you back to the 18th century when the 1st Duke of Marlborough won the Battle of Blenheim, which earned him the building of this large country home. you will learn about the people who lived and worked here throughout the last 300 years; how the Palace was used during both World Wars, and how Winston Churchill was connected to the Family.

Book a space for the Oxford Walking Tour, for an additional fee, during your registration. Spaces will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.