With beautiful countryside as a backdrop and acres of traffic-free space, Harwell is a place to connect with the living world – both through our scientific community and the scenery that surrounds it.

COMMUNITY

Whether you’re just visiting or planning to settle locally, South Oxfordshire is among the highest rating counties in the UK for quality of life. The bustle of nearby Oxford, combined with the solace of the Oxfordshire countryside, makes life at Harwell something to be treasured.

Sports teams and clubs

Harwell Campus is home to a wide variety of sports teams and clubs, served by a well-appointed sports pavilion and pitches. The campus also links up with the Ridgeway, a mixed-surface path that’s perfect for walking, running and cycling

Open Air Cinema

Bringing the big screen to the biggest minds

Showing times

Interest groups

Our thriving campus community is growing every day, and interest groups are a great way to connect with new people. Engage with lively professional forums, join networking groups, socialise and attend events on and off campus.

  • Harwell NextGen

    If you’re in the early stages of your career and would value meeting like-minded people on campus for social and professional gatherings and networking.

  • Harwell Connect

    Connect Harwell’s bi-monthly events are open to all campus organisations and sectors

  • Harwell Rocket Group

    Part of the UK’s amateur rocketry community, the Harwell Rocket Group provides a collaborative, friendly environment for recreational rocketry.

  • Harwell Green Club

    The Harwell Green Club meets monthly alongside specialist speakers to discuss how we can maintain a low carbon, sustainable future.

  • Harwell HarBUG

    Dedicated to improving cycling facilities across the Harwell campus, HarBUG is a passionate group of cyclists making positive change within our community.

Getting around campus

Fast, green and safe ­– bikes are a great way to travel around Harwell. Our bike loan scheme is available to all Harwellians via the Donkey Republic app, available on Android and iOS. Once you’ve registered with your company email address on the app, simply use your phone to unlock a bike and enjoy 48 hours of free riding time.

Download the app

 

Monthly bike servicing takes place the first Thursday of every month from 11:30 – 15:30 in the car park of DiSH (Second Street).

Need a little extra oomph? We have five e-bike stations around campus. Just download and register with the Donkey Republic app on Android or iOS and you can hop on an e-bike right away. With 48 hours free usage, they’re ideal for quick commutes and leisurely lunch hours.

Download the app

Our autonomous bus service is a zero-emissions driverless shuttle. It runs morning to evening on weekdays, covering two routes: Fermi Avenue and Eighth Avenue, both via the ESA. Shuttle passes are available for free to campus pass-holders and their registered guests.

You can view the shuttles current location and see all bus stops on the web app here.

 

 

Join our Liftshare community

If you’re interested in car sharing please find information about the Harwell Liftshare scheme on the link below.

Read more

Facilities and lifestyle

Easily accessible by foot, bike, or bus Harwell’s facilities put you and your family first. Our 200+ companies and facilities include family health and medical services to childcare and salon treatments.

  • Post Office & Mini Mart

    The Post Office is located inside McColls on Curie Avenue, open seven days a week. You can stock up on basic supermarket items at McColls, or grab a quick lunch from the hot food counter.

  • Ridgeway House Hotel

    Our on-campus accommodation is ideally situated for beamtime users and visiting researchers. With 123 fully-furnished rooms, WiFi, kitchen, and dining facilities, you can enjoy a comfortable stay, whether you’re working, resting or just visiting.

  • Nurseries & Schools

    Our on-site nursery, Bright Horizons , is perfectly situated for Harwell employees, providing high quality childcare from 3 months to 5 years. And just off campus towards Didcot, there’s a choice of good primary and secondary schools for 4 – 16+ year olds

  • Chiropractor

    Based on the Harwell campus for over 15 years, Karen Ambrose is a McTimoney Chiropractor who specialises in treatments for people and animals. Find her practice on Curie Avenue.

  • Dentist

    Harwell Dental Practice is our fully independent practice offering affordable private dental care. Located on Curie Avenue, the practice is open Monday to Friday for routine and emergency dentistry.

  • Hairdresser

    Atomic Salon is an established hair salon offering bespoke treatments for all the family. Friendly and affordable, you can relax in the experienced hands of professionals.

EAT & DRINK

Food at Harwell

Dorindo’s at DiSH

Providing an exciting  menu of Mexican classics including burritos and empanadas with a host of vegan options, desserts and a great kids menu, there is something for every taste and diet.

Location

Corner of Curie Avenue and Second Street.

Harwell Campus

Opening Hours

Mon & Tues: 11.30am – 3pm

Weds & Thurs: 11.30am – 8pm

Friday: 11.30am – 10.00pm

View the menu here
Katalinis at DiSH

Whether you’re after some pitta and hummus or a delicious gyros, Katalinis have you covered.

Location

Corner of Curie Avenue and Second Street.

Harwell Campus

Opening Hours

Mon & Tues: 11.30am – 3pm

Weds & Thurs: 11.30am – 8pm

Friday: 11.30am – 9.00pm

View the menu here
1885 at DiSH

Delicious, juicy burgers including veggie options inspired from when the burger was first created, in 1885! Buns are made fresh daily from a local baker down the road, and the meat is local to Oxfordshire

Location

Corner of Curie Avenue and Second Street.

Harwell Campus

Opening Hours

Mon & Tues: 11.30am – 3pm

Weds & Thurs: 11.30am – 8pm

Friday: 11.30am – 10.00pm

View the menu here
Sole Luna at DiSH

Fresh Neapolitan Pizza, Desserts and Drinks

Location

Corner of Curie Avenue and Second Street.

Harwell Campus

Opening Hours

Mon & Tues: 11.30am – 3pm

Weds & Thurs: 11.30am – 8pm

Friday: 11.30am – 10.00pm

View the menu here
Shaman at DiSH

Hot drinks including coffee and hot chocolate as well as a well stocked bar serving everything from beer on tap to wine and soft drinks.

Location

Corner of Curie Avenue and Second Street.

Harwell Campus

Opening Hours

Mon & Tues: 11.30am – 6pm

Weds & Thurs: 11.30am – 8pm

Friday: 11.30am – 10.00pm

View the menu here
Pierreponts Café

Delicious seasonal dishes, amazing quiche and salad, soup and sandwiches to eat in or take-away. Excellent coffee and homemade pastries and treats.

Location

Behind Quad One, Becquerel Avenue

Harwell Campus

Opening Hours

Mon – Fri: 8.00am – 3.00pm

View site
Bloomers

Bloomers serve a selection of tasty sandwiches and baguettes, made freshly to order at the counter

Location

363, Curie Avenue (parade of shops)

Harwell Campus

Opening Hours

Mon – Fri: 8.00am – 2.00pm

Costa Coffee

Counter-service coffee chain offering hot drinks, iced coolers, sweet snacks and sandwiches. Eat in or takeaway.

Location

Satellite Applications Catapult, Electron Building, Fermi Avenue, OX11 0QR

Opening Hours

Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 4.00pm

View site
R22 restaurant STFC

Canteen style restaurant offering a range of hot and cold food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Location

Can only be accessed by passholders. Off Fermi Avenue.

Opening Hours

Daily
Breakfast: 07:30am – 09:30am
Lunch: 12:00pm – 1:45pm
Dinner 6:15pm – 8:00pm

View weekly menu

Harwell Monthly Cocktail Hour

A monthly networking cocktail hour takes place at DiSH from 16:30 – 18:00. Come along and sample the new cocktails and mocktails from our resident mixologist.

WELLBEING

Wildlife and the environment

Clean, calm, quiet, and free from traffic. The green spaces within Harwell are a mix of landscaped areas and re-wilding zones. Reset with a head-clearing stroll around campus or take in the scenery by bike while you explore the area.

Helping our environment thrive

Bees

Happy bees are vital for a healthy environment. We have six buzzing hives on campus. Find out more in our Bee Diary

Wildflower and bee

Biodiversity

In line with our commitment to increase biodiversity, we’ve designated specific re-wilding areas. The wildflowers that grow here will help our local fauna to thrive.

Relaxation space

Take back some time for you. Walking through wild, natural landscape is a great way to boost mood and cultivate well-being. Pond-gazing, forest bathing, cloud…

Campus trails

Harwell campus has acres of traffic-free open space where you can meet safely, and enjoy the surrounding greenery. Take a stroll around the campus or hire a bike and explore the area.

The Harwell Heritage Trail

Commemorating Harwell’s 75th anniversary, this is a 13 waypoint trail along a 4km circular route which will take approx. 60-90 minutes on foot.

Download the information PDF

Get out and explore Harwell

Harwell 2km trail

Download the 2kms trail, that takes you around the main part of the campus.

Harwell 5km trail

The 5 kms trail is a little more challenging, around campus as well as into the surrounding area.

Harwell 8km trail

The 8kms trail leads around the perimeter of the campus and up to the start of the ridgeway.