Dear Colleagues,

 

The UK is delighted to host the 21^st meeting of EURAPS, and the first on this side of the Channel. Those who have visited the City of Manchester before, or read about the dark Satanic Mills will not recognise this world city which has been completely reconstructed in the past decade to become an outstanding centre for education, innovation and sport, supported by modern architecture, designer shops and outstanding restaurants.  The best legacies of the Industrial Revolution and the Arts and Crafts Movement remain in museums, galleries and many traditional buildings.

 

There are direct flights from every major European city and credit-crunch-budget airlines via the adjacent airport at Liverpool. Hotels ranging from 5 star to budget options (check our list for recommendations and discounts) are situated within a short walk from the conference centre which will be the internationally renowned Bridgewater Concert Hall.

                                     

 

 The opening ceremony at the Victorian Gothic styled Manchester Town Hall will provide an introduction to the city and the conference.

 

The gala dinner will be at the hospitality suite at Old Trafford, the home ground of Manchester United Football Club, preceded by an atmospheric tour of their Trophy Museum. The party on the final night will merge local tradition with a strongly European theme, in a weatherproof venue-just in case.

 

 

 

Manchester has the UK’s largest University, which together with our Major Hospitals has been awarded Academic Health Science Centre Status, one of only 5 UK centres considered to have world class standing in medical innovation. Playing to the strengths of this enormous bioscience activity the customary refresher course will be replaced by an instructional day  ‘The Science which will change your practice-now’ (May 27^th) delivered by a range of world class speakers.

 

For those wishing to prolong their stay, Britain offers some of its finest scenery and historical architecture within 90 minutes of the city; to the north, the Lake District; east lies York, west to Chester, North Wales and the Snowdonia National Park, and to the south England’s most outstanding stately home, Chatsworth. And Scotland is not too far away!

 

We look forward to welcoming you to Manchester for an exciting, informative, and enjoyable meeting.

 

Gus McGrouther