Frequently Asked Questions

The Understanding Society Biosocial Conference takes place at Broadway House in London

Address | Tothill Street, SW1H 9NQ, London

We will be using the Stephenson Room, the Sutton Room and the Westminster Suite for our sessions. Lunch will be taking place in the Bank Dining Room.

Explore the venue

Click here to launch our interactive 3D tour and walk through the space at your own pace.

Accessibility

All the rooms are accessible via lifts. There are a few steps at the main front entrance. However, they do have an alternative step-free entrance located to the side of the building on Carteret Street.

Network: Broadway House Guest

Password: enjoyBH1!

The conference is free to attend,  you will need to pay for your own travel and accommodation.

Refreshments and lunch will be provided throughout the day, so please make clear if you have any dietary requirements.

ADDRESS:

Broadway House
Tothill St
Westminster
London
SW1H 9NQ

TUBE – Victoria is a short walk away, or a 10-minute taxi ride. Waterloo and Charing Cross mainline stations are also within walking distance or a 15-minute taxi ride away. St James’s Park tube station on the District and Circle lines, is directly opposite Broadway House. From London Liverpool Street the District and/or Circle line to St James’s Park is the best option.

CAR – There are parking bays right outside the venue, or the nearest carpark is five minutes’ walk from Broadway House.

TAXI – Black cabs are the best option if you want a taxi and are readily available to flag down in Tothill Street. There is also a nearby rank opposite the underground station.

A full presenters briefing will be sent to you by Jay James.

If you haven’t received this or have any questions, please email Jay directly (jolanda.james@essex.ac.uk)

External speakers play an important role in University life, giving members of our community an opportunity to have access to a broad range of ideas and opinions and supporting our students to make their own contribution to the University, which flourishes when new ideas are generated and different viewpoints are created.

We have a responsibility to protect academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law, and to ensure that a diversity of ideas and opinions can be expressed on our campuses and our online events. We have a vital role to play in convening difficult and sometimes uncomfortable conversations, and in curating the spaces in which ideas can be lawfully expressed and debated.

Our Code of Practice: Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech ensures we support academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law, while putting measures in place for consultation and counter-speech and making available support for members in our community who may find some lawful views objectionable or offensive.

For more information, please click here.

At Understanding Society we want everyone who attends our events to feel welcome and included. A short guide will tell you how we plan and deliver events that are accessible for everyone. You can find the guide here.

If you have specific accessibility requirements, please let Jay (jolanda.james@essex.ac.uk) know before the event. When you book your place at an event, you’ll be asked whether you have any additional needs that we need to take into account.

Read more about the venues sustainability here: Sustainable Venues | Embracing Sustainability

Understanding Society is hosting two workshops primarily aimed at social scientists who want to understand how to make use of Understanding Society’s genetic data and epigenetic data in their work. If you are interested in accessing and using the genetic / epigenetic data available from Understanding Society, then please do register for these courses.

Genetics for Social Scientists | 1 day in-person | 15 June 2026 | London | Register here

Epigenetics for Social Scientists | 1 day online | 11 November 2026 | Register here

If you are presenting and need to cancel, please contact Jay James (jolanda.james@essex.ac.uk), as soon as possible, as the programme may need to be adjusted.

If you have registered as a delegate and you are unable to attend, please let Jay know as soon as possible.

The deadline for cancellations is the 1st of October 2026.