Venue Information

The University of Cambridge's reputation for outstanding academic achievement is well-known and reflects the intellectual achievement of its students, as well as the world-class original research carried out by the staff of the University and the Colleges.

The University is a confederation of Schools, Faculties, Departments and Colleges ^[1]. Nearly 21,000 people study at Cambridge; some 70% of UK applicants for undergraduate courses come from state schools^[2]. For 2022/2023 the University is proud to be offering the Cambridge Foundation Year, which is a unique course intended to provide a stepping stone to Cambridge for students who have been prevented from realising their potential due to educational disadvantage or disruption^[3].

The University sits at the heart of one of the world’s largest technology clusters, currently home to 5,200 knowledge-intensive companies and the birthplace of 23 businesses. Cambridge promotes the interface between academia and business and has a global reputation for innovation.

The LILAC 2023 conference will take place in the modern surroundings of the David Williams Building on the University of Cambridge’s Sidgwick Site. The building houses Cambridge’s Faculty of Law and the Squire Law Library. It was designed by the global architectural firm Foster + Partners and was officially opened on 8 March 1996 by HM Queen Elizabeth II. The building was named after Professor Sir David Williams QC LLD who was Rouse Ball Professor of English Law 1983-1992 and Vice-Chancellor of the University between 1989 and 1996. Among the many design features of the building are the open plan spaces, the atrium, the brilliant use of natural light and the curved glass facade on the north side. The state-of-the-art lecture halls are to be found in the lower ground floor beyond the atrium space. The Squire is situated on the top three floors of the building and delegates are very welcome to visit the library during the course of the conference so as to get a better appreciation of the architecture.

For information and interest, check the Faculty of Law website and the Squire Law Library.

Joining Instructions 

Joining instructions will be available a few weeks before the conference.

WiFi access at LILAC 2023

Eduroam access is available across Cambridge spaces and guest access to wifi can be arranged for delegates who do not have Eduroam access.

The University works in collaboration with AccessAble to enhance the existing provision of information on accessibility and the University estate for visitors.

Social Events at LILAC 2023

Networking Evening

The networking evening will be held at the University Museum of Zoology on Wednesday 18th April (18:00 – 20:00). Food and drinks will be provided.

Should you wish to extend your evening further, the city centre offers a wide range of places to eat and drink.

Conference Party

The conference party will take place on Thursday 19th April (19:30 – 23:30) and will be held at The Graduate. It is located in the centre of Cambridge, close to accomodation venues and transport links.

LILAC 2023 Library Tours, University of Cambridge

There are over 100 libraries in Cambridge and we are delighted to welcome LILAC delegates to visit our libraries.

Dedicated tours have been arranged around the conference, so that you can explore some of the richness of Cambridge Libraries. We have arranged visits to nearly 20 libraries, ranging from the main University Library, both older and newer colleges, and our Faculty and Departmental Libraries. You can visit them before, during and after the conference. We hope that you enjoy the opportunity to visit our spaces.

For a full list of libraries you can visit, download our draft conference programme.

Quiet spaces

• Selwyn College Gardens are lovely and very quickly accessible from the Sidgwick site (entrance just behind the Seeley Library)
• A walk along ‘the Backs’ is very easy to reach and takes you along the backs of some of the main ‘river’ colleges. Walk down West Road and turn left onto Queens Road which is ‘the backs’.
• A brief walk to Coe Fen (Coe Fen is a semi-rural meadowland area to the east of the River Cam) or to Lammas land is also an option. 
• Picnic area next to the University Library or anywhere in front of the UL is usually quiet with benches
• You can visit the Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics Library, where you can find a quiet space to regroup and gather your thoughts

LILAC Code of Conduct

All attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at our conference are required to agree to the LILAC Code of Conduct. The conference committee and organisers will enforce this code throughout the event. We are expecting cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.

^{[1] How the University and Colleges work
[2] Cambridge at a glance
[3] Foundation Year}