For information about up-to-date requirements in terms of travelling to the UK please see www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/before-you-leave-for-the-uk.

‍Arriving and departingBack to top

All students are asked to arrive between 2 and 5 pm on the day the course begins. After registration is completed, a light meal and orientation will precede the start of the course.

The course will end at approximately 7:30 am on the last day of the course. All new students, as well as old (returning) students taking a full course, are required to remain until the very end of the course. Part-time old students will not be permitted to leave on metta day, the tenth full day, except in case of emergency or by prior arrangement with the assistant teacher(s).

There are several routes to the centres. All routes will eventually take you either to Ross-on-Wye (7 miles), Hereford (10 miles) or Gloucester (25 miles), the three nearest towns/cities.

The Vipassana Trust organises a direct coach service from Gloucester to Dhamma Dīpa/Dhamma Padhāna on the starting and finishing day of every course. Otherwise you can use a bus or taxi from either city (details below).

‍Travelling from inside the UK

‍By carBack to top

1. From London, take the M4 to Junction 15 (Swindon), then the A419/A417 to Gloucester.
2. Join the A40 to Ross-on-Wye but avoid the town centre; instead follow directions to Hereford on the A49.
3. From the North, take the M5 and M50 to Ross-on-Wye.
4. From the roundabout west of Ross-on-Wye where the A40 and A49 meet, take the Hereford road.
5. After about four miles you will reach Harewood End.
6. Drive through the village and then take the second left turn, which is about one mile further on. It is a slightly concealed turning signed to Pencoyd near the bottom of a small hill. (If you reach the left turn to Hay-on-Wye, B4348, you have gone too far.)
7. Proceed, ignoring other signs, to Pencoyd and after one mile, at the second crossroads, turn right at the sign for Dhamma Dīpa. (See the map)

There is plenty of car-parking space at the centre.

‍SatNavBack to top

The best postcode to get you close to the centre is HR2 8NG. You will get the best results with these coordinates: Latitude: 51.937 / Longitude: -2.718 (equivalent to North 51 degrees 56 minutes 2 seconds, West 2 degrees 43 minutes 0 seconds).

‍By coach or train Back to top

1. Coaches and trains run regularly to Hereford and Gloucester from towns and cities throughout Britain, and some coaches run to Ross-on-Wye. A special onward coach service direct to the meditation centres runs from Gloucester, as described below.
2. If travelling to Gloucester – coaches should be booked to “Gloucester” rather than “Gloucester (Longlevens)”.
3. From London, there are trains from Paddington station to Hereford either directly or via Newport (3 hours), and from Paddington station to Gloucester either directly or with a change at Swindon (2 hours).

‍Direct bus from GloucesterBack to top

The Vipassana Trust organises a coach service on the starting and finishing day of every course between Gloucester and Dhamma Dīpa/Dhamma Padhāna. The coach leaves at 3:30 pm from Gloucester railway station. (Note that this is not Gloucester Road Underground station in London.) The driver will be standing outside the coach with a “Vipassana Meditation” sign. The railway station is 100 metres’ walk from the town’s coach station.

At the end of the course there is a return journey leaving the centre at 9 am and arriving at Gloucester railway station around 10 am. At the end of three-day courses the coach leaves at 5 pm.

The fare for a non-refundable return (two-way) ticket is £16.50. This is payable online by credit card, debit card or PayPal. No single fares are available.
You will need to show your ticket to the coach driver.

Ticket booking closes at 10 am, one day prior to the start of the course. If you have not booked a ticket by then, you will have to use a local bus or taxi.

For return journeys to Gloucester, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Heathrow etc., you can also share a local taxi with other people at a preferential rate (and at a different time from the return coach). More information will be put up on the last day of the course, when you will be able to make arrangements.

For long courses only (twenty-, thirty-, and forty-five-day courses) there is also a coach service on the day before the start day of the course, leaving Gloucester later in the afternoon. You will be given details about this by email after you have been accepted on your course.

If you wish to buy a ticket for the Gloucester coach service, please visit: dipa-padhana.fikket.com

Please do not contact the centre directly about this coach service – if you have any questions about travel to the centre, please email [email protected] 

OR – having arrived in:

1. Gloucester, take the number 33 local bus, which goes to Ross-on-Wye and then, after a short wait at Ross-on-Wye, continues on to Hereford. If you are travelling on Sundays, bank holidays or later in the evening, the bus is the number 32.
2. Hereford, take the number 33 local bus towards Ross-on-Wye and Gloucester. If you are travelling on Sundays, bank holidays or later in the evening, you need to take the number 32.
3. Ross-on-Wye, take the number 33 local bus, which goes to Hereford. If you are travelling on Sundays, bank holidays or later in the evening, the bus is the number 32.

From either direction on the 33 or 32 bus, ask to be let off at the Harewood End Inn bus stop.

‍Collection from bus stopBack to top

The local bus stop is Harewood End Inn.

On the starting day of courses, the centre car will come and pick you up from the Harewood End Inn bus stop. Please do not attempt to walk from here.

In order to arrange this, please call the centre before getting on the bus (in Hereford or Gloucester) on 01989 730234 or use the freephone number 0800 9177377 to tell the centre managers what bus you are arriving on, so that a car can be ready to collect you. If you don’t have a mobile/cell phone you can use any public phone using the freephone number 0800 9177377 – no cash or card required. If you are unable to call before getting on the bus in Gloucester or Hereford, you can use the public phone booth when you arrive at Harewood End Inn bus stop, which is located opposite the Harewood End Inn. However, please be warned that it may not be possible for centre staff to arrange an immediate pick-up at short notice, meaning there may be a delay in picking you up.

Please do not disturb the owners of the Harewood End Inn or the neighbouring homes by asking to use their phone, and please wait for the centre car on the opposite side of the road from the inn.

‍By taxi Back to top

There are arrangements with local taxi companies to offer special rates for people coming to Dhamma Dīpa or Dhamma Padhāna from various points on the journey, long or short-distance. 

They will meet people at any UK airport (at Heathrow, for example, for £135), or at the train or bus stations at Gloucester (£50), Ross-on-Wye (£30), Hereford (£20) or other towns such as Bristol, Birmingham or Cardiff.

Taxis should always be booked in advance to avoid an initial delay in the pick-up. The companies have a variety of different-sized vehicles, so if more than one person books a taxi at a similar time of day they will group them together so the cost can be shared.

For more information or to pre-book a taxi contact:

• S&R Taxis on +44 (0)1989 566246 / 566100 for taxis to/from Ross-on-Wye and Gloucester
• Blue Line Taxis on +44 (0)1432 343435, www.blueline-taxis.co.uk for taxis to/from Hereford/Gloucester/Ross-on-Wye, other nearby towns and all UK airports. For further information and prices click here.

If you prefer not to share a taxi please notify them at the time of booking.

‍Travelling from outside the UK 

‍By air 

‍Flying into Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff Back to top

Airports at Birmingham (BHX), Bristol (BRS) and Cardiff (CWL) are close to the centre and coach/rail connections are available from them to Gloucester or Hereford.

‍Flying into LondonBack to top

London has five main airports:

1. Heathrow (LHR west)
2. Gatwick (LGW south)
3. Stansted (STN north-east)
4. Luton (LTN north)
5. City (LCY east/central)

Heathrow is closest and most convenient for Dhamma Dīpa/Dhamma Padhāna.

Flights to Stansted and Luton are usually less expensive, although the extra distance will add a few hours to your journey.

National Express Coaches run regularly between airports.

‍Flying into Liverpool or ManchesterBack to top

Airports at Liverpool (LPL) and Manchester (MAN) have low-cost airline flights from the continent. Rail connections are available to Hereford.

‍Onward travel from the airportsBack to top

‍From Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff airportsBack to top

National Express Coaches offer services from these smaller airports to Gloucester. Go to the National Express Coaches website to find coach times.

Birmingham airport has its own railway station – Birmingham International station – from which you can catch a train to Gloucester or Hereford. You may need to change at Birmingham New Street.

From Bristol airport there is a coach to Bristol Temple Meads railway station from where there are regular trains to Gloucester.

Cardiff airport: a rail link connects Rhoose Cardiff airport station to Cardiff Central station. There are regular trains from Cardiff Central to Hereford and Gloucester. For further information about trains, see the National Rail Enquiries website.

‍Coach from the London airportsBack to top

The simplest and cheapest way to get to Dhamma Dīpa/Dhamma Padhāna from London Heathrow is by coach. Coaches run from other London airports to Heathrow, at least once an hour. See the National Express for coach times to Gloucester.

Please note: a return ticket only costs a little more than a single, and considerably less than a single each way.

Heathrow Central Bus station is located between Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and above the Underground railway station. To get there from Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 there are free underground rail services called Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect.

‍Trains from Liverpool and Manchester airportsBack to top

Both airports have local stations with single-change rail services to Hereford. There is a good service back from Hereford to Liverpool airport on a Sunday morning.

For further information about trains, see National Rail Enquiries.

‍By EurostarBack to top

Eurostar trains from Paris, Lille and Brussels arrive in London at St Pancras International station.

From central London, trains travel from Paddington to Gloucester or Hereford (see National Rail Enquiries). The Circle line of the Underground (the Tube) connects St Pancras to Paddington.

Alternatively, from Victoria coach station you can catch a National Express coach to Gloucester or Ross-on-Wye, or one of the cheap services offered by Megabus between Victoria coach station and Gloucester.

To get from St Pancras to Victoria coach station, take the Underground (Victoria line) to Victoria railway station. Note that the coach station is about ten minutes’ walk south of the railway station along Buckingham Palace Road.

‍Return journey Back to top

It is sometimes possible to get a lift by car with other students.

At the end of the course there is a coach service leaving the centre at 9 am and arriving at Gloucester railway station around 10 am.

At the end of three-day courses the coach leaves at 5 pm.

The fare for the Gloucester coach service is £16.50 per person. This covers travel to and from the centre. Single (one-way) tickets are not available.
If you wish to buy a ticket for the Gloucester coach service, please visit: dipa-padhana.fikket.com

For the return journey to Gloucester, Ross-on-Wye, Hereford or Heathrow after your course, you can also share a local taxi with other people at a preferential rate at a different time. More information will be put up on the last day of the course, so you will be able to make arrangements then.

Public transport for courses ending Monday–Saturday is reasonably good. Local buses run from the Harewood End Inn bus stop to Hereford and Gloucester.

On Sundays public transport is poor, with local buses not starting until the end of the morning. For the times of coaches to Heathrow leaving from Gloucester, visit National Express.

‍Contact Details Back to top

Day 0 bus pick-ups from Harewood End:
+44 (0) 800 9177377 (free from phone box)

For general use:
+44 (0)1989 730234

If you have any questions about travelling to the centre, please email:
[email protected] 

‍Lift sharing Back to top

Info for Dhamma Dīpa or Dhamma Padhāna

‍Useful links Back to top

Coaches
National Express
Megabus

Trains
National Rail Enquiries  + 44 (0)8457 48 49 50
Train Line  +44 (0)871 244 1545

Local Buses (32 & 33)
Timetable / +44 (0)1432 260211

Taxis
S&R Taxis (for Gloucester and Ross-on-Wye):
+44 (0)1989 566246 / 566100

Blue Line Taxis (for Hereford and UK Airports):
+44 (0)1432 343435
www.blueline-taxis.co.uk

Google Map