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Our sites and facilities

The Institute of Cancer Research offers some exceptional academic and recreational facilities for students across its two London sites – in Chelsea and Sutton. A regular shuttle bus service transports ICR students between the two sites for free.

The ICR's Sutton campus

Chelsea site

The Chelsea site is based in the heart of Central London and has excellent public transport links, with both South Kensington and Gloucester Road underground stations located very nearby.

The purpose-built Chester Beatty Laboratories building in Chelsea is home to the Breakthrough Toby Robins  Breast Cancer Research Centre and the Divisions of Breast Cancer Research, Cancer Biology and Structural Biology. Scientific facilities at the Chelsea site include the supercomputing, microscopy and mass spectrometry laboratories.

The site contains meeting rooms of various sizes, lecture theatres for internal and external seminars, and a PhD study room which can be used by students for quiet study. A staff restaurant (for staff and students) serves hot and cold food, snacks and drinks throughout the day. There are also several coffee shops, cafes andrestaurants, within walking distance.

As there is no dedicated gym at the Chelsea site, the ICR will subsidise membership at a sports centre or gym for staff based at Chelsea (see staff intranet page for more details).

The administrative headquarters of the ICR can be found on Old Brompton Road, a 5-minute walk from Chester Beatty Laboratories. This building houses administrative teams involved in academic services, communications, finance, fundraising, HR and IT.

Getting here

The Chester Beatty Laboratories are on Fulham Road, roughly a 5 minute walk from South Kensington Underground station. Our Corporate Headquarters on Old Brompton Road are a 5 minute walk from both South Kensington and Gloucester Road Underground stations.

There are cycle racks and showers available at both the Chester Beatty Laboratories and the headquarters on Old Brompton Road. The ICR also provides a bike loan scheme for staff in conjunction with Evans Cycles (see staff intranet page for more details).

Chelsea site map and directions

Sutton site

The Sutton site is close to the beautiful countryside of the North Downs, and has good transport links to Central London, with Belmont and Sutton stations close by.

There are a number of purpose-built laboratories housed at the Sutton site. These include laboratories for the Divisions of Cancer Therapeutics, Clinical Studies, Genetics and Epidemiology, Molecular Pathology, and Radiotherapy and Imaging. Academic facilities at the Sutton site include chemistry labs, medical imaging equipment, microscopy labs, an extensive research library, and centres in which clinical trials are conducted.

The Sutton site contains meeting rooms of various sizes, lecture theatres for internal and external seminars, and a PhD study room which can be used by students for quiet study. A staff restaurant (for staff and students) offers hot and cold food, snacks and beverages. The Royal Marsden is also located nearby, with a canteen, shop, cash machine, and Boots pharmacy, that ICR staff and students are welcome to use.

The Sutton site has some excellent recreational facilities including: a gym which is free for staff and students; and a Sports and Social Club which has a bar, squash court, and a large sports hall. Membership of the club is free to all staff and students (although there is a small charge for some activities).

Staff working at the Sutton site have access to child places at the Royal Marsden nursery (subject to availability) and discounted places on local holiday play schemes (see staff intranet page for more details).

Getting here

The Sutton site is one mile from Sutton station, served by the Thameslink line and by Southern Trains from London Bridge and London Victoria. A regular shuttle bus service transports ICR staff and students to and from Sutton station to the Sutton site for free.

There is limited car parking for staff. The application form and criteria for consideration for a staff parking permit can be downloaded from the Site Management (Transport) staff intranet page.

Cycle parking can be found adjacent to the ICR stores outside the Brookes Lawley Building lower-ground floor. The ICR also provides a bike loan scheme in conjunction with Evans Cycles (see staff intranet page for more details).

Sutton site map and directions

MSc teaching venue

The majority of teaching for the MSc in Oncology takes place off-site in a conference facility, CCT Venues Smithfield

MSc students are welcome to use the ICR's library in Sutton. There is also the 'MSc Library', located in the main teaching space, which holds a small number of core texts. See our MSc 'Location and resources' webpage for more details.

Site map and travel directions