Location

The address is:

Sibford School
Sibford Ferris
Near Banbury
Oxfordshire
OX15 5QL

Google map

The emergency contact telephone number is: 01295 781215 (please ask friends and family to avoid calling you unless it is very important).

Dates and Times

The full 10 day retreat runs from Tuesday 22^nd December to Friday 1^st January.

If you are attending the first five days only, please arrive on Tuesday 22^nd.

If you are attending the second five days only, please arrive on Sunday 27^th.

Whichever day you are arriving please try to be there in good time for the evening meal at 6:00pm – preferably at least an hour or so before the meal.  If you intend to arrive after 6:00pm then please let us know in advance so that a meal can be saved for you.On the day of departure you will be leaving around 12pm. If you want to plan your return journey by public transport, make sure your departure time from Banbury is after 1pm.

Travel

By car

 
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There will be a minibus meeting the following trains at Banbury Station. There is no need to book in advance on this minibus:

Tuesday 22^nd December

Leaving London Marylebone…………….13.50…………Arriving Banbury……………….14.57

Leaving London Marylebone…………….14.50…………Arriving Banbury……………….15.57

Leaving London Marylebone…………….16.00…………Arriving Banbury……………….17.03

Sunday 27^th December

Leaving London Marylebone…………….13.50…………Arriving Banbury……………….15.01

Leaving London Marylebone…………….14.50…………Arriving Banbury……………….16.04

Leaving London Marylebone…………….15.57…………Arriving Banbury……………….17.06

Train times correct at time of writing.

If you are arriving at a different time then taxis are available from Castle Cars (01295-264774) who are very near to the station.  The taxi fare from Banbury Station to Sibford School is approximately £13 and the journey takes about 20 minutes.

Coach

If you want to travel by coach, National Express have several coaches leaving from London Victoria arriving at Bridge Street in Banbury, a short walk away from the train station, from where you can catch the minibus at the times shown above.

Lift Sharing

If you are driving and would like to offer a lift to fellow retreatants, or you would like a lift, you might like to use Freewheelers. This is a good way to share travel costs, meet other retreatants and reduce traffic. It is completely free to use. All you need to do is register with your name and e-mail address. ‘Peace is a Fire’ has been set up as an event on the site, and you can post requests or offers of lifts on there. (The Events page takes a few moments to load). Please follow the following link:

 www.freewheelers.co.uk/LBC_2009_winter_retreat_at_Sibford

You will need to bring toiletries, a towel and comfortable clothes to meditate in and a note book and pen to keep a meditation journal. There will be optional yoga sessions on the retreat and you will need clothes for these if you’d like to participate in them.  If you have your own yoga mat and belt then please bring these along.  The countryside around where we will be staying is beautiful – so you’ll need suitable clothing for going on walks and maybe some boots.

A swimming pool may be open for retreatants on some of the days of the retreat so bring a swimming costume if you would like to swim on those days.

 
Payment

 
Further information and contact

Communal living is an important part of the ethos of the retreat, but if you require a single room for medical reasons, or you are a particularly heavy snorer, there are a very limited number of single rooms available. To request a single room please e-mail Manjusiha at manjusiha@lbc.org.uk.

If you have any queries about your booking or any special dietary needs please contact Sanghadasa on 0208 70 999 77 or e-mail him at sanghadasa@lbc.org.uk.

If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to contact us.

 
Retreat reunion

There will be a reunion for all the retreatants at the London Buddhist Centre on Sunday 24th of January, from 10am to 5pm, which you are very welcome to come to.  There will be no charge for this reunion, but please bring a vegetarian lunch to share.