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Frequently asked questions about the RGS Explore Weekend

Thinking of attending the RGS Explore Weekend? Get detailed answers to your questions and concerns right here.

RGS Explore Weekend FAQ: your questions answered

I want to attend the Explore Weekend, but I don’t live in London and I’m concerned about costs. How can I make it affordable?

The Society acknowledges the financial and other obstacles preventing many who would benefit from attending the Explore Weekend from doing so.

To that end, we have made efforts to bring down the cost to delegates, including offering discounts for students and concessions (email explore@rgs.org to enquire), and arranging discounted accommodation.

For eligible teams and individuals facing multiple access barriers, we offer a limited number of RGS Explore Weekend Participation Bursary awards.

We hope this helps, but we also know it isn’t everything.

If you’re finding the cost of train travel to London prohibitive, try searching for advance fares rather than open returns, travelling during off-peak hours on weekdays, splitting a single journey across multiple tickets with TicketySplit, or getting together with other attendees for group discounts. If you are on the east coast main line, try Lumo instead of National Rail.

Long-distance bus travel is often much cheaper than train. Try Megabus (who also sell cheap train tickets) or National Express (who also offer group and student discounts).

If you are part of a group or know other nearby attendees, and you have access to a vehicle, consider car-pooling, either informally or via a platform such as BlaBlaCar.

More general advice on affordable UK transport can be found on the MoneySavingExpert website.

Don’t forget that your RGS Explore Weekend ticket includes many of your meals for the weekend, including lunches on both days, and refreshments throughout the Saturday and Sunday programme.

Finally, if you are attached to a professional, educational or research institution, don't forget to check whether some or all of your conference costs might be eligible for reimbursement.

Will it be possible to watch recordings of the talks and workshops after the event?

All of the main stage sessions will be professionally recorded and made available online shortly after the event for all delegates to watch or listen to at their leisure.

Most breakout sessions will also be recorded for catch-up viewing after the event using webcams and conference microphones. Breakout session recordings are intended to help attendees access content from sessions they could not attend because of programme clashes. Availability will be time-limited and restricted to attendees only. Recordings will be edited for content, and audience participation will not normally be included.

Fellows and members of the Society can access main-stage recordings both for several previous years’ events, as well as an extensive back-catalogue of Monday night lectures. Thanks to the diverse and changing speaker line-up (browse past Explore speakers), becoming a member significantly expands the breadth of knowledge available beyond the Explore Weekend itself.

Find out more about this and other benefits of a Society membership.

I’m not planning a specific project yet, but I am interested in getting into expeditions and field projects. Is the Explore weekend for me?

Absolutely, yes – in fact, many celebrated expedition and field projects of recent years began as a glint in a delegate’s eye at a past Explore Weekend. But don’t take our word for it – here’s a direct quote from one of 2023’s delegates:

It has opened my mind to a huge range of possibilities and avenues. I suddenly have faith that I can pursue what I am interested in and make it happen.

Watch or listen to video testimonials from other past attendees to get a deeper flavour of what to expect.

Can I attend any of the Explore Weekend events online?

While the Monday night lectures before and after the RGS Explore Weekend are live-streamed and available on demand to RGS members as part of their membership benefits, the magic of the Explore Weekend lies in the coming together of diverse people and ideas.

For that reason, while the main stage talks are professionally recorded and made available online to delegates, the Explore Weekend currently remains an in-person-only event – for many attendees, it is the sole annual opportunity to meet many of their peers and to make new connections in an area of work characterised by spending long periods of time in remote locations.

Indeed, we would suggest that you consider the Explore Weekend to be a unique opportunity to share the room with a rare concentration of like-minded people, as much as it is an introduction to the realm of expeditions and fieldwork.

Watch or listen to the experiences of a diverse range of past attendees, or browse the profiles of the speakers and experts you might find yourself sitting next to.

I’m neither a professional, student, nor academic – I just love adventure! Will my crazy idea fit in here, and will the advice be relevant?

Expeditions are often defined as 'journeys with a purpose' – and at the Explore Weekend you will find that there are as many purposes in the room as there are attendees.

Some of our delegates will indeed be planning field science and institution-backed research projects, but you will meet many others with ambitions to pursue a huge diversity of adventurous undertakings. Watch or hear what past attendees had to say about their Explore Weekend experiences.

In other words, if you have a passion for exploration and discovery in the outdoors, then – no matter your background, experience level, or motivation, nor where you want to go or what you want to do – the chances are you’ll fit right in at the RGS Explore Weekend.

I like the look of some of the sessions, but others don’t seem relevant. Will alternative activities be on offer?

Activities on offer throughout the Friday are designed with first-time attendees in mind, including free building tours, orientation sessions, extended opening hours for the Foyle Reading Room where our unique archive of expedition reports may be consulted, and introductions to accessing and using the Society's vast collection of over 2 million maps, journals, artifacts, and other items spanning more than 500 years.

The weekend programme begins on Saturday morning by introducing some of the lenses through which to view expeditions and fieldwork and continues in the afternoon with workshops on aspects of planning and logistics.

The Sunday morning workshops focus on the many ways to inject purpose into your journey, while the afternoon sessions cover the art of engaging others with your stories and findings.

In parallel with programmed sessions, there are communal spaces within the historical Lowther Lodge which are open for delegates throughout the weekend, whether to hold one-to-one conversations or spontaneous side meetings, to browse the exhibitors’ stands or items on display from the Society's Collections, or simply to reflect and recharge.

And if you need a change of scenery at any point during the weekend, the Society building looks out over Hyde Park in one direction and the world-class museums of South Kensington in the other.

Is it possible to attend just one day of the weekend for a reduced price?

The Explore Weekend programme has been carefully refined over many years to deliver value across both full days. You’ll find that the workshops and sessions mirror common aspects of all expeditions, field research, and purposeful travel projects, including not just planning and logistical considerations, but effectively achieving your objectives and telling engaging and important stories on return.

For that reason, we strongly encourage you to consider attending both days of the Explore Weekend – you might just meet your next expedition partner or project funder at the coffee stand or Explorers’ Bar!

If you’re simple unable to attend both days, however, please contact us on explore@rgs.org for information on reduced-rate day tickets, of which a limited number are available.

May I attend only the Friday evening public event without buying a weekend ticket?

Yes. Some of the Explore 50 celebrations on Friday are free to attend, while others require an additional ticket. The Explore 50: Five Decades of Discovery talks and the Explore 50 Anniversary Dinner must be booked separately and are not included in the Explore Weekend ticket.

Please check the individual event listings for booking requirements and ticket information.

Can I get a discount on Explore Weekend tickets?

Members and Fellows of the Society benefit from reduced-rate tickets for the Explore Weekend (as well as many other benefits). Discounts are also available for students and concessions – please contact us on explore@rgs.org for details. We shall also consider individual cases where financial hardship is a factor.

Will you be repeating the Explore Weekend on another date?

The Explore Weekend has traditionally been an annual event – indeed, 2026 will mark the event’s 50th consecutive year!

And while it will never be possible to choose a date that will perfectly satisfy every potential attendee, late autumn has proven the best compromise for expeditions and field projects originating in the UK that see their planning phases occurring over the winter months and are launched in the northern hemispheric spring or summer of the following year.

In short, we will indeed be repeating the Explore Weekend on another date: approximately one year later, when many of this year’s delegates will return to share their stories and findings with another new cohort of budding explorers.

In the meantime, why not browse our events listings for additional exploration-themed events that might whet your appetite?

Can you recommend affordable nearby accommodation for the weekend?

London accommodation can be expensive, particularly in South Kensington, so we recommend exploring different options and booking as early as possible. Previous Explore attendees have found plenty of ways to keep costs down, including the options below.

  • Stay with friends or family: If you know anyone in London or the surrounding area, staying with friends, family or fellow Explore attendees can be a great way to keep costs down. It's worth asking around before booking paid accommodation. You may be surprised who has a spare sofa!
  • Consider a hostel: Based on feedback from previous attendees, the following hostels are popular, affordable options within walking, cycling or a short tube journey of the RGS. These offer a range of dormitory beds and private rooms, with dorms usually being the lowest cost option:
  • Look beyond South Kensington: If you would prefer a hotel or private room, consider broadening your search beyond South Kensington, where prices are generally higher. Earl's Court and Paddington can offer better value while still providing convenient access to the RGS. Paddington is particularly worth considering, as there is often more availability and is around a 30 minute walk through Hyde Park to the Society, a scenic route to start the day. Try searching sites such as Hotels.com and Booking.com to compare options in the area.

  • Explore Weekend Participation Bursary: If the cost of attending is a barrier, eligible students and early career explorers may be able to apply for our Participation Bursary, which includes accommodation, travel costs and a weekend ticket.

Please note that attendees are responsible for arranging their own accommodation. We cannot make bookings or provide individual accommodation-matching services.

How accessible is the venue and programme?

Except for the Council Room, all of the spaces used during the Explore Weekend are wheelchair-accessible (though some may require taking a circuitous route). The Ondaatje Lecture Theatre (where the main stage sessions are held) has an induction loop, but workshop sessions take place in spaces that do not currently have this facility. Talks recorded during the event are published online as videos with closed captions in addition to an audio track.

Read more about accessibility during visits to the Society. If you have any questions whatsoever, please contact us on explore@rgs.org

Can my dietary requirements be catered for?

Meals provided during the weekend include vegetarian and vegan options. Some of these meals can be made gluten-free on request. Snacks during refreshment breaks typically consist of fresh fruit and biscuits/pastries.

If you are gluten intolerant or have any other requirements, please indicate 'other' and include details when submitting your delegate questionnaire so that we may liaise with our catering team.

While we will do our utmost to accommodate all requests, there may be cases where we recommend you bring your own food to be certain of your needs being satisfied.

Is food and drink included in the weekend ticket price?

Yes – as well as hot and cold drinks and a variety of snacks during breaks in the programme, lunches on both Saturday and Sunday are provided.

In addition, the Friday and Saturday evenings will see the return of the Explorers’ Bar, where speakers and delegates gather to let off steam. A complimentary glass of wine is included in the ticket price.

The Saturday evening meal for Explore Weekend delegates traditionally takes the form of a mass 'expedition' to the nearby branch of Wagamama on Kensington High Street (attendance is optional!).

Bringing your own water bottle and/or travel mug for hot beverages is encouraged and will help us both reduce waste and save energy.

What is your strategy for making the Explore Weekend’s sustainable?

It is important acknowledge the inherently problematic nature of in-person events that consume resources and require many attendees to make long journeys to attend.

And while the Society’s commitment to tackling issues of sustainability is enshrined within our strategy, we have for many years taken pragmatic steps to reduce the environmental impact of Explore Weekend itself, including:

  • Minimising waste by reducing or eliminating printed materials, packaging and single-use items, reusing items such as lanyards and name pouches, and recycling all other materials where possible,
  • Helping delegates and speakers to make informed choices about their mode of transport and associated carbon emissions, and to maximise the effectiveness of their time at the event,
  • Incorporate into the programme a running theme of environmental responsibility and sustainable practice in the projects that are presented, developed and discussed throughout the weekend.

There is always more to do, and we welcome your innovative ideas – email explore@rgs.org

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