Welcome to the Accio 2005 Frequently Asked Questions page

This page lists common questions about Accio 2005 and their answers. If there is something you’d like to know that isn’t covered here don’t hesitate to contact info@accio.org.uk.

• What is Accio 2005?
  • Accio 2005 is a 3 day conference taking place in Reading from the 29th to the 31st of July 2005. It is an unofficial, non-profit making, friendly event that will bring together academics and adult Harry Potter fans to discuss all aspects of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. For further details of what's on in Accio 2005 check out the events page.
• When and where is it?
  • It's at Reading University in England from Friday the 29th of July 2005 to Sunday the 31st of July 2005.
• How do I get to Accio 2005?
  • Reading University maintain a page containing links to maps of the campus, and links to explanations of how to get there by road and by rail here. London Heathrow is the closest international airport.
• Why is Accio 2005 in Reading?
  • Reading is a sizable UK town, well served by road and by rail. It is close to Heathrow airport and not far from Gatwick airport; making Accio 2005 readily accessible from Continental Europe or further afield. Reading also houses a campus university which makes it a great conference venue. Reading itself is a historic town with many literary associations, most notably Jane Austin's schooling and Oscar Wilde's incarceration. Though Reading suffered from unsympathetic building in the 1970s, it is an easy journey to many fabulous Harry Potter sites:
    • 10 miles to Bracknell where they filmed 4 Privet Drive
    • 45 mins by car from Virginia Water where scenes filmed from PoA were filmed.
    • 1 1/2 hours from Tutshill in the Forrest of Dean where JKR spent much of her later childhood.
    • 2 hours drive from Gloucester where some of the Basilisk and cloister shots were filmed.
    • And 15 mins by train to Oxford where they used the quad at Christchurch College and the original Dining Hall (and Oxford's dripping with Lewis Carroll, JRR Tolkien, and Philip Pullman sites).
    
• What is the club and club membership about?
  • Attendance at Accio 2005 is paid for by joining the club of the same name. This is a payment model successfully used at several UK fan conventions for other genres, so we are reusing it. Details of club membership are available in the registration section of the site.
• What does my money buy me?
  • Details of what is covered by the conference registration are available here. Any surplus funds will be donated to the National Literacy Trust.
• How does Accio 2005 relate to
  • Witching Hour / Convention Alley / Nimbus 2003?
  • HPeF?
  • Harry Potter Educational Fandom Inc. is an American non-profit corporation dedicated to excellence in Harry Potter events. They have organised two great events in the USA:
    • Nimbus 2003 in Orlando during July 2003 and
    • Witching Hour in Salem during October 2005.
    Another excellent conference, Convention Alley in Ottawa during July / August 2004, was organised outside HPEF affiliation. Though these conferences are international, due to travel costs etc they are not well attended by UK or Continental European fans and academics. We are organising Accio 2005 to give a local event for such fans and academics (while those from further afield are welcome too). Although we have the blessing of HPEF, Accio 2005 is not officially organized, affiliated, or endorsed by them.
• Are under 18s allowed to come?
  • Unfortunately people under the age of 18 are not able to attend Accio 2005.
• Who are the guest speakers going to be?
  • We are delighted to announce the first two guest speakers for Accio 2005: Elizabeth Kay and Steve Vander Ark.

Send an eCard from the Accio Post Office!