A stunning flying saucer-shaped building housing a large particle accelerator can be found not far from Didcot, and it opens to the public for free tours a few times a year.
Diamond Light Source – Google Satellite view
Known as a synchrotron, it’s a large particle accelerator, but rather than smashing atoms together to study them, as at CERN, it generates powerful light beams that can probe the interior of materials. In essence, a very large and very powerful X-ray machine. That doesn’t use X-rays.
Of importance to science and commerce, the huge facility is a wonder of big machines used to study the microscopic. The entire facility sits in a huge silver ring building in the countryside.
A visit is to see some very big science at work.
As the synchrotron is pretty much in use all the time, tours are limited to occasional open days, and the next one will be on Saturday 21st March 2026.
A visit will take approximately 2/2.5 hours and will consist of:
An introductory talk giving a general overview of Diamond and how it is used.
A guided tour – including a trip to see inside the synchrotron and the laboratories – note that extensive walking will be involved.
An opportunity to talk to Diamond employees and ask them about their work and the facility.
Due to high demand, places are allocated by ballot — and you can apply for up to free tickets here. Closing date for applications is 15th February, and you will be informed if your name came up about a week later.
The full details are here.
I visited in 2010 and had a great time.
To get to Diamond Light Source, if coming by public transport, buses from Didcot rail station to Harwell Campus run every half hour on bus routes X34 and X35, with journey times of around 35 minutes to Harwell.
