EAACI congresses now attract more abstracts and free communications than any other allergy congress worldwide, so we will make a special effort to ensure that everyone who presents new work at EAACI will get the opportunity both to present their work and to take part in discussions with colleagues and experts in their respective fields.

London is a great city: it is not just the capital of the UK, but a cosmopolitan hub for trade and communications, with a vibrant local culture, which is enhanced by the many expatriate and ethnic groups who make London their home. This diversity gives London an unparalleled variety of cultural activities, and a vast variety of restaurants, museums and galleries. Whether your tastes are for clubs, theatres, opera, urban parks or local pubs, there is something for everyone here. And yes we even have great restaurants!

When you think of London, many of you will think of the classic sights of the West End – Buckingham Palace, the Royal Parks, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, or the shops of Bond Street, Regent Street and Oxford Street. Strictly speaking, these are all in the City of Westminster – London consists of two cities which have merged: the City of Westminster and the City of London, which is based around St Pauls Cathedral and the Tower of London. And there are many, many things to see in the East End of London, where our congress will be based.

Over the past 25 years the old commercial districts and dock installations of the East End have been transformed and revitalised. The financial district has left the marble halls of the “square mile” and moved to the glass and steel skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and the surrounding area. New communication links have extended the underground and overground railways, building towards the 2012 Olympic Games.

EAACI 2010 will be held at the new ExCeL exhibition and convention centre. ExCeL has its own stations on the Docklands Light Railway, and is conveniently positioned for access via London City airport. For those who want to stay in the West End, access is via the new Jubilee underground line, which allows large parts of London to be within 30 minutes travel time of ExCeL.

EAACI 2010 is hosted by the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology, and as EAACI 2010 is also the BSACI Congress for 2010, there will be some specific British elements, including our regular lectureships, and an emphasis on the interactive sessions and practical workshops that we expect in the BSACI annual meeting.

Many of you will have been to London before: for those that are frequent visitors, you will know how much there is to see and enjoy here; for those that have not visited recently, I promise that you will be amazed at how the East End has been redeveloped.

June is a great time to visit the UK. Join us at EAACI 2010: you will be made most welcome, and who knows, you may even get to like the beer!

I look forward to welcoming you to London next June.