[HECnet] Joining HECnet

Hi, I have 20 years experience of PDP-11s and RSX-11M in particular which I haven't used much since 2000, so I have decided to brush up again and have spun up a couple of RSX-11M-PLUS 4.6 nodes in simh. They are happily chatting away over BQ-IP and LAT and I guess the next stage is to request a connection to HECnet. My two geographically nearest node areas are Northolt (UK) and London (UK) - both within 30km of me. It looks like Northolt area 29 (Keith Halewood) might have a main routing node. London is in area 8 with admin Sampsa Laine. I'm just wondering if either of these areas allow new connections ot what is the best way to go? Many thanks Peter Whisker Addlestone, Surrey UK.