abstract: Quantum networks have thoroughly been investigated as the paradigm for simulators, computers and sensors. Photonics architectures in particular are appealing due to the ease of manipulation, as well as the robustness of quantum signatures. However, realising a quantum network whose operating regime is outside what can be efficiently computed on classical machines is a goal yet to be achieved. In this talk we review the recent efforts which had been undertaken at the University of Oxford in order to develop the necessary building blocks, with a particular attention to the realisation of a boson sampling machine.