Getting There & Getting Around

Getting There and Getting Around

Getting There

By Air

London Heathrow Airport is the UK's busiest international airport with connections to major cities around the world and is situated to the West of London with access from the M25 & M4 motorways. The airport is approximately 45 miles (72km) southeast of Oxford. The Oxford Bus Company operates a regular express coach service from Heathrow to Oxford which departs every 30 minutes during the day and every 2 hours overnight. The bus picks up at Heathrow central bus terminus and Terminal 5. Journey time is approximately 80 minutes.

Reservations can be made online at www.oxfordbus.co.uk or by calling 01865 785400.  

London Gatwick Airport is situated to the south of London of the M23 motorway 85 miles (136km) from Oxford. The Oxford bus company operates an hourly service to and from Gatwick's North & South Terminals during the day and two hourly overnight. Journey time is between 2 and 2 ½ hours depending on traffic.

London Luton Airport is approximately 40 miles (65km) to the East of Oxford and is a popular airport with charter airlines and low cost carriers. National Express operates up to 8 coach services a day from Oxford via High Wycombe. Journey time is approximately 2 hours. Reservations can be made online at www.nationalexpress.com

Birmingham International Airport lies 65 miles (104km) to the northeast of Oxford. National Express operates up to 6 coach services a day from Oxford and there is also a regular train service from Birmingham International station to Oxford. For information on train times visit www.nationalrail.co.uk

By Train

Oxford's Railway Station is approximately 5 minutes walk from the City Centre. There is a regular service to London's Paddington station operated by First Great Western Trains. Trains depart regularly about twice an hour during the day. Journey time between Oxford and London is approximately 1 hour depending on the number of stops. Additional services from Oxford extend to the Midlands and beyond. For full details and timetables check with national rail www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

By Bus

There are several bus companies operating services from to/from Oxford. The most popular route is between Oxford and London. Stagecoach, the Oxford Bus Company, National Express and the Megabus all offer services on this route.

From London, Oxford Tube operated by Stagecoach leaves Grosvenor Gardens near Victoria. There is a regular service throughout the day which stops on request at Marble Arch, Notting Hill Gate and Shepherd's Bush. For more details check online at www.oxfordtube.com or telephone 01865 772250.

The Oxford Bus company operates a daily service departing every 15 minutes from London Victoria Coach Station. This service also picks up at Marble Arch and Baker Street. Journey time is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. For more information check online at www.oxfordbus.co.uk or telephone 01865 785400.

National Express operates a nationwide network of coach services from Oxford and have an office at Gloucester Green Bus Station where all the major operators are based. For details of all National Express services to and from Oxford check online at www.nationalexpress.co.uk or telephone 08705 808080.

Megabus offer the lowest cost pre-booked fares between Oxford and London and offer a daily service departing every 20 minutes. Full details are available at www.megabus.com alternatively call 0900 160 0900.

By Car

Oxford is well served by road connected to the national motorway network via the M40 which passes 8 miles to the East of Oxford and connects to London and the Midlands. Driving time from Oxford to the centre of London is approximately 80 minutes but can take considerably longer at rush hour. Access from the M40 from London is via junction 8 and from the Midlands junction 9. To the West of Oxford is the A34 trunk road effectively becoming part of Oxford's outer ring road. The A34 connects the Midlands to the south coast cities of Portsmouth and Southampton.

Getting Around

Oxford city centre is pedestrianised with limited access to motor vehicles. Cornmarket in closed to all traffic from 10:00-18:00 along with the High Street 07:30-18:30. The western end of Broad Street is closed all day and night. Turl Street and Market Street are closed to all traffic except delivery vehicles. Buses in the city have priority over normal traffic and run along dedicated bus routes which are closed to other traffic.

Public Transport

Oxford and the surrounding area are well served by local buses operated by the Oxford Bus company, Arriva and Stagecoach. There is also a Park & Ride service operated by the Oxford bus company operating a shuttle service to/from the city centre from a number of large car parks situated at strategic points around the Oxford ring road. The bus companies offer a range of tickets including special day returns, family tickets and travel cards that offer unlimited travel around the city. Tickets can be purchased on board from the drivers, for full details of timetables and routes check online.

Park-and-Ride

Large areas of the City Centre are traffic free zones. To avoid high parking charges in the city centre consider taking the efficient Park-&-Ride service offered by the Oxford Bus Company. The service operates from a number of large car parks located near to the Oxford ring road which are colour coded and offers an efficient shuttle service to the city centre. There are 5 Park-&-Ride car parks each one colour coded;

Thornhill (yellow) in the east of the city for traffic arriving from the A40 from London.

Redbridge (red) in the south for traffic arriving by the A34 from Abingdon or the A4074 from Reading.

Seacourt (light blue) in the west for traffic arriving from the A420 or B4044.

Pear Tree (green) in the north west for traffic arriving on the A40 from Cheltenham or the A44 from Chipping Norton.

Water Eaton (dark blue) in the north east for traffic arriving by the A34 or A4260. Parking is free and buses leave to the city centre every 10-15 minutes. Fares are competitive and cost less than parking in the city and journey times take a 10-12 minutes. Full details are available at www.parkandride.net 

Cycling

Cycling is a popular way of getting around Oxford. In addition to the many cycle ways there are specific signs for cyclists diverting them away from the main traffic routes. Bikes can be hired from a number of outlets in the city and are equipped with a lock. Cycles can be hired from;

Bike Zone, 6 Lincoln House, Market Street, tel: 01865 728877

Cycle King, 128-130 Cowley Road, tel: 01865 728262

Cyclo-Analysts, 150 Cowley Road, tel; 01865 424444

Summertown Cycles, 202 Banbury Road, tel: 01865 316885

Warlands, 63 Botley Road, tel: 01865 241336

Taxis

Oxfords main taxi ranks are situated at Gloucester Green, St Giles, Broad Street and High Street. The one way system in Oxford means there is no easy way across the city to the railway station which means fares tend to be high. Taxis in the city usually charge a minimum of £2.

Taxi Companies operating in the city;

ABC Taxis                     Tel: 01865 770077

Euro Taxis                    Tel: 01865 430430

Oxford City Taxis          Tel: 01865 794000

Radio Taxis                  Tel: 01865 242424

001 Cars                      Tel: 01865 240000

24seven Taxis              Tel: 01865 722799