Oxford is approximately 60 miles away from London making it an ideal place to visit for a weekend escape from the big smoke or even just for a day. Whether you are coming to Oxford to look at the University, the Town or just to take the best walking tour in Oxford on TripAdvisor, the journey is certainly worth it! Despite the relative ease in getting to Oxford from London deciding the best way to get out of the city can be a daunting experience. There are numerous factors that must be considered such as traffic, price and even the weather! Don’t you fret however because Footprints Tours is here to provide you with all the information you need when you’re getting from London to Oxford.
Getting The Train From London to Oxford
Without a doubt the fastest way of getting from London to Oxford is the train. Trains run from Paddington Station to Oxford almost every half an hour and takes on average 1 hour to get to Oxford station. Oxford Station is located about a ten minute walk away from the City centre, making the train a convenient way to travel to Oxford. The route from the railway station to our meeting point at 5 Broad Street can be found just below.
Without a doubt the best time to travel is on the weekend as the cost of a return ticket is at its cheapest. However, with mandated price hikes every year, the train is not the cheapest way to get to Oxford and during peak times (6am – 9am and 4pm – 7pm Monday to Friday) is almost extortionate! The other catch is that there is the possibility that you may not get a seat, meaning that that hour journey could potentially be on your feet. Nevertheless, the train service to Oxford is mostly reliable and there is less risk of delay than taking the road. We recommend booking your tickets in advance of travel so as to ensure you get the fastest train at the best price!
Getting A Bus From London To Oxford
Oxford benefits from great coach connections, which leave from the heart of London regularly. Hands down, the best coach service is the Oxford Tube, which leaves from Victoria Coach Station at regular 15/20 minute intervals, depending on traffic.
The Journey takes approximately an hour and 40 minutes from Victoria but it stops in other parts of London along the way, such as Marble Arch, Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park. The cost is less than the train, costing £18 for an adult return and if you are planning on staying up late in Oxford, it runs through the night! The other benefit of the coach is that you are guaranteed a seat, so even when it is very busy you know you’ll be able to relax as you travel. The only real negative to the coach is the Oxford Traffic. The M40 can get very heavily congested and during rush hour you may need to add an extra hour on to your journey time!
The Oxford Tube stops just on the High street meaning that it takes just 5 minutes to get to our meeting point. A map from the stop can be found below
Driving From London To Oxford
If you are planning on getting from London to Oxford by Car, the first thing you need to know is that Oxford is a car unfriendly city. We really don’t recommend trying to park in central Oxford as the car parks cost a fortune and are limited in terms of how long you can actually remain there. Instead, we recommend leaving your car at the Park and Ride instead.
This allows you to leave your car on the outskirts of Oxford in a secure location for the whole day for roughly £2. Whilst there is the additional cost of the bus, this is still much cheaper than putting £4 in the meter every 2 hours in central Oxford! The best park and ride to visit when travelling from London is Thornhill Park and Ride, which is on the outskirts of the Oxford ring-road, off the A40. It is well signposted so very hard to miss!
Hopefully, with the knowledge above, you should now be well armed to tackle getting from London to Oxford! Naturally, we recommend that once you arrive in the city of Oxford, you take a 2 hour free walking tour with us so that you can get your bearings. All of our tours leave at 5 Broad Street (Fudge Kitchen) making it a really easy location to find, regardless of how you choose to get to Oxford!
Disclaimer: All facts above are correct at the time of posting. Footprints Tours accepts no liability for any disruption to travel directly or indirectly caused by the above article. Always check with the transport operator directly before booking transport links in order to receive up-to-date information.
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