How to get to Oxford

Visit our How To Get To Oxford page for full details on the best ways to get to the city.

Planning a journey on public transport in the UK

  • Google maps (for public transport and car journey planning)
  • Traveline (for public transport journey planning)

Getting around by bus

The main bus companies in Oxford are:

Visit their websites for a detailed list of their bus services, up-to-date timetables and fare information.

We encourage people coming into Oxford to use the Park and Ride service.

Stagecoach's X5 service offers a regular service to Bicester Village, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. This service leaves from Oxford Bus Station at Gloucester Green. Visit the X5 website for more information.

For more information on nationwide coach travel, visit the National Express website.

Getting around by train

Visit the National Rail Enquiries website to plan your train journey and look at train times and fares. Alternatively, you can call National Rail enquiries on 08457 484950.

Oxford Train Station 

Services from Oxford Train Station include:

  • Regular services between Oxford Train Station and London Paddington. 
  • Regular service between Oxford Train Station and London Marylebone via Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village.
  • Services to the south (e.g. Basingstoke, Southampton and Bournemouth) via Reading. 
  • Services to the West Country and Wales changing at Didcot or Reading. 
  • Services to the north (e.g. Manchester) via Banbury and Birmingham New Street.

Oxford Train Station is located on Park End Street next to the Said Business School and is operated by First Great Western. Visit the Oxford Station Facilities page on the National Rail Enquiries website to see details of facilities and passenger services offered at the station.

Oxford Parkway 

Services from Oxford Parkway (station opened October 2015 at Water Eaton Park & Ride near Kidlington) include:

  • Regular service between Oxford Parkway and London Marylebone via Bicester Village.

Oxford Parkway is located at Oxford Parkway Park & Ride, near Kidlington and is managed by Chiltern Railways. Visit the Oxford Parkway Station Facilities page on the National Rail Enquiries website to see details of facilities and passenger services offered at the station.

Getting around by taxi

Hackney carriages are available at taxi ranks around Oxford, including the bus station at Gloucester Green and the train station. These are the only vehicles licensed by the Council that can legally stand and ply for hire in Oxford. Any other vehicle you hail may be dangerous and uninsured for public hire.

We also licence a number of private hire vehicles in the city. These vehicles should not be hailed in the street and should be pre-booked. For names and contact details of taxi firms in Oxford, please see our List of Approved Operators.

Getting to London

First Great Western operate a frequent direct train service from Oxford to London Paddington (approximately every 30 minutes).

Stagecoach run a 24 hour bus service to London called the Oxford Tube that leaves from the Oxford Bus Station at Gloucester Green. Visit their website for timetables and a full list of where each bus stops.

Getting to airports

For Heathrow and Gatwick, the Oxford Bus Company runs a frequent bus service called The Airline. Visit their website for timetables and fares.

National Express service 757 runs a direct bus service between Oxford and Stansted. Visit the National Express website for full details. You should also visit this website for services to Luton Airport.

Both of these services leave from the Oxford Bus Station at Gloucester Green.

There is a direct train from Birmingham International to Oxford. Visit the National Rail Enquiries website for timetables and fares.