Getting to Oxford

Alert We aim to keep the information on this page up to date, however this might not always be possible and therefore you must make sure you plan your trip in advance. Due to improvement works on Oxford Rail Station, Botley Road in Oxford will be closed until further notice. This may affect your journey to campus. Also, if you are travelling by train, make sure you check the National Rail website for travel disruptions.

Read about the National Rail Disruptions

Oxford is about 80 kilometres from London (Heathrow Airport) and further from Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports, the sea ports and central London. If you prefer to travel by public transport, these directions will help you travel to Oxford.

Travel from UK airports

London Heathrow Airport

The Airline coach runs to and from Heathrow central bus station (which is a short walk from Terminal 2 and 3) and Terminal 5. If you need to move to or from Terminal 4, there is a free underground which connects Terminal 4 to Terminals 2 and 3. Please note that Terminal 1 is currently not in use.

Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in London and it can be confusing to move from one terminal to the other. However, there are several tools to help you navigate the airport and plan your arrival. Check the Plan your journey webpage on the Heathrow Airport website. It will help to have a look in advance to the interactive maps or to download the Heathrow app. You can find more information on the Travelling from Heathrow Airport to Oxford Guide.

Make sure you check the Airline timetable for Heathrow Airport when planning your trip. The Airline coach runs frequently 24 hours a day and stops outside the main University campus (stop B4 on Headington road).

It takes between 70 to 90 minutes to reach Oxford (depending on traffic conditions). You can buy your tickets online before you travel or with cash from the bus driver. Tickets from Heathrow to Oxford cost £25. You can make contactless credit/debit card payments up to £100. If the cost of your ticket purchase will be more than this, please ensure you have enough cash or buy your tickets online before you travel.

You can get off the Airline coach at several bus stops in Oxford. One of the bus stops is just outside the main Oxford Brookes campus in Headington. You can get off there and take a taxi to your accommodation. Alternatively, you may prefer to get off at the last stop in Oxford, called Gloucester Green, and take a ‘black cab’ taxi to your accommodation. There is a taxi rank next to the Odeon Cinema. If you are unsure, ask the coach driver.

London Gatwick Airport

The Airline coach runs from both South and North Terminal coach stations. It runs more or less every hour during the day and every 2 hours overnight. It takes about 2.5 - 3 hours to reach Oxford, depending on traffic. The buses leave from outside the terminal buildings. You can find detailed information about where to catch the bus on the Airline website.

You can buy your tickets online before you travel or with cash or contactless payment from the bus driver. A single ticket to Oxford costs £30. You can get off the Airline coach at several bus stops in Oxford. One of the bus stops is just outside the main Oxford Brookes campus in Headington. You can get off there and take a taxi to your accommodation. You may prefer to get off at the last stop in Oxford called Gloucester Green and take a ‘black cab’ taxi to your accommodation. There is a taxi rank next to the Odeon Cinema. If you are unsure, ask the coach driver.

London Luton Airport

If you are arriving at Luton airport you can book coach tickets to Oxford with the National Express coach company. The bus leaves from just outside the terminal building and stops in Oxford city centre - Gloucester Green. From there you could take a ‘black cab’ taxi to your accommodation.

There are direct coaches (service 737) or you may need to take the National Express coach to Heathrow (service 707) and then change coach to the Airline coach (service OXF). Find more information about routes, fares and where to catch the bus from on the National Express website.

Direct tickets cost approx. £25. If you need to change at Heathrow the ticket could cost up to £58.20. We recommend you book direct tickets in advance on the National Express website.

London Stansted Airport

The National Express 737 coach runs direct from Stansted Airport to Oxford. Pre-booking is highly recommended as the coach is on a reduced service. Check the timetable and book in advance. The bus leaves from just outside the terminal building and stops The bus leaves from just outside the terminal building and stops in Oxford city centre - Gloucester Green. From there you could take a ‘black cab’ taxi to your accommodation.

Pre-booking is highly recommended, though you can buy a ticket from the driver on the bus if there is space. The journey takes approximately 3-4 hours from Stansted depending on traffic.

If you are unable to get the National Express, you can take the Stansted Express train from Stansted airport train station (within the airport terminal) to London Liverpool Street train station. At London Liverpool Street you should take the Underground to London Paddington train station. From London Paddington you can get the train to Oxford. Prices and journey times will vary. We advise you plan your journey using The Trainline to ensure that connecting trains to Oxford are available when your flight lands.

When you arrive at Oxford train station there should be taxis you can take to your accommodation directly outside the station.

Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport is connected to the Birmingham International train station which you can reach by the Air-Link. This takes about 2 minutes to get you to the station and it runs every hour between 3:30 am to 00:30 everyday. Outside of these hours you can reach the train station by walking or by taxi. Train services run regularly from Birmingham International station to Oxford. Please note that there is no train service overnight and we advise to plan your journey using The Trainline to ensure that connecting trains to Oxford are available when your flight lands.

When you arrive at Oxford train station there should be taxis you can take to your accommodation directly outside the station.

Southampton Airport

You can travel from Southampton Airport easily by train as this is connected to Southampthon Airport Parkway Station. Make sure you have a look at the information and timetables.

We advise you plan your journey using The Trainline and to ensure that connecting trains to Oxford are available when your flight lands.

When you arrive at Oxford train station there should be taxis you can take to your accommodation directly outside the station.

September 2024 guides

Travel from London and other UK cities

Details on how to travel to Oxford by:

Coach

The Oxford Tube coach service operates between London and Oxford. It runs every 10-15 minutes most of the day, every 20 minutes late evenings and hourly right through the night. Travel time 70-110 minutes depending on traffic.

You can buy tickets online or with cash from the driver. You do not need to book.

The bus stops outside the University, but if you are travelling with your luggage, you may prefer to get off at the last stop in Oxford called Gloucester Green and take a ‘black cab’ taxi to your accommodation. There is a taxi rank next to the Odeon Cinema. If you are unsure, ask the coach driver.

For all other cities, National Express and Megabus run coaches to Oxford.

Train

If you are travelling by train, Network Rail has announced that there will be work at the Oxford train station. Please check the Network Rail website for information when planning your travel to Oxford.

There are 2 train stations in Oxford:

Trains from London Paddington go into Oxford station run up to every 15 minutes during the day. The journey time is about one hour.
Trains from London Marylebone go into Oxford Parkway and Oxford station and run approximately every 30 minutes. The journey time is about 1 hour 20 minutes.

Please note that there are no trains overnight .Trains run throughout the country, some are direct trains and others will require you to change. We advise you to plan your journey using The Trainline to ensure that connecting trains to Oxford are available when your flight lands.

If you are coming into London via the Eurostar you will arrive at London St Pancras International and you will need to take the London Underground Tube to Paddington station, then get a train to Oxford.

Walk to Kings Cross Tube station. This is a very short walk via the subway and is well signposted.
From Kings Cross Tube station take the Circle line or the Hammersmith and City line to Paddington train station.
The Tube station is inside Paddington train station, follow the signs and go up the escalators and you will be in the main train station.
Direct trains to Oxford run approximately every 15 mins and the journey to Oxford is 50 mins- 1hr 10 mins.

You should buy your tickets online and download the app to access your tickets.

You can buy a 16-25 Railcard (also valid for mature students in full time education) to save 1/3 off fares.

From the train station, you can either get a taxi from in front of the main entrance of the station or take a bus. Our maps give details of the bus routes into and around Oxford. For the Headington Campus, please get off at Brookes University bus stop.

Taxi

Travel by taxis from other cities or the airports is expensive but many students use taxis for local journeys, especially if you have a lot of luggage or shopping. For longer journeys, we advise you to travel by coach or train. When you use a taxi, you might need to book in advance unless you use a ‘black cab’ taxi.

If you wish to travel to Oxford from an airport or from St Pancras International Train station by taxi, we strongly recommend you to book this service in advance. You can find a list of private hire taxi operators on the Oxford City Council webpage. By booking the service in advance, you will know how much the service will cost you and you will be able to compare the different services/fares that each company could provide you.

You can find below the average fare from the main picking up points in London to Oxford:

Heathrow Airport - £100
Gatwick Airport - £140
Stansted Airport - £150
Luton Airport - £120
St Pancras International Train Station - £140

Please note that the taxi company will add on the top of the fare the cost of the parking for the time the driver waited for your arrival. Make sure you ask about this cost when you book the service.

If you provide your flight number, most of the taxi companies will be able to track your flight so that the driver will be able to adjust the arrival time to collect you if there is any delay. This might save you extra waiting charges.

You might be able to share the fare with other people. Please check with the taxi company how many people can share the same journey and how many items of luggage can fit in the same vehicle.