Is it easy to get from Gatwick to Oxford by train? I want to drive in the Cotswolds by picking up a car in Oxford. Does this sound sensible to those who are familiar with the area?

Last time I did this, I took a train to London Victoria and then from there (Victoria coach station is just two minutes away from the rail station) took a bus to Oxford, where I too rented a car.

Train and bus service for both segments is quite frequent.

Note that as I recall there is also direct bus service from Gatwick to Oxford, but at the time of my trip that bus service was only once every two hours. Also as I recall going by train only all the way was more trouble than it was worth.

There are direct trains from Gatwick to Oxford at 9:46 and 14:51 M-F. Otherwise you have two choices: via London which involves a transfer from Victoria Station to Paddington Station, or else via Reading.

There are no longer direct trains.

THE easiest way is the hourly FGW train from Gatwick to Reading, with a same-platform connection to Oxford. Journey time 2 hrs.

Although buses from London to Oxford are terrific, buses from Gatwick to London are dreadful. Since Britain has always been run by Oxford graduates, the roads from central London to Oxford have been built to allow the young gentlemen a swift return to college after a night's carousing in the big city. Decent roads to the southern suburbs (where Gatwick lies) were never built, since that would encourage the oiks living there to come into London, so the journey takes forever and often even longer.

My American son is studying at Oxford as for two terms. He took a bus from Gatwick to Oxford. He said it was easy to get the bus, and the trip was a little over two hours. The bus stops several places in Oxford, also stopping at the main bus terminal, where there are taxis close by to take you to your final destination.

Gatwick is an easy airport to drive out of. I would just get the car there and not hassle with the train.

"Musicteacher" is correct. There are still direct trains, but they are not the quickest. The 0946 gets to Oxford at 1202. If you leave Gatwick at 1003 and change at Reading, you still get to Oxford at 1202. The trains via Reading run every hour and must be the best way to go.

question for flanneruk? How do we get from the Cotswolds to Gatwick Airport by train?? Moreton-in-Marsh to...? Reading then?? And how long of a trip would that be? We'll be leaving, I assume, from Moreton-in-Marsh station, the nearest station from our location, Chipping-Campden

Use www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.bahn.de.

You can go from Gatwick to Oxford for 20 pounds by bus, or 23 pounds round trip. You can go via London, or directly to Oxford. It takes approximately 2 hours, buses leave every hour. The bus company is Oxford City Link and it serves both the North and South terminal. their web address is www.theairline.info/1hr-tt.htm