Oxford
 

I'm going to stay in Oxford for 3 days before we travel to London for 4. How should we get there from Hethrow? About how much would the train ride be? Any suggestions for places to go or things to see once we're there?
Thanks!

Ther is no train connection from LHR to Oxford. Train options would be a bus to Reading and a train to Oxford, or the Paddington Express into London and then a train from Paddington to Osfford.

But you can catch a direct coach from lHR to Oxford and not need to take a train at all. Cheaper by far and probably just as fast since there are no changes/transfers . . .

If you just want to take a train - I'd do the Paddington Express and then train to Oxford.

You can find useful information on these sites:

http://www.ox.ac.uk/visitors/

www.visitoxford.org

Take a walk for a while along the banks of the Thames and watch the crews out rowing

To go by train you take the Heathrow express into Paddington (? 20 minutes I think?) then a train from Paddington to Oxford (1 hour). This is the more expensive option as the Heathrow Express ticket alone costs more than the bus fare.

It is quicker and cheaper to take the bus from the Heathrow Bus Station to Oxford (it takes between 50 minutes and 1.5 hours depending on the time of day).

If you're determined to go by train and money is a significant consideration you can get the tube to Paddington then the train to Oxford, but this will take about 2.5 hours.

The train and bus stations are both quite central in Oxford.

Thanks everyone for all of the advice. Where in Hethrow can you get the bus? and where might one find that schedule and price list? Also, would it be less for a group of 3 or 4 to go by taxi? will taxi's take you there? do you need to call in advance for one?
thanks!

You can find out info regarding the bus from Heathrow to Oxford at:

http://www.baa.com/main/airports/hea...ere_frame.html

Click "coach" on the Left hand column. The bus is operated by National Express and leaves from the Central Bus Station at Heathrow (I believe it is walking distance from Terminals 1,2 & 3). There should be a kiosk there to sell you tickets. No need to buy in advance. The trip takes 1hr 10mins and costs £15 pp. It leaves every 30mins. So for 3 of you will cost £45. I don't know how much a taxi will cost, but I assume for a journey that far will probably cost more than £45.

Tickets are actually sold on the bus itself (the driver takes dollars or euros as well as real money): the bus starts at T4 , then goes on to the T1-3 Central bus station. It terminates at Oxford bus station, though it has a number of prior stops in Oxford which may be more convenient.

Oxford bus station is a painful schlep from the railway station if you have lots of luggage.

Although £14 single, it's only £15 return. Full details at www.theairline.info/lhr_tt.htm

Be careful of taxis. Black taxis off the rank at Heathrow will take you to Oxford, but are likely to run at least £100 (though negotiation on that route is possible). However if you speak to the people you're visiting, two things will happen:
- they'll politely express utter incredulity anyone would do the journey by any means other than bus
- they might volunteer a local company to whom you can then speak.