I'm teaching 7 US college students in Oxford this summer. I'd like to take them to Gloucester on a day trip to tour the cathedral. Any suggestions about the best way to get there? Cost is a factor.

topping

Swanbrook Bus Services (www.swanbrook.co.uk) used to run direct buses. Now you've asked the question, I realise they don't seem to say "Gloucester" on the front these days. The company's still going, but the idle sods haven't bothered updating their web site recently: probably too busy whingeing they don't get enough subsidy. Try emailing them to be sure, but I'm pretty sure they no longer go all the way.

Pity, because the simplest alternative - the 90 min each way train journey via Didcot (www.nationalrail.co.uk) - is remarkably dull, skirting all the nice countryside. And, Cathedral apart, Gloucester has limited visitor attractions, although there's some interest in observing how it's possible to build such extraordinarily hideous modern buildings so close to the city's lovely medieval bits.

In your shoes, I'd think of hiring a minivan and driving leisurelily through the Cotswolds, stopping off at a few village pubs, or going via Cirencester for the Roman mosaic museum. Or get the Swanbrook bus between Oxford and Cheltenham (where it certainly DOES go), give a quick tutorial on the rise of 18th century spas and their 20th century replacement as job creators by spying (the main employer in Cheltenham), and then get a local bus on to Gloucester. www.transportdirect.info for most bus timetables. Use the "door to door", NOT "coach", option.

PS A survival hint. Don't ask a question as vague as "what's the best way?" if you're setting yourself up to do grown-up teaching in Oxford. The natives get VERY uppity about that sort of thing.

I also would definitely consider renting a van. Otherwise you have a very long roundabout journey on trains/buses just to visit the Cathedral. Driving yourself gives you a chance to make a full day of it visiting other sites and seeing the countryside. And a 1-day rental will cost less than 8 train tickets for sure.

I've just had a look at the Swanbrook site following CotswoldScouser's link above and the number 53 service does run from Oxford to Gloucester. You'll be needing the 8.40am service from the lay-by at the south end of St Giles (their timetable refers to it as the Taylorian which is building on the corner, your students will know of it through the two evening Kebab Vans that appear there after 6pm).
However if the budget could stretch to the hire of a self-drive 8 passenger vehicle then it would save alot of time.

Sorry, ignore that. Read the timetable wrongly.

Thank you!

Here's another idea to make up for my confusion about Swanbrook's timetable earlier.
This is in case you didn't want to drive. There is a tour company in Oxford called Cotswold Roaming. They have minibuses from 7 to 15 seats. Now, if you chose a midweek day to go and they were not too busy with their advertised tours (one of which is a Gloucester and Tintern Abbey trip on Tuesdays) they could give you a price that could be acceptable to you. However, I don't have a website for them but I'm sure you'll find a link on the various Oxford tourism sites.