Tours London to Oxford/Blenheim
 

Will be in London in April for all too short a visit but would like to see Oxford and Blenheim. Can anyone recommend a tour company or suggest best way to do this. Would probably be a day trip only. Thanks!

Pat, just catch a train to Oxford, much more comfortable than a bus and only a fraction of the cost of a tour and much faster. There are buses that tour around the city once you are there. Peg.

Peg, thanks for suggestion. Once in Oxford, would you be able to tell me easiest way to get to Blenheim? Thanks, again.

Pat, <BR>Here's a bit more detailed information. You can take the train from Paddington Station to Oxford. It's about a 50 minute ride. Ask for a cheap day return ticket which steeply discounts the normal cost. There is a tour bus company (Green and Yellow bus tours) at the Oxford train station. It features a guide and you can hop off and on a subsequent bus at your liesure. There is another tour company using minivans located on Broad Street. It's "Spires & Shires", 4 Walton Well Rd Oxford OX2 6ED,tel: 0865513998; fax: 0865791469. This company offers daily half day tours to Blenheim as well as walking tours of Oxford. Reservations should be made in advance. The Blenheim tour bus meets the tourists at the Oxford train station who have departed Paddington at 8:20AM.

Here's a little more on Oxford sightseeing <BR> <BR>For transport to Oxford you can also take a bus (coach) from Victoria Station for the Oxford bus station daily about every 20 minutes, trip takes about 1 ¾ hours. Phone in London 01990/808080. <BR>There is also the "Oxford tube", an express coach with a 90 minute trip. Every 20 minutes, 24 hours per day. Call in London 011865/772250 <BR> <BR>The Oxford tourist information centre is at the Old School Glouscester Green, opposite the bus station. The telephone number is 01865/726871. They sell maps and brochures, tee shirts, and can book hotels for a fee. <BR>Open Mon-Sat from 9:30 am to 5; Sunday and bank holidays in summer from 10-3. The walking tours of selected colleges leave daily at 11am and 2pm. They do not include Christ Church or New colleges. <BR> <BR>Guide Friday, office at the Oxford rail station, call 01865/790522 offers one-hour open top bus tours around Oxford. Call for seasonal schedules. <BR> <BR>The Oxford Story, 6 Broad Street phone 01865/790055 has an audio visual presentation of Oxford. Daily 10-4:30. Family rates available. <BR>

Wes, can you still buy a cheap day return for the 8:20 train? Thought it was afer 9:00 or so. Thanks.

Pat, <BR>You're right. The cheap day return is only available for trips after 9 or 9:30AM. <BR>

Pat, a friend and I went to Oxford and Blenheim in September, and we enjoyed it immensely. We did as others said: bought a cheap day ticket at Paddington after 9:30. When we got to Oxford (an hour's ride and interesting to see the countryside), we asked at an information booth about the bus to Woodstock (Blenheim Palace town) and they gave us directions. (It's about three blocks.) The bus leaves every half hour, the it's a short ride (about 6 miles). There is a bus stop directly in front of the palace. We spent a couple of hours there, but you could easily spend longer, as there's much to see. When you return to Oxford, you could take the guided bus tour of the city. It will probably be a long day if you want to really see Oxford.

Pat, Absolutely do follow these terrific instructions and "do it yourself". I was not as wise and booked a one day tour. Most of the time was wasted driving through the countryside and stopping in a "quaint" tourist village to shop and eat lunch. Time spent in Oxford was rushed and superficial, and could have used extra time at Blenheim as well as there was an extra tour of the private residence offered but we didn't have enough time. Never again! Do it yourself, save a bundle, and have a much better time.