Oxford visitor information

An Introduction to Oxford

Oxford is a beautiful yet vibrant city on the Thames. Its famous university has given the city much of its exceptional architecture and its rich cultural heritage: over 900 buildings are listed as having historic or architectural merit, all located within a square mile. Oxford has had a role in educating four British, and at least eight foreign kings, 47 Nobel prize-winners, three Fields medallists, 25 British Prime Ministers, 28 foreign presidents and prime ministers, seven saints, 86 archbishops, 18 cardinals, and one pope. 

Things to do in Oxford

Oxford is home to many museums including, the Ashmolean Museum which is a world renowned museum of art and archaeology, The Pitt Rivers Museum containing Archaeological and ethnographic objects from all parts of the world, the museum of Oxford, the Museum of the History of Science - an unrivalled collection of historic scientific instruments in the world's oldest surviving purpose-built museum building and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History which houses the University's scientific collections of zoological, entomological and geological specimens. The university is also home to he oldest botanic garden in Britain.

Getting to Oxford

By Air

London Heathrow and Gatwick airports are linked to Oxford by The Airline coach service, which operates a direct frequent service twenty-four hours a day and are over an hour by car.

By Rail

A direct service operates between Oxford and London Paddington (approximately every 30 minutes), and between Oxford and Birmingham New Street via Banbury and Coventry. Other services operate from the north via Birmingham New Street; from the South via Reading; and from the west via Didcot or Reading.

By Coach and Bus

Frequent 24-hour direct services connect Oxford with London. The Oxford Espress service includes Victoria Coach Station, Grosvenor Gardens, Marble Arch, Baker Street/Gloucester Place and Hillingdon. National Coaches arrive at Gloucester Green Coach Station in the city centre. The main bus operator in the city is the Oxford Bus company.

By Car

The best way to travel by car from the south is to use the M40, from the north the M40 us also used and the A34. Oxford is over an hour from London.