Being an ancient city, Oxford can be tricky to navigate at first – but you’ll get the hang of it fast (plus it’s always cool to discover the hidden alleyways of Oxford). Here are some popular ways, aside from walking, to get to and around Oxford.
Within Oxford
Bike
Oxford has many bike lanes and parking spaces (although not so in the city center), so bikes are a popular way to get around town. Do get a helmet and lights (the latter is legally required) if you’re biking around Oxford. There are lots of shops for new and old bikes alike, and a good used bike will set you back around £100-£150. These are some places we recommend, which has new and old bikes, accessories, and bike maintenance services.
- Walton Streets Cycle (Jericho): new and used bikes, bike accessories and maintenance.
- Summertown Cycles (Summertown)
- Broken Spikes Bike Co-op: a non-profit that has refurbished bikes and bike training.
Bus
A cheap and convenient way to get around Oxford – these run regularly until 1am. One trip within the larger Oxford Smart Zone is at a £2 flat rate, payable by cash, credit/debit card, or mobile tickets. This can get you pretty much most places in Oxford. Most buses go through 2 main roads, Banbury and Woodstock Road, which are by St Anne’s main site and Robert Saunders House (RSH) in Summertown, and starts/terminates at City Center on Magdalene Street or the train station.
Many bus companies operate in Oxford, all with their own apps, but all routes and mobile tickets are interchangeable. We recommend the Oxford Bus Company or Stagecoach’s apps. The apps provide options for yearly student bus passes and block tickets at discounted rates. They also have up-to-date bus departures and journey-planning services, which are generally more reliable than Google Maps.
Taxis / Car Services
Another way to get into or around town is by taxis and car services, which is especially useful if you’re carrying stuff with you. These companies all have their own Uber-like apps, although unfortunately, Uber won’t work here. Some popular companies are:
- 001 Taxis
- A1 Taxis (bookable on mobile devices through the FreeNow app)
- Royal Cars
Voi E-scooters share
A new and increasingly popular way to get around town is by using ride-sharing services. However, this requires that you have a driver’s license that is valid in the UK (it need not be a UK-issued license). E-scooters from Voi are plenty, with parking locations near St Anne’s main site and Robert Saunders House. They are quick and relatively affordable for short rides, but beware that parking spaces may be limited during rush hours and the city center has many roads off-limit to Voi.
To/from London, other cities, or airports
Trains
The train is the most convenient way to get around the UK, although often requires a quick stop in London. Oxford’s main train station is located near the Said Business School.
There are trains to/from London roughly every 30 minutes, either to Paddington Station (faster – about 50 minutes) or Marylebone Station (slower – about 80 minutes) until about 2am. You can buy tickets online or at the station.
As s student, you can obtain a RailCard for a small yearly fee, which gives you access to heavily discounted train tickets (an off-peak day return ticket will only cost a bit more than the bus), and the London Tube. It is well worth the initial investment, especially if you’re traveling to London often. There are also other various promotions that RailCard holders can get (similar to an ISIC card).
Coach buses
Oxford’s main bus terminal is located in Gloucester Green in the city center.
The Oxford Tube (confusingly named) is a 24/7 bus service to/from London, which departs every 20-30 minutes and takes about 2 hours if there’s no traffic (big IF). The bus also stops in East Oxford. This is the cheapest option to go to London.
There are also regular bus services to/from Heathrow and Gatwick airport operated as “The Airliner,” and these depart every 30min or so from the main bus terminal, making stops in East Oxford.