Getting to Oxford

The Airline coach runs from Heathrow central bus station and Terminal 5. Here is the Airline timetable for Heathrow Airport. The Airline coach runs frequently 24 hours a day and stops outside the main University campus (stop B4 on Headington road).

It takes between 70 to 90 minutes to reach Oxford. You can buy your tickets online before you travel or with cash from the bus driver. Tickets from Heathrow to Oxford cost £23. You can make contactless credit/debit card payments up to £100. If the cost of your ticket purchase will be more than this, please ensure you have enough cash or buy your tickets online before you travel.

If you arrive at:

• Terminal 2 or 3 - Take the Airline coach from Bay 15 at Heathrow central bus station. The bus station is located between Terminals 2&3 and is a short walk via the underground walkways. Follow the signs to Central bus station and wait for the coach at bay 15.
• Terminal 4 - Terminal 4 is currently a Red List Arrivals Facility. As such, follow the instructions given to you by the members of staff at the airport. The UK government will arrange transport to your quarantine hotel".
• Terminal 5 - The Airline coach stops at Terminal 5, you do not need to go to Heathrow central bus station. Walk to bus stop 10 on the arrivals concourse outside the terminal building.

You can get off the Airline coach at several bus stops in Oxford. One of the bus stops is just outside the main Oxford Brookes campus in Headington. You can get off there and take a taxi to your accommodation. Alternatively, you may prefer to get off at the last stop in Oxford, called Gloucester Green, and take a ‘black cab’ taxi to your accommodation. There is a taxi rank next to the Odeon Cinema. If you are unsure, ask the coach driver.

The Airline coach runs from both South and North Terminal coach stations. It runs every 2 hours between 06.00 and 02.55. It takes about 2-2.5 hours to reach Oxford, depending on traffic. The buses leave from outside the terminal buildings.

You can buy your tickets online before you travel or with cash  or contactless payment from the bus driver. The bus stops outside the University and you can call a taxi from there. You may prefer to get off at the last stop in Oxford called Gloucester Green and take a ‘black cab’ taxi to your accommodation. There is a taxi rank next to the Odeon Cinema. If you are unsure, ask the coach driver. .

If you are arriving at Luton airport you can book coach tickets to Oxford with the National Express coach company. The bus leaves from just outside the terminal building and stops outside the University and in Oxford city centre. If you are travelling with your luggage, you may prefer to get off at the last stop in Oxford called Gloucester Green and take a ‘black cab’ taxi to your accommodation.

There are direct coaches (service 737) or you may need to take the National Express coach to Heathrow (service 707) and then change coach to the Airline coach (service OXF). If you book with National Express, your ticket will include both of these journeys.

Direct tickets cost approx. £25. If you need to change at Heathrow the ticket could cost up to £51. We recommend you book direct tickets in advance on the National Express website.

The National Express 737 coach runs direct from Stansted Airport to Oxford. Pre-booking is highly recommended as the coach is on a reduced service. Check the timetable and book in advance. The bus leaves from just outside the terminal building and stops outside the University and in Oxford city centre. If you are travelling with your luggage, you may prefer to get off at the last stop in Oxford called Gloucester Green and take a ‘black cab’ taxi to your accommodation. There is a taxi rank next to the Odeon Cinema. If you are unsure, ask the coach driver.

Pre-booking is highly recommended, though you can buy a ticket from the driver if there is space. The journey takes approximately 3-4 hours from Stansted depending on traffic.

If you are unable to get the National Express, you can take the Stansted Express train from Stansted airport train station (within the airport terminal) to London Liverpool Street train station. At London Liverpool Street you should take the Underground to London Paddington train station. From London Paddington you can get the train to Oxford. Prices and journey times will vary. We advise you plan your journey using The Trainline to ensure that connecting trains to Oxford are available when your flight lands.

When you arrive at Oxford train station there should be taxis you can take to your accommodation directly outside the station.

Avanti West Coast Trains (formerly known as Virgin trains) run from Birmingham international train station every hour from about 06.00am to 01.00am but do not travel through the night. Travel time is about one hour. There is a free bus called Air-Link which takes you from outside the airport terminal to the train station.

A taxi rank is located at the front of the main entrance to Oxford station.

Avanti West Coast Trains (formerly known as Virgin trains) run from Southampton airport parkway station every 60 mins from about 06.00 to 22.00. Travel time is about one hour and ten minutes. You can walk from the airport to the train station. Information and timetables.

A taxi rank is located at the front of the main entrance to Oxford station.