Visit Oxford by Train
Find out about trains to Oxford, how to get great discounts on your travel, and top offers on things to do when you get there
Welcome to Oxford
Nicknamed The City of Dreaming Spires, Oxford is famous worldwide for having the oldest English-speaking university in the world. It also has 2 rivers running through it, the Cherwell and the Thames (known as the Isis where it passes through the city), and an impressive collection of gardens, libraries and museums.
Find out more about travelling to Oxford by train below, along with everything you need to know about the town. Discover all the best things to do and places to visit in Oxford – and don’t forget you can save money on your train travel with a Railcard.
By taking the train you are also helping to lower carbon emissions. And, if you require additional support when travelling, the Passenger Assist service can help you.
If you fancy travelling a bit further afield, you can also visit our Day Trips from Oxford by Train page.
How to get to Oxford by train
Oxford has 2 stations:
Oxford: This is Oxford’s main station. There are regular direct trains to and from many destinations, including Birmingham, Manchester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Sheffield, York and Newcastle. If you’re coming or going from London Paddington or London Marylebone, there are direct services each day
Oxford Parkway: For trains to and from Oxford and London Marylebone
You can plan your Oxford train journey, find the cheapest fares and book tickets online with our Journey Planner.
Fastest journey times to Oxford by train
From | To | Journey time from* |
|---|---|---|
London | Oxford | 45 min |
Manchester | Oxford | 2 hr 48 min |
Edinburgh | Oxford | 5 hr 47 min |
Birmingham | Oxford | 1 hr 6 min |
* Please note, some journeys will take longer and you may have to change trains
Get great offers on top Oxford attractions
Visit National Rail’s Days Out Guide(external link, opens in a new tab) for more great offers when you travel by train.
2FOR1: Oxford Castle and Prison
Discover 1,000 years of Oxford’s history as you climb the Saxon St George’s Tower, descend deep underground into the Crypt, explore the Prison D-Wing and scale the Mound of the 11th century motte-and-bailey castle
2FOR1: The Story Museum
This most unusual museum in the heart of Oxford celebrates the power of stories to teach and delight, with gallery and activity spaces to encourage visitors of all ages to lose themselves in their imagination
15% OFF: Oxford Official Ghost Tour
Meet the ghosts of Oxford! Our spooky and knowledgeable guide will take you from the darkest alleyways to the bright lights of the colleges
15% OFF: CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien Oxford Tour
Explore the inspiration of authors CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, whose fantasy masterpieces are interwound with Oxford and its university
15% OFF: Oxford Official University and City Walking Tour
Explore Oxford University Colleges and the Dreaming Spires, with expert guides to walk you through the stories of the city’s most famous colleges and landmarks
15% OFF: Oxford Official On Screen Tour
Oxford naturally lends itself as a stunning backdrop for big and small screen. Visit some of the locations from the over 40 movies and 7 TV series filmed in the city
Free things to do in Oxford
Enjoy a stunning collection of scientific objects, instruments and materials at the History of Science Museum(external link, opens in a new tab), including a blackboard used by Albert Einstein when he gave at lecture in Oxford
Visit the Ashmolean Museum(external link, opens in a new tab), the oldest university museum and home to collections that range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art
Take a stroll around the Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum(external link, opens in a new tab), home to over 5,000 different plant species
Walk along the river, stop off at a pub or have a picnic in one of the lovely University Parks(external link, opens in a new tab)
Accessible Oxford
If you require assistance for any part of your rail journey, please visit our Passenger Assist page to find out more
To search or browse accessible attractions, restaurants, hotels and more, visit the AccessAble website(external link, opens in a new tab)
Theatre and shows in Oxford
The New Theatre Oxford(external link, opens in a new tab), the region’s largest entertainment venue, offers West End musicals, opera, dance and music and has hosted everyone from Laurence Olivier to Bob Dylan
Catch a play, a musical or comedy at Oxford Playhouse(external link, opens in a new tab), which has seen John Gielgud, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith tread the boards
Pegasus(external link, opens in a new tab), home to Oxford’s youth theatre, prides itself on cutting-edge productions for young people
Music in Oxford
The Jericho(external link, opens in a new tab) is a corner pub with a beer garden and a reputation for putting on brilliant live acts, including Radiohead’s first ever show
Watch a band at The Bullingdon(external link, opens in a new tab), an independent live venue that also has indie and house club nights
The O2 Academy(external link, opens in a new tab) has hosted the likes of Ed Sheeran, Stereophonics and Ozzy Osbourne
LGBTQIA+ Oxford
Every year, Oxford hosts its annual Pride Festival(external link, opens in a new tab)
Glamorous(external link, opens in a new tab) hosts award-winning drag artists from around the world
Oxford’s premier LGBTQI+ bar and club, Plush(external link, opens in a new tab), is in the heart of the city
Oxford in film and TV
Oxford is a popular shooting location for many film and TV shows. Get 15% OFF the Oxford Official On Screen Tour (external link, opens in a new tab)with National Rail’s Days Out Guide.
Many scenes in the Harry Potter films were shot in the Bodleian Library in Oxford University
The Riot Club, a film about privileged students behaving badly, was filmed around the city
The Theory of Everything, in which Eddie Redmayne played physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking, was partly shot in Oxford University
Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour were shot in and around the city
Find out more about Oxford
Go to the Visit Oxford website(external link, opens in a new tab).
Get 1/3 off train fares with a Railcard
Save up to 1/3 off your trips when you travel by train with a Railcard
From children to seniors, over 20 million people in Great Britain can save with a Railcard. See which one is right for you
Buy yours today for just £35 and you’ll make the cost back in 1 or 2 trips!
Journey times and offers are correct at time of publication but subject to change.
History of Science Museum credit: Ian Wallman, © University of Oxford
New Theatre image credit: © Hugh Warwick
Jericho Tavern image credit: © Zach Beauvais licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Oxford Pride image credit: © Gazamp licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Bodleian Library image credit: © Diliff licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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