Going On A Day Trip From London To Oxford

Are you looking for a day trip that combines history, charm and a touch of magic, all within an hour of London? Welcome to Oxford.

Oxford is one of the most popular day trips from London, and for good reason. Known as the City of Dreaming Spires, this beautiful university city offers cobbled lanes, grand college quads and a literary legacy that stretches from Tolkien to Harry Potter.

In Oxford you will find iconic buildings, riverside walks, bustling markets and more than a few places that feel as if they have been lifted straight from a storybook.

There are so many things to do in Oxford that you will not see it all in one day. But, a day is still enough to get a real feel for the city and tick off some highlights.

In this guide, I will show you how to make the most of a one day trip to Oxford. We will look at the best way to get there from London, how to plan your day, which colleges and museums to choose and a few ideas for where to eat before you head back to the capital.

You can also pair this guide with my full Things To Do In Oxford article if you decide to stay longer.

Getting To Oxford From London

There are a few different ways to reach Oxford from London, depending on your travel style. You can choose speed and comfort, budget friendliness or the freedom to stop along the way. I have used all of them over the years and each has its own pros and cons.

By Train

The fastest and easiest way to get to Oxford from London is by train. You can travel from either London Paddington or London Marylebone, and both routes bring you into central Oxford in around an hour.

Paddington to Oxford: around 50 to 60 minutes with Great Western Railway
Marylebone to Oxford: around 1 hour 10 minutes with Chiltern Railways

Trains run frequently, often every 15 to 30 minutes. Return tickets are usually cheaper if you book in advance with Trainline, National Rail or the rail operator directly.

I like to avoid the early commuter rush and travel after 9.30am. A train that arrives in Oxford around 10.30am gives you a full day without the stress of rush hour.

Oxford railway station is about a 10 minute walk from the historic city centre, so you can be sightseeing very quickly.

By Coach

If you are watching your budget or want a 24 hour service, coaches are a good option. The main services are:

Oxford Tube
X90
National Express
Megabus

They run between central London and Oxford with stops at places like Victoria, Marble Arch and Notting Hill Gate.

Journey time is usually around 1 hour 40 minutes, although traffic can make it longer, especially on the way back in the evening. The coaches are comfortable, often with free WiFi and charging points, and they are usually cheaper than the train.

On a day trip I tend to prefer using the train where possible, unless the ticket cost is unreasonably high.

By Car

Driving from London to Oxford takes around 1 hour 30 to 2 hours, depending on traffic and where in London you are starting from. The most direct route is usually:

M25 to Junction 16
Then M40 towards Oxford

It is an easy drive through the countryside and it can work well if you plan to stop at places along the way.

However, parking in Oxford city centre is limited, expensive and often heavily restricted. The city is trying to reduce car traffic, so most visitors are better off using the Park and Ride.

Oxford Park and Ride

Oxford has several Park and Ride sites, including:

Redbridge
Pear Tree
Seacourt
Thornhill
Oxford Parkway

You park outside the centre and take a short bus ride into town. Buses run every 10 to 15 minutes and it is much less stressful than driving into the centre.

By Organised Tour

If you would prefer someone else to organise everything, there are many tours from London that include Oxford. Some combine the city with:

The Cotswolds
Stratford upon Avon
Blenheim Palace
Windsor or Stonehenge
Downton Abbey locations such as Bampton

Tours can be a good option if you want a guide to explain what you are seeing.

The main downside is that you often get only 2 to 3 hours in Oxford, which can feel rushed. I usually prefer to travel independently so that I can linger in bookshops and cafés and wander at my own pace, but a tour is still a useful option for a first taste of the city.

One Perfect Day In Oxford: Suggested Itinerary

This relaxed itinerary works well if you arrive in Oxford around 10 to 10.30am and leave after dinner. It balances the famous landmarks with local corners and gives you plenty of time to enjoy the atmosphere.

Morning: Colleges, Spires And Classic Oxford

Start your day in the historic heart of the university.

Christ Church College

Head first to Christ Church, one of Oxford’s grandest colleges. Founded in the sixteenth century, it has educated prime ministers, writers and bishops, and it is the only Oxford college with its own cathedral.

Fans of Harry Potter will recognise the sweeping staircase and the Great Hall, which inspired the Hogwarts dining hall. Even if you are not here for the film connections, the cloisters, cathedral and meadows are beautiful.

Tickets are timed and can sell out in busy seasons, so it is worth booking ahead if this is a priority for you.

Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera

From Christ Church, walk through the centre to the Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera. This is one of the most photogenic corners of Oxford.

The Bodleian is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, with historic reading rooms that you can see on a guided tour.
The Radcliffe Camera, with its round shape and domed roof, is now a reading room for students and usually not open to the public, but it is wonderful to admire from outside.

If you would like a view of both buildings and the surrounding spires, climb the tower of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. The steps are narrow and steep, but on a clear day the view over the city is worth the effort.

Coffee Stop At The Covered Market

By now you may be ready for a break. The Covered Market is a short walk away and has been part of Oxford life since the eighteenth century. Inside you will find traders selling fresh produce, gifts and plenty of options for snacks, coffee or an early lunch.

Midday: Books, Museums And Lunch

Late morning is a good time to slow the pace and duck into some of Oxford’s indoor sights.

Blackwell’s Bookshop

If you love books, pop into Blackwell’s on Broad Street. The Norrington Room is an enormous underground hall lined with shelves, and many visitors say it feels like stepping into a secret library.

Choose A Museum

You have a lot of choice, but for a day trip I would pick one or two of these:

Ashmolean Museum: Britain’s first public museum, with everything from Egyptian mummies to impressionist paintings.
History of Science Museum: Smaller and easy to fit into a short visit, with highlights like Einstein’s blackboard from a lecture in 1931.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum: Side by side in a striking glass roofed building, with dinosaur skeletons, the famous dodo remains and thousands of anthropological objects.

All of these museums are free to enter, with optional suggested donations.

Lunch Ideas

For lunch you have plenty of choice. A few options:

Grab something quick from the Covered Market or Gloucester Green Market if it is a market day.
Head to a historic pub such as the Turf Tavern for a classic pub meal.
Try one of the many international spots around the centre or Cowley Road if you prefer something a little different.

Afternoon: Gardens, Rivers And Green Spaces

In the afternoon, I like to balance the historic stone buildings with some time by the water or in a park.

Punting Or River Walk

Punting on the River Cherwell is a classic Oxford experience. You can:

Hire a punt from Magdalen Bridge or Cherwell Boathouse and try steering yourself.
Book a chauffeured punt and let someone else do the work while you sit back and enjoy the views.

If punting does not appeal, a simple riverside walk through Christ Church Meadow or Port Meadow gives you open skies, grazing cattle and a sense of how close the countryside is to the city.

Oxford Botanic Garden

If you enjoy gardens, the Oxford Botanic Garden is a lovely stop. It is the oldest botanic garden in Britain and sits right by the river. Inside you will find glasshouses, flower beds and quiet corners where you can pause before you head back into town.

Evening: Dinner And A Final Stroll

Trains and coaches back to London run into the late evening, so you do not need to rush off. I always recommend staying for dinner so that you can see Oxford after day trippers have begun to leave.

A few ideas for dinner:

Dishoom, Westgate: Stylish Bombay café style restaurant with Indian dishes and a warm atmosphere.
BBuona Pinsa Bar, George Street: Roman style pinsa, a lighter and crispier version of pizza, ideal for a relaxed meal.
Yeti, Magdalen Street: Nepalese and Himalayan dishes with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
Antep Kitchen, Cowley Road: Popular for Turkish and Mediterranean food with generous portions.
Cherwell Boathouse: A more scenic choice by the river, especially nice if you have been punting.
The King’s Arms or The Bear Inn: Historic pubs with characterful interiors, perfect if you want one last pint in a very Oxford setting.

After dinner, take a final wander through the centre. Radcliffe Square and the colleges look particularly beautiful in the soft evening light, and the streets feel very different once it begins to quieten down.

Final Tips For Your Oxford Day Trip

Start early. A train that arrives around 10 to 10.30am gives you time without feeling rushed.
Pre book Christ Church and any key tours that are must sees for you, especially in summer or at weekends.
Wear comfortable shoes. You will likely walk a lot, and some streets are cobbled.
Check punting and opening times if you are visiting in winter or in bad weather.
Avoid the London rush hour on your return if you can, trains and coaches are quieter and often cheaper outside the late afternoon peak.

Oxford is one of those places that rewards repeat visits, but even a single day can be memorable. With this itinerary you will see many of the highlights, taste a little of the food scene and hopefully leave already planning your next trip back.

Going On A Day Trip From London To Oxford