5 Best Day Trips to Oxford from London

Oxford, with its imposing colleges and academic atmosphere, is one of the most fascinating destinations for those looking for a getaway from London. If you're planning a visit, one of the best ways to discover this university city is through an organised tour, which will allow you to make the most of your time and forget about the logistics.

In this article, you'll find a selection of the best tours to Oxford: some combine the visit with other must-see places such as Stonehenge, Windsor or the Harry Potter studios. We'll also give you useful information if you prefer to go it alone, whether by train, car or bus. Whatever your travel style, here are all the options so you can choose the one that suits you best.

If you're planning to visit Oxford from London, one of the most practical and comprehensive ways to do so is through an organised tour. In addition to not having to worry about transport, you'll have optimised itineraries, an expert guide and preferential access to monuments and activities. And if you're looking for a magical experience, this excursion to Oxford and the Harry Potter studios is one of the most popular among travellers.

You'll start the day at Gloucester Road station, where you'll be met by your guide. From there, you'll travel by bus to Oxford to enjoy a one-hour guided walking tour of this university city with centuries of history. You'll visit iconic sites such as Christ Church College, the Bodleian Library, the Radcliffe Camera and the Sheldonian Theatre. Afterwards, you will have free time to explore the city on your own.

The second part of the day will take you directly to the Harry Potter studios, where you will have about 4 hours to explore the original sets of the saga at your own pace: the Great Hall, Dumbledore's office, Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express. You will see the original costumes, props, animatronics and special effects used in the films. A full day full of magic, with all transfers included.

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• Duration: Approximately 11 hours 30 minutes
• Price: From £150
• Recommended if... you are fascinated by the world of Harry Potter and also want to discover Oxford on the same day.

This excursion to Oxford, Stonehenge and Windsor offers a comprehensive tour, ideal for those who want to discover some of the most iconic sites of British history and culture. Over the course of approximately 11 hours and 30 minutes, you will travel by coach to key locations such as the city of Oxford, Windsor Castle and the Stonehenge monument.

The first stop will be the majestic Windsor Castle, where you can see the State Rooms, St George's Chapel and other official rooms that are still used today by the monarchy. From there, you will head to Stonehenge to discover this enigmatic circle of stones declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An audio guide will explain the possible origins and theories behind its construction.

Finally, you will visit Oxford, a university city par excellence. You will stroll through its gardens, libraries and historic buildings while a guide provides key information to help you understand the value of this academic centre. The excursion includes transport and an expert guide throughout the trip.

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• Duration: Approximately 11 hours 30 minutes
• Price: From £108
• Recommended if... you want to discover three must-see places on a comprehensive excursion.

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of London, this small group tour to Oxford and the Cotswolds is an excellent choice. You will travel in a high-end minibus with capacity for 16 people, allowing for a more intimate and flexible atmosphere during the tour. In addition, a driver/guide will accompany you throughout the day.

You'll start the day in Oxford, where you'll have free time to stroll around the university city and discover its historic buildings and centuries-old courtyards. This part of the tour is perfect for photographing the architecture and walking through real movie sets such as Harry Potter. Afterwards, the itinerary continues to two of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds: Burford and Bibury, known for their stone houses and cobbled streets.

You will have time for lunch or to explore these charming rural enclaves, which seem frozen in time, on your own. Without a doubt, this is a different and more leisurely experience to discover another side of England.

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• Duration: Approximately 10 hours
• Price: From £101
• Recommended if... you want to discover rural England and its charming villages.

Discover the oldest and most influential universities in the world with this excursion to Oxford and Cambridge from London. This is a full-day trip by coach with a professional guide, ideal for those who are fascinated by academic history and monumental architecture.

In Cambridge, you will take a walking tour of its colleges, gardens and most emblematic buildings, such as the Corpus Clock, a gold clock with no numbers that symbolises the passing of time. In Oxford, you will visit the most famous colleges, such as Christ Church and Magdalen, as well as the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest in Europe.

Thanks to the expert guide, you will learn about the stories, anecdotes and famous figures who studied at both universities. An essential excursion for the curious, students or lovers of British culture.

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• Duration: Approximately 12 hours 30 minutes
• Price: From £84
• Recommended if... you want to get to know the most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom in depth.

With this excursion to Oxford, Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon, you will visit three places steeped in British history and culture. During this full-day trip, you will travel comfortably by coach from central London and have a local guide who will explain everything to you.

The tour includes admission to Warwick Castle, an impressive medieval fortress with gardens, towers and decorated rooms. You will also visit Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, where you will enter his old schoolroom and stroll through its historic streets.

Finally, you will walk around Oxford with an expert guide, admiring its university buildings and breathing in the academic atmosphere of a city with more than eight centuries of history. Without a doubt, this is an ideal excursion for lovers of literature, architecture and royalty.

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• Duration: Approximately 11 hours
• Price: From £151
• Recommended if... you are interested in history, literature and English castles.

The best way to visit Oxford from London is with an organised excursion. You will enjoy a hassle-free journey and have a specialist guide who will explain the history of this prestigious university city. Discovering Oxford with an expert provides a unique perspective and makes the visit much more complete and enriching.

Among the most recommended excursions is the one that combines the city of Windsor, Oxford and Stonehenge in the same itinerary. This option allows you to optimise your time and money, as you can visit three iconic places in England in a single day, without having to book separate activities.

Windsor and Stonehenge are essential visits on any trip to the United Kingdom. The opportunity to enter an official residence of the British monarchy and see one of the great enigmas of prehistoric architecture makes this excursion a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In addition, many excursions allow you to choose whether you want tickets included or not, giving you greater flexibility to adjust your budget. There are also itineraries that combine Oxford with Cambridge, or that focus on offering a guided tour of Oxford alongside the locations of Downton Abbey.

If you are a fan of J.K. Rowling's magical universe, you can opt for a trip to Oxford that also includes the Warner Bros. Harry Potter studios, where you can tour the original film sets. A perfect option for those who want to add a touch of fantasy to their trip.

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• Prices: a tour without tickets usually costs around £75 per adult and £64 per child up to 16 years old. Children under 2 usually travel free. Tours that include tickets to places such as Windsor Castle or Cambridge may cost more, depending on what is included.
• Transport: the tour is conducted in air-conditioned coaches with a maximum capacity of 50 people. These are comfortable tourist vehicles, similar to those used on London's city routes.
• Advantages: if you are not interested in visiting Stonehenge or Windsor, you can choose a tour without tickets included and use the savings for other activities, such as trips to Downton Abbey from London or to treat yourself to a gastronomic experience during your stop in Oxford.

If trains aren't your thing and you prefer public buses, you can rely on the UK's bus network. With this mode of transport, you have the advantage of plenty of options for getting from central London to Gloucester Green Station in Oxford.

Most depart from Victoria Station, with frequencies that vary depending on the company, the time of year and the demand from regular users and tourists interested in marvelling at Oxford's academic atmosphere.

Oxford Tube is one of the most famous, but you also have X90, National Express and Megabus at your disposal .

The best thing about it is that they all have evening return services, allowing you to stay in Oxford until quite late or opt for a return trip at sunset to keep with your plans for a night out in London.

• Prices: a return trip on this type of bus can cost between £20 and £40, as a single trip usually costs between £10 and £20 depending on the time of year and the time of day.
• Duration: a bus takes 1 hour and 45 minutes from Victoria Station to the Oxford bus terminal. Please bear in mind that this is a very approximate guide, as London is a city with heavy traffic and the motorway connecting the two cities often suffers from this problem, especially during the busiest tourist months.
• Advantages: the buses offered by these public transport companies are top quality, with air conditioning. Most come with built-in charging ports and free Wi-Fi to entertain passengers during the journey. This makes them the ideal alternative if you are looking to get a good night's sleep before returning to the city to take part in some of London's best night tours.

Book your trip to Oxford, Windsor and Stonehenge

Getting to Oxford from London by private car may be the most unusual of all the options I have suggested, but this is because it is not common to have a car in a city like London when you are visiting.

However, you may want to hire a car because you are interested in the experience of driving in England. It may also be interesting if you plan to stay in Oxford for a while and want to explore the English countryside by car.

If you choose this option, you will need to take the M40 motorway and drive for approximately 80 kilometres until you reach the outskirts of Oxford. This journey usually takes around 50 to 60 minutes, although it can take up to 90 minutes depending on traffic.

It is important to bear in mind that parking spaces are very limited in the centre of Oxford, so you will have to leave your vehicle in an officially designated parking area.

They are not cheap and you may end up paying an additional £10 or £15 depending on how close you are to the city centre and how long you leave your car parked there.

• Prices: if you only take into account the cost of car hire, you can expect to pay between £20 and £30, or even £60 to £70. However, it all depends on the type of car you choose and whether you will have to pay for fuel.
• Advantages: if you are thinking about things to see or do in London in 7 days, then a road trip to the outskirts of the city can be a good plan. Especially if you are interested in discovering the secrets of the British countryside.

The first tip I can give you for any of these transport options is to choose based on your needs and budget.

There's no point in paying for a luxurious tour if you won't have enough money left over to eat properly in Oxford, especially if your main interest is this city and not the other destinations on the itinerary.

The other thing to consider is your own circumstances and requirements, as a train journey is fast, practical and economical, but that doesn't mean it's right for you if you tend to get travel sick on this type of transport.

Calculate your timing carefully, as most public transport options close their ticket offices at around 10 pm, even though there are still trains and buses leaving and returning at midnight.

Oxford's proximity to Windsor, Stonehenge and the Cotswolds also makes it an excellent idea to stay overnight in the city so that you can visit these other destinations the next day. This means you won't have to pay for the return trip to London and a new trip the next day.

Finally, I advise you to pay close attention to the weather conditions expected for the date you plan to visit Oxford. The city tour is outdoors, and walking around without a coat on a cold winter day or wearing too many layers during a summer heatwave could be the worst decision of your entire trip.