Day trip from Dublin to Oxford ?

mikedublin

Hi, Just wondering would anyone know or suggest the cheapest / easiest route to do a day trip from Dublin over to Oxford in England ? Would anyone have done this trip and know the best options.

I'd love to go and visit this city sometime this summer, and am looking at various ways to get there such as flying to Heathrow, then bus to and from Oxford, or maybe sail and rail via Holyhead, or eurolines / National Express Bus. Also maybe Birmingham, Manchester, Gatwick or any other UK airport I could get to and then get a bus or train to and from Oxford from.

Would be grateful for any suggestions from anyone who might know the ways to get to / from Oxford from Dublin. Thanks , Mike

Lapin

Forget sail/rail if you're only going on a day trip. By the time you get there it will be time to turn round and go home again.

Heathrow is the handiest airport with a half hourly service from the central bus station there. Journey time is about an hour and a half. No need to book in advance.

If you can manage it, you really should try to stay overnight. There is so much to see and do in Oxford that a day trip doesn't do it justice.

Procrastastudy

Birmingham is also a good airport - Being an Oxford local I fly to Birmingham - train to Banbury and change for Bicester. You'll be able to get a train straight though to Oxford. I prefer Birmingham as I find it handiest for the trains (actually in the airport)

As said above, I wouldn't try and do it in a day. Oxford is quite spread out with the best shopping 15 miles from the City. Premier Inn or a hostel shouldn't set you back too much and will be well worth the extra money in terms of what you see.

Any ideas what your going to have a look at? Universities are an obvious one but some charge tourists.

Procrastastudy

OH YES! Do not fly to East Midlands - its a small shed in the middle of a field! I've been on RAF Airfields with more amenities and transport...

I wouldn't fly any further north than Birmingham the trains down from Liverpool or Manchester will stop at every hole in the ground and bump in the road. The Birmingham to London line (which includes some of Oxfordshire) is a high speed link - actually makes British trains look half decent.

Lapin

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

OH YES! Do not fly to East Midlands - its a small shed in the middle of a field! I've been on RAF Airfields with more amenities and transport...

Ah now. I've been through EMA countless times and never had a problem. Although I only used it for getting to Nottingham or Leicester so it was the obvious choice. It may be basic but it serves its purpose and is pure luxury compared to plenty of other airports in the UK. Coming from Ireland, I could never describe it as "a small shed in the middle of a field".

I would never consider using East Midlands to get to Oxford though. Mightn't be too bad if hiring a car. But if you're at the mercy of public transport, I would equate it to flying to Knock for a day trip to Limerick.

I agree with everything you say about the train service from Manchester and Liverpool though.

mikedublin

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

Any ideas what your going to have a look at? Universities are an obvious one but some charge tourists.

Thanks for the information and advice.

I'm a big fan of the "Inspector Morse" and "Lewis" TV shows, and so its that part of Oxford I'm hoping to go and see.

Procrastastudy

Ah! Really my old stomping grounds! Defiantly don't do in a day. I grew up half a mile from his local the Trout. You'll need to book that a little in advance as its a very popular Gastropub - definitely worth a visit on an inspector Morse tour.

Get the bus to Wolvercote, get off at Webbs Close and walk up toward Whytham. Wolvercote is around 3-4 miles from Oxford City Centre and on the way to Blenheim Palace if you'd like to also see that while your there.

Marcusm

Walk around Jericho, see where the first murder took place, have a drink in the Randolph and then o anywhere around the Radcliffe camera for familiar sights. I think they've just started filming a Lewis series (not the one currently on tv). I've seen roads closed and filming there before.

ancapailldorcha

You won't get a handier airport than Birmingham. It's only an hour on the train and it's about £30 for the return fare. There's quite a bit to do and a day would be nowhere near enough. There is a YHA near the station which is cheap.
Let me know if you have any questions.

londonbus

..or fly to Heathrow and then coach to Oxford. Coaches are half-hourly and take 1 hour 40 minutes. They go from the central coach station (terminals 1 and 3)