Oxford Day Trips by Bus and Train

October 30, 2026

Oxford day trips by bus and train

Public transport takes you to the best day trips from Oxford, and a car is not needed. The list below goes from the closest destination to the farthest. Fares are in pounds.

Bicester Village, about 15 minutes

Chiltern Railways trains leave from Oxford station and Oxford Parkway. The ride is about 15 minutes from the station, so confirm the timetable on the day.

Blenheim Palace, about 30 to 40 minutes

Take the S3 or S7. Both leave from Oxford Railway Station (stop R5) and Magdalen Street (stop C4), and between them they give about four buses an hour, every day. The nearest rail station is Hanborough.

Ticket prices are listed as donations that turn into a 12-month pass at no cost. Online, a Park and Gardens day ticket is £31 for an adult and £15 for a child, and a family ticket is £85. Palace, Park and Gardens costs £41 for an adult, £24 for a child and £110 for a family. Paying at the gate adds about £3.

Arriving by bus, train, bike or electric car earns 20 percent off with the code GREEN20, shown with proof of travel on arrival. The code does not cover Park and Gardens-only tickets or the Privilege Pass, and it is suspended from 13 November 2026 until 3 January 2027, a period when Park and Gardens day tickets are not on sale. Check the Blenheim ticket page .

The Cotswolds

Use the GWR train to Moreton-in-Marsh, about 35 minutes, or alight at Charlbury on the same line. From Moreton, bus 801 (Pulhams) serves Bourton-on-the-Water, with evening journeys added in May 2026.

Pulhams X52 is the bus to know. It starts at Gloucester Green and calls at Witney, Burford and Northleach before reaching Cheltenham. It runs up to every 2 hours from Monday to Saturday, and single fares are capped at £3. See the Pulhams X52 page .

Cotswold Wildlife Park

Entry costs £19.50 for an adult and £14.00 for a child aged 3 to 16 at the gate. Online prices are £17.50 and £12.50. Seniors are charged the child rate. The park lies at Bradwell Grove, and from Burford the easy way there is by car or taxi.

Stratford-upon-Avon

This is the long day trip. It sits about 45 miles from Oxford, and the train journey takes about 1 hour 15 minutes or more, with a change.

London

The Oxford Tube leaves Gloucester Green at all hours and serves Shepherd’s Bush, Notting Hill Gate, Marble Arch and Victoria. Adult fares start at about £15 to £16.50.

Planning tips

Pick one destination per day.
Check the last return bus or train before you set off.
Blenheim sells no Park and Gardens day tickets from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, so plan a winter visit around that gap.

Booking

Guided excursions to Blenheim and the Cotswolds can be searched on Viator .