Travel

Travel to Oxford

Oxford can be reached by bus, train, and car. The map at the bottom of this page shows the closest airports and railway stations. Across the UK, card and contactless payments are in wide use, cash is similarly accepted.

By plane

The most recommended airport to reach Oxford is Heathrow Airport, followed by Stansted, Birmingham, and Gatwick Airport. 

From Heathrow and Gatwick we recommend to use the 'Airline' bus (https://www.theairlineoxford.co.uk), with buses approximately every 30 min (timetable). Exit the Airline bus at the final stop, Gloucester Green, in Oxford. Tickets can be bought inside the Airline bus (by card or exact cash payment) and cost GBP 30 for a return ticket. Pre-booking through their website is possible to avoid delay at busy times.

Those of you arriving at Heathrow Terminal 5 can follow the signs for 'Buses' in arrivals, and take the Oxford Airline bus from Stand 10: https://www.theairlineoxford.co.uk/oxford-to-heathrow-bus/. Conference delegates arriving at Terminals 2 or 3 should take the short walk to 'Heathrow Central Bus Station', where you can also catch the Airline, usually from Stand 15.

By train

The city is around 1 hour's journey from London Paddington and Birmingham New Street stations. There is also easy access from most other directions. Oxford railway station is approximately 15–20 minutes' walk from the Clarendon Laboratory and Somerville College, and about 25 minutes from St. Hugh's College. There is a taxi rank at the station. 

The website of the national railway can be found here: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk. Connecting train tickets across country borders in Europe can be purchased on: https://www.raileurope.com.

Busses and coaches in Oxford

The main coach station, Gloucester Green, is approximately 10 minutes' walk from Somerville College and 15–20 from St. Hugh's College. There is a taxi rank in Gloucester Green market square, next to the coach station.

Tickets can be bought inside the buses and paid either by cash or (contactless) card payment. Tickets can also be bought online or via smartphone app (https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/), but we adivse to buy single-fare tickets in the bus.

By car

Unfortunately, neither St. Hugh’s college nor Somerville college have any parking on site which can be offered to conference delegates, guests, or visitors. There are park and ride facilities on the outskirts of the City and parking in St. Giles is on a pay and display basis. To avoid the city centre, come into Oxford via the A40 northern ring road and take the A4144 Woodstock Road south. After about 1.5 miles turn left onto St. Margaret's Road and you will find St. Hugh's college on the right. Instead, after about two miles on Woodstock Road you will find Somerville on the right, just before you reach the city centre and the merge onto St Giles.

To Clarendon Laboratory (conference venue)

From Gloucester Green Bus Station (final stop of the Airline bus):

By bus:  https://goo.gl/maps/5XPqRdm4E4MZmWWA7 (9 min)

By foot: https://goo.gl/maps/UdrwCihqHmzA98Wz9 (13 min)

By bus from Oxford Railway Station: https://goo.gl/maps/hmSn6o9YP7dMrKye9 (10 min)

To Somerville College

From Gloucester Green Bus Station (final stop of the Airline bus):

By bus:  https://goo.gl/maps/jtiSvcFhAatVhfG99 

By foot: https://goo.gl/maps/kuL684YrWMTDmf3W9 

By bus from Oxford Railway Station: https://goo.gl/maps/se9dqZkCZTDkFjhP9

To St. Hugh's College

From Gloucester Green Bus Station (final stop of the Airline bus):

By bus: https://goo.gl/maps/YQGa2JQ9Ane8Gphm8

By foot: https://goo.gl/maps/Sqr1tXWh8CQwAQE36 

By bus from Oxford Railway Station: https://goo.gl/maps/gd6GzE2tbeS9ykVM7

COVID-19 Regulations

The UK has no travel regulations in place anymore, but you may want to double check the regulations imposed by your airline or home country if you arrive by air. You can find an up-to-date summary of travel restrictions listed by country here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19