Oxford

Oxford is a year-round destination, and thus constantly busy with tourists. In the autumn months (September to October), the city has a particular energy, with new and old students flooding into town after the long summer break. It’s at its most beautiful in late spring, before the hordes of international tourists appear in July and August.

Oxford is a one-hour drive from London Heathrow, just over an hour from London. Trains to Oxford take around an hour from London Paddington, and it’s an easy ten-minute walk into the centre of town. The Oxford Tube is a coach service that runs every hour from several points around London.

Like most English towns, Oxford has reasonably good public transport, clogged roads and expensive parking. With relatively flat terrain, pleasing surrounds, and a good network of bike lanes, cycling is the best way to get around town (and even into the surrounding countryside). Bike hire shops are ubiquitous.

The Oxford Sightseeing Bus stops at the train station every ten minutes and is the lazy way to tick off all the sights.