Heathrow Airport is roughly 50 miles (or 80 km) away from Oxford City by road. Before you arrive at the airport, you should know the best transport options along with their cost and duration. Thankfully, Oxford is accessible from Heathrow via both road and railway, so you have several options to choose from.
In this post, we’ll help you streamline these options by providing a detailed guide on how to get from Heathrow Airport to Oxford. Our article compares the ways to travel there by bus, train, taxi, and rental car. We’ll also help you pick out the cheapest, most convenient, and fastest options. Let’s get started!
Option 1: Heathrow Airport to Oxford by Bus
There are at least two bus lines that can take you directly from Heathrow Airport to Oxford City. You’ll find the main bus and coach services to Oxford Gloucester Green Bus Station at Heathrow Central Bus Station (Terminals 2 & 3), Heathrow Terminal 4 Station, and Heathrow Terminal 5 Station.
The National Express bus operates 24/7, and you may find departures from the airport up to 55 times a day. The price of the trip via National Express bus costs £25, and its duration varies between 1 hr and 1 hr 50 min, unless you start your trip from Terminal 4, a route we don’t recommend because of its higher price and lengthy duration. The fastest National Express bus to Oxford Bus Station has 0 stops on its way, but others could have as many as 5 stops. Unfortunately, this fastest bus service only departs the airport once a day.
Megabus Line is another popular bus and coach service that takes passengers from Heathrow Airport to Oxford. Megabus picks up passengers from the Heathrow Central Bus Station as well as the bus stations at Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 of the airport. Each Megabus ride costs £25 and should last between 1 hr 15 min and 1 hr 50 min. Recently, Megabus entered a partnership with National Express to better serve their customers. Don’t be surprised if a National Express bus picks you up on behalf of the Megabus Line.
The easiest way to buy tickets for National Express or Megabus is through their official websites. This method allows you to book and pay online. You will receive an e-ticket in your email. An alternative method is to buy the tickets at the bus station. National Express has automated ticket machines at Heathrow Central Bus Station, Terminal 4, and Terminal 5.
Pros
- Prices are very low
- Buses are available many times in a day
- Fast and simple booking process
- There is next to no privacy in the bus
- Only basic comfort facilities are available
Option 2: Heathrow Airport to Oxford by Train
Two train services travel in towards Oxford from Heathrow Central Station (Terminals 2 & 3), Terminal 4 station, and Terminal 5 station. They are Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth Line. None of them offer direct train rides to the Oxford railway station. However, you can transfer to the Great Western Railway at London Paddington or Hayes & Harlington station. In this section, we’ll try to show you only the cheapest, fastest, and most convenient routes from Heathrow to Oxford by train.
- Fastest and most convenient route: Take a Heathrow Express train from the airport to London Paddington and transfer to a Great Western Railway train heading towards Oxford. The trip takes 1 hr 20 min to 1 hr 45 min and costs £65.
- Cheapest route: From the airport station (preferably Terminal 5), take a train on the Elizabeth Line to Hayes & Harlington station. From there, transfer to another train on the Elizabeth Line heading to Reading, where you will transfer to a direct train operated by Great Western Railway and heading to Oxford (your destination). The entire trip should last for 1 hr 40 min to 2 hr 20 min and cost a total of £34.
- Alternate cheap route: From the airport station, take a train on the Elizabeth Line to Hayes & Harlington station. From there, transfer to another train on the Elizabeth Line heading to Slough, where you will transfer to a direct train operated by Great Western Railway and heading to Oxford (your destination). The entire trip should last for 1 hr 40 min to 2 hr 20 min and cost a total of £35.
You can purchase your train ticket online, get a booking number, and then use one of the ticket machines at Heathrow Airport stations to print out the ticket. Some vendors will send the ticket to your phone via email after purchase.
Pros
- Trains are available many times in a day, including late at night
- Prices are low
- Fast and simple booking process
- You get the choice to upgrade for better comfort
- Inconvenient train station transfers
- Not much privacy on trains
Option 3: Private Taxi or Airport Transfer
The most convenient way to get to Oxford from Heathrow Airport is to use a private taxi or airport transfer. This option allows you to travel with your luggage by road and end the trip at your exact destination. The entire journey should take 55 min to 1 hr 15 min.
There are private taxis available at all five airport terminals, and you can hire them upon your arrival. On average, they will charge you anywhere from £80 to £105. A more convenient option is to pre-book an airport taxi transfer for a slightly higher price. To do this, you need to book a transfer on the official website of a licensed airport transfer provider in the UK. The price for airport transfers is often fixed; however, extra pick-ups or drop-offs could lead to additional charges.
Factors that affect the prices of airport transfers include the distance, size of the car, and the quality of the vehicle. We recommend that you use a reliable, safe, and affordable service like DNR Transfer . You will get to choose from a wide selection of vehicles, from economy cars to luxury rides.
Pros
- Highly convenient trips, even with a lot of luggage
- Door-to-door service
- Multiple car options available
- High level of security when you use DNR Transfer or another reliable provider
- High privacy
- More expensive than public transport
Book taxi from Heathrow Airport to Oxford with DNR.
Option 4: Car Rental at Heathrow Airport
If you have a large transportation budget and you're confident in your driving and navigation skills, feel free to secure a car rental. You can do this before or after you arrive at Heathrow Airport. There are car hire desks at Terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5, where you can drop by to pick up your rented vehicle. The car rental rate in Heathrow ranges from £14 to £60 per day.
Although this option will give you access to your own car for an extended period, you may need to pay for fuel, parking, and insurance. You also need a valid driver's licence and a solid idea of UK traffic laws to use the rented car. The entire journey from Heathrow Airport to Oxford should take you 55 min to 1 hr 15 min. UK taxi and bus drivers are more familiar with the local routes. Hence, they can navigate the roads more efficiently.
Pros
- Highly flexible and convenient
- Multiple vehicle options
- More engaging than other options
- Very high privacy
- Can accommodate a large group
- Total cost is volatile because of fuel costs, parking fees, and insurance fees
- Booking process can be complicated
Comparison Table (Bus vs. Train vs. Taxi vs. Car)
| Bus | Train | Taxi | Car | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | £25 | £34 - £65 | £80 - £105+ | £14 - £60 (+ fuel, parking, and insurance) |
| Fastest Duration | 1 hr (via National Express) | 1 hr 20 min (via Heathrow Express) | 55 min | 55 min |
| Best pro | Low cost | High availability | Convenience | High flexibility |
| Worst con | Low privacy | Low comfort | Expensive | Additional costs |
| Ideal for | Single budget traveler | Multiple budget travelers | Traveling with luggages | Families |
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