oxford uni open day park and ride coming from london

[tropicalfish]

hi,
Wonder if anyone could give advice about open days and which is the best park and ride and what tips they can give about using it to make it less painful. Need to get to South Park road first of all.
Getting the train is going to cost about 90 pounds.
Many thanks
TF

Where are you coming from? Thornhill is closest to the m40 but it's quite expensive both for parking and riding now apparently.

For South Parks Road, you could go to Water Eaton, a bit further round the ring road from the London side:

www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/water-eaton-park-and-ride-ox2-8ha

The 500 park and ride bus will bring you in down Banbury Road, and you can get off near South Parks Road. Most of the colleges are within walking distance.

Traffic in Oxford is very bad at present due to road works: allow plenty of time for delays.

Might also be worth looking at getting the train to Oxford Parkway from Marylebone, if this is cheaper? That station is very close to Water Eaton park and ride, and you can get the same 500 bus from Oxford Parkway into the town centre. If there are no spaces at Water Eaton (if you come by car), you can carry on following signs to Peartree where there are usually more spaces. From Peartree get the 300 to the Radcliffe Infirmary stop, and then you can walk across to South Parks Road (about 10 mins).

thanks for the advice so far. Do you think I would be better off going by train with the delays you mention?

If I use Water eaton, I need to be at a talk before 10am on South park rd what sort of time should I get to water eaton ?

Hi Virelai will look at that train option. Thanks I must have been typing the same time as you. Will report back shortly.
Thanks

Depends where you are coming from! The rush hour traffic is very heavy in Oxford in all directions. The main station (Oxford, rather than Oxford Parkway) is about 15/20 minutes walk from South Parks Rd. OXford Parkway is too far to walk.

Last year there were quite long queues for some of the park and ride buses so you might want to allow a little extra time. Perhaps aim for 9 at Water Eaton to allow plenty of time for delays?

If you are coming from London coach is often the easiest option. Theoretically about 100 mins though I would allow more. You arrive in the centre of Oxford and it is far cheaper, especially if you book in advance. X90 and Oxford tube either from Victoria coach station or just outside with other pick up points.

Definitely get the coach. Much simpler and cheaper, and really frequent.

hi will look at the coach. Thanks

Bear in mind that the park and rides often fill up quickly and you have to be an early bird to get a spot. Last year ds and I arrived at one and it was full and had to move onto another. Pretty stressful!

Thornhill always seems to be full. The London coach stops there and so on a Saturday is effectively used as a park and ride for local people visiting London for the day. Water Eaton is a bit better and has easy access to Oxford, but it is quite possible to find yourself then travelling on to Peartree. You need to factor this into your timings.

Get there ludicrously early!!! Also had problems. Get there at 8 and you may be ok.