Getting to Oxford

duncan32

Hello all,I am going to see someone at Oxford University this coming Friday, and originally intended to drive down, park up, stay the night and come back on Saturday. However, I am wondering about where I would actually park! How much this would cost etc... is there a park and ride that you can leave the car overnight at?Alternatively, I was thinking of maybe getting a bus (it would be from Kettering), but have looked on the net and can't see that there is a bus service that would run from Kettering to Oxford. Not sure about the cost of getting a train, or whether one would connect these two places....Any advice or pointers in the right direction would be very much appreciated.Thanks.Duncan

hartcjhart

book a hotel with a car park as normal parking is a nightmare,there are park and rides BUT iffy about leaving it overnight,
the only hotel I can remember there is The Oxford Four Pillars,with large secure parking and about a Fiver in a taxi to city

dzug

There's an hourly bus from Kettering to Milton Keynes (X4) and a half hourly service on to Oxford (X5).

Painfully slow (think in terms of 3.5 hours each way) but doable

There's no sensible way of doing it by train other than via London - it will be expensive, but probably quicker than that bus

Cardelia

The park and rides charge a small amount to park on top of the bus fare to the city centre - ostensibly this is to pay for security and upkeep, but I have no idea how reliable this is.

Personally, I would try and find a street parking spot close to where your friend lives (always assuming that college guest parking facilities are unavailable). Street parking is probably no riskier than a city centre car park and it'll be free at night. I would avoid street parking on the east and south-east sides of Oxford but as you're coming from the north you shouldn't be going anywhere near there.

duncan32

hartcjhart wrote: »

book a hotel with a car park as normal parking is a nightmare,there are park and rides BUT iffy about leaving it overnight,
the only hotel I can remember there is The Oxford Four Pillars,with large secure parking and about a Fiver in a taxi to city

Going to be staying in the Uni halls, sorry, I didn't mention that.Duncan

duncan32

Cardelia wrote: »

The park and rides charge a small amount to park on top of the bus fare to the city centre - ostensibly this is to pay for security and upkeep, but I have no idea how reliable this is.

Personally, I would try and find a street parking spot close to where your friend lives (always assuming that college guest parking facilities are unavailable). Street parking is probably no riskier than a city centre car park and it'll be free at night. I would avoid street parking on the east and south-east sides of Oxford but as you're coming from the north you shouldn't be going anywhere near there.

Sounds good (and cheap!). I'll find out exactly where it is, and see if he can suggest a good "street parking" option for me. Thanks.

Duncan

duncan32

Cardelia wrote: »

The park and rides charge a small amount to park on top of the bus fare to the city centre - ostensibly this is to pay for security and upkeep, but I have no idea how reliable this is.

Personally, I would try and find a street parking spot close to where your friend lives (always assuming that college guest parking facilities are unavailable). Street parking is probably no riskier than a city centre car park and it'll be free at night. I would avoid street parking on the east and south-east sides of Oxford but as you're coming from the north you shouldn't be going anywhere near there.

The chap I am staying with has suggested that I leave the car at the Water-Eaton park and ride, overnight. Do you know anything about this park and ride? Obviously, no one knows what is going to happen, but is it used by a lot of cars overnight do you know? Would hate to think of my poor car being all on its own!!!!

Duncan

Cardelia

Apparently the buses to/from Water Eaton don't run after 7pm so if you're going to need to get there in the evening, I wouldn't recommend it. There's a Park and Ride near the Pear Tree junction (A34/A44) which is bigger, but you can only stay for 24 hours (Water Eaton is max. 72).

I don't use the Park and Rides when I visit Oxford so I honestly couldn't say how secure they are. It might be worth trawling through the internet site of some local Oxford papers and see if there have been any reports of incidents at the Park and Rides. Or even give the company a call - if they have on-site security overnight, it'll probably be ok.

duncan32

Thanks Cardelia,

I am getting there at lunch-time, so will be ok with the buses from what you say. I have also called them and spoke to a nice lady who seemed to think that its fine to leave your car overnight (got cameras apparently). Looks like a nice cheap solution.

Duncan

amrad

There are numerous park and rides and they are all pretty safe. Alternatively depending on where is accommodation is you may be able to find free street parking. If you park on Cowley Place, near the roundabout you can park for 24 hours free of charge. The nearest completely free street parking I know of is on St. Mary's Road in Cowley, about 20 minutes walk from the city centre but might be closer/further to where he is staying.

duncan32

Thanks for the advice everyone. I parked at Water Eaton Park and Ride in the end, and it cost me about £3.00 for 2 singles (the bus wouldn't do a return fare for the next day) and the car was fine. Nice and stress-free and will do the same when I next stay in Oxford, I think.

Duncan:beer: