Getting around

Oxford's park and ride is the easiest way to get into Oxford city centre by car. With five free car parks located around Oxford's ring road and fast and frequent bus services until late evening, it is the only sensible way to travel into Oxford.

• Redbridge, off Abingdon Road, two miles south of the city centre.
• Pear Tree Roundabout, on the A44 Woodstock-Oxford road, just off the A34.
• Seacourt, on Botley Road, one and-a-half miles west of city centre.
• Thornhill, on the A40 approach to Oxford, three miles east of the centre.
• Water Eaton, on the A4260 between Kidlington and Oxford.

Buses start from 6am and operate through to 11.30pm during weekdays and Saturdays. Return fares start from £2.20 and children travel free when accompanied by a fare paying adult. Visit www.parkandride.net for more information and prices or call 01865 785400.

BUSES

The two main bus companies in Oxford city centre are Stagecoach and the Oxford Bus Company. Between them they cover a sizeable portion of the city, making Oxford very well-served for buses. For more information about Stagecoach call 01865 772250 or view timetables online at www.stagecoachbus.com/oxfordshire

Stagecoach also runs services linking Oxford with other parts of Oxfordshire, such as Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester, Carterton, Witney, Woodstock and many other villages and towns.

Oxford Bus Company timetables can be viewed online at www.oxfordbus.co.uk, or call 01865 785400.

For further information about buses around the county, call 0871 200 22 33 (charged at 10p per minute) or visit www.traveline.org.uk

The Oxford Tube runs coaches to and from London, stopping at Hillingdon, Shepherd's Bush, Notting Hill Gate, Marble Arch and Victoria. Stops in Oxford are Lewknor, Thornhill park and ride, Green Road, Headington, Oxford Brookes University, St Clement's, High Street, St Aldate's, Speedwell Street and Gloucester Green. For timetables and fares, visit the website: www.oxfordtube.com

TRAINS

Oxford railway station is off Frideswide Square, near the Said Business School, and is within walking distance of the city centre.

Arriva and First Great Western operate train services from the station. From Oxford, there are direct trains to many destinations, including Bournemouth, Reading, Birmingham, Manchester, Swindon, Bicester and Banbury.

Trains to London terminate at Paddington station.

Trains also run into London from Bicester, terminating at Marylebone.

There are railway stations at Ascott-under-Wychwood, Banbury, Bicester North, Bicester Town, Chari bury, Cholsey, Combe, Culham, Didcot Parkway, Finstock, Hanborough, Henley-on-Thames, Heyford, Islip, Kingham, Kings Sutton, Radley, Shipton and Tackley.

For train times and fares, visit www.nationalrail.co.uk, or call 08457 48 49 50 for a 24-hour service.

BICYCLES

Oxford is almost as famous for its cycling as it is for the university. More than 20,000 people use bikes to get into the city every day. On many of the roads there are dedicated cycling lanes and there are 2,500 parking racks for you to use.

To hire a bike contact:
• Bike Zone, Market Street (off Cornmarket), open Monday to Saturday. Call 01865 728877.
• Summertown Cycles, 200-202 Banbury Road, Summertown, open seven-days-a-week. Call 01865 316885 or go to the website: www.bikezoneoxford.co.uk

For cycle maps, visit the county council's website: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

TAXIS

There are a number of taxi services operating in Oxford. Make sure you use one from a licensed company. Oxford City Council licenses two kinds of taxi - London-style hackney carriages, which can be picked up from the street or prebooked, and private hire vehicles which can only be pre-booked. All licensed hackney carriages are wheelchair-accessible, so if you are a wheelchair user who wants to pre-book a taxi, make sure you book a hackney carriage, rather than a private hire vehicle.

For up-to-date travel information visit the website: www.oxfordmail.co.uk