Oxford Travel Forum

I'm going to Oxford 14-31 July for a conference. I'll be staying at St. Anne's. Any comments on this part of Oxford? I know it's a little north of Oxford and I keep looking at the maps and I can't figure out if it's far, if it's walkable, how long it'll take to get to the center / touristy part of Oxford. So if someone can give me a sense of how large the city is in general, where St. Anne's is in relation to the major sites, it would be greatly appreciated.

Also suggestions on good places to eat near by (I'm getting VT tips for areas other St. Anne's and I don't want to have to go very far late at night to get something to eat, or during my lunch breaks and such). Places to go, grocery stores nearby, what the general area is like. Also, what is the cheapest/fastest way of getting to central london from Oxford for day trips, as I have to get to the City for business on certain days. I'm getting conflicting suggestions, such as megabus.com for 5 pound rides or the Oxford tube (which apparently is a bus?).

Also, I'll be arriving at Heathrow and going directly to Oxford. I know there is a coach or bus or something that provides a direct line from Heathrow to Oxford, but once I arrive in Oxford, how would I get to St. Anne's (the site isn't helping me at all with directions and the maps come out all distorted).

Please, any tips, suggestions, comments! Thanks!! :-)

www.stannes.ox.ac.uk or you could try www.st-annes.ox.ac.uk ('static version', whatever that means!)
Don't know if this is the site you refer to, but it has links to maps on www.streetmap.co.uk (which work ok for me) and also for trains etc. Try entering OX2 6HS on the 'streetmap' site and clicking 'postcode'.......you'll get a streetmap you can navigate around to give you an idea of distance.

The college site says about 15 minutes walk (seems about right) from the railway station, or you could get a taxi. The college is about 10 minutes walk from the centre of the city, on a main road with plenty of traffic/people etc so it will be safe enough. Also lots of pubs and shops fairly near (remember, you are in an area with a huge student population) although the college itself will probably have some sort of refreshment facilities as well.

The 'Oxford Tube' is indeed a bus; www.oxfordtube.com for timetable/ fares, and www.megabus.com for megabus (obviously). www.nationalexpress.com offer another bus (coach) service. Buses are fine, but do remember they may get caught in traffic congestion so allow more time than you think you'll need. There are good train connections with London; www.nationalrail.co.uk for details and fares. You can get a train from Heathrow to Oxford (with at least one change), or a through coach (look on the nationalexpress site).

Hope this helps a bit.

Oh....and when you arrive (if you haven't downloaded and printed the map from the streetmap site), and if you decide to walk, just ask people for the college and/ or Woodstock Road; they'll be helpful (ask long as you don't ask a tourist.....there are lots and they may not know the answer!). You need to begin by walking into the town centre (Cornmarket Street), and ask from there. It's actually really easy to get to once you're pointing in the right direction!

Yes, St Anne's is less than 10 minutes' walk from the city centre: Oxford isn't a big place. Trains are quicker (1 hr), but more expensive. Get the direct bus from H'row. Enjoy!

thanks everyone, that was incredibly helpful. I got onto st. anne's site, but I guess my browser is just being weird.

thanks for the oxford-london transport tips, i will definitely take those into consideration.