Visitor Travel Info
All visitors are advised to use this printable 2-page visitor leaflet specifically for visitors to the Department of Materials
The Department of Materials occupies seven main buildings within the University Science Area in the centre of Oxford. In addition, the department has research facilities in four buildings outside Oxford at the Oxford University Begbroke Science Park (OUBSP) .
Consider planning your journey to the Department of Materials via public transport using TravelLineSouthEast.
Visitors arriving by air will probably arrive at one of five airports.
- Heathrow - 75km from Oxford - Direct coach service to Oxford every 30 minutes.
- Gatwick - 150km from Oxford - Direct coach service to Oxford every 2 hours.
- Luton - 90km from Oxford - coach service to Oxford alternatively go into central London and out again by coach or rail.
- Stansted - 150km from Oxford - Direct coach service to Oxford every 2 hours.
- Birmingham International - 75km from Oxford - Direct train to Oxford every hour.
Trains run at least once an hour between Oxford and London (Paddington), and twice an hour during peak times, but the coach will be cheaper and more frequent. Oxford is also on the main cross-country train routes. For details of times and fares, visit http://www.nationalrail.co.uk or http://www.rail.co.uk. See the arrivals/departure board at Oxford station in real-time at http://www.livedepartureboards.co.uk/ldb/summary.aspx?T=OXF. Oxford railway station is about 1.5km from the Department of Materials as shown on the visitor leaflet. Oxford Parkway is about 3km from the Department of Materials on a frequent direct bus route.
Visiting Oxford by Bus/Coach :
Stagecoach (01865 772250) runs a frequent 24hr service between London (Victoria Coach Station) and Oxford. The Oxford Bus Company's 'The Airline' service also runs direct services to Oxford from the airports Heathrow (every 30 minutes) and Gatwick (every 2 hours). Information about coach services from other parts of the country is available at http://www.nationalexpress.co.uk. Gloucester Green central coach station is about 1km from the Department of Materials as shown on the visitor leaflet.
Visiting Oxford by Car : ** parking in central Oxford is very restricted **
Oxford has good access by road from all directions. All visitors are advised to use the ring-road in order to approach from the North, thereby avoiding the city centre. Detailed instructions for visiting either the Department of Materials in central Oxford or in Begbroke Science Park, 6 miles outside Oxford, are given below. Parking in Oxford City is restricted and expensive. Visitors are recommended to use Oxford Parkway Park & Ride.
Maps are shown on the visitor leaflet, alternatively use these routefinders with postcodes OX1 3PH or OX5 1PF.
- http://www.multimap.com/
- http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp
- http://www.rac.co.uk/route-planner/
Visiting the Department of Materials:
For those travelling by Air, Rail and Bus/Coach, the railway station and coach stations are both within walking distance and are shown on the visitor leaflet. Visitors are requested to report to reception in the Hume-Rothery Building.
Visitors travelling by car are strongly advised to use the Park and Ride to the north of the city (as shown on the visitor leaflet). If travelling by car and not using the Park and Ride please ask your host in advance to book one of the four parking spaces. All visitors are advised to approach the Department of Materials from the North, along the Banbury Road. Starting from the Banbury Road roundabout (junction with the Northern By-pass), follow signs for the City Centre. After 1 mile pass through the shopping precinct at Summertown and continue straight-on at the traffic lights. After a further 1.5 miles turn left into Parks Road at the traffic lights. The visitors parking spaces are 100m on the right on the pavement outside the Hume-Rothery Building. Report to reception in the Hume-Rothery Building to obtain a parking permit.
Visiting Oxford University Begbroke Science Park (OUBSP):
The University of Oxford's Oxford University Begbroke Science Park is located approximately 6 miles North of the city centre as shown on the visitor leaflet. For those visitors not travelling by car, the department runs a minibus (minibus timetable). In addition numerous researchers make unscheduled trips. Alternatively a taxi costs about £10 one-way.
Travelling by car from the Department of Materials in central Oxford, head north along the Banbury Road. At the roundabout turn left onto the Northern By-pass. At the next roundabout turn right onto the Woodstock Road. At the next roundabout (The Pear Tree juntion with the A34) continue straight following signs for Woodstock. After another three mini-roundabouts following signs to Woodstock turn right at the traffic lights signed Oxford University Begbroke Science Park. All visitors are requested to report to reception.
How to get to Oxford University according to Oxford University
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