Oxford

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<map lat='51.7576404113981' lng='-1.219482421875' zoom='11' view='0' float='right'/> Oxford is home to one of the UK's most prestigious Universities and is a tourist hot spot.

Hitching Out

South-East towards London or North towards Birmingham

  • Route out of city: A40 (Eastbound), M40
    • Option 1 - a truck stop near Thornhill Park and Ride

Thornhill Park and Ride is situated along A40, at the eastern edge of Oxford, 4 miles out of city centre. You can easily get there by any Park and Ride bus - this includes all London-bound buses (X90 and Oxford Tube). The current single fare is £1.60.

Exit the Park and Ride site, cross the A40 and walk east (towards M40). In 1/2 mile you will arrive at a truck stop, which is a good hitch-hiking spot.

    • Option 2 - Oxford Motorway Service Station

See below.

South towards Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester

If you want to head to Portsmouth, Southampton or Winchester, try going to the Botley junction with the A34.

From the same junction the A420 goes towards Swindon & Bristol. Take bus #4 (Botley) or any bus going to Seacourt Park and Ride (the junction with A34 is a few hundred metres away from the Park and Ride site).

On the A34 Southbound slip road there is a nice long area of hatched markings, which is a safe and convenient place for a vehicle to stop to pick you up.

Oxford Motorway Services

  • Access: M40 Junction 8A, A418 (off A40)
  • Site Type: Single site, used by traffic in all directions
  • Postcode: OX33 1JN
  • Distance from Oxford: 11 miles

The services are a good hitch-hiking spot, as they are visited by traffic bound for all directions - North/South (via M40), East (via A40) and West (via A418).

The site is accessible by public transport from Oxford - the bus no. 280 (towards Aylesbury) leaves Oxford from Queen's Lane (stop K2) every 30-60 minutes. The journey takes 28 minutes.

An alternative option would be to start walking in the direction of Headington (St Clement's Street, A420), and try to get a lift on the way towards the services or at least A40 (Thornhill Park and Ride or truckstop). There is a Shell Petrol Station on London Rd in Headington, so you may try asking for a lift there.