Oxford
<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.
- Option 3 (North only)
If you are hitching up north, you can also try the A44/A34 junction (there is a petrol station there too). It's a 3-mile walk or a bus journey to Pear Tree Park and Ride
South towards Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, West towards Swindon and Bristol
If you want to head to Portsmouth, Southampton or Winchester, or towards M4, you have two junctions to go from - A4074/A34 junction (where the southern part of Oxford Ring Road joins A34), or Botley junction with the A34.
From Botley 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. This worked well for user Lnx on the 22nd of February 2008 - the waiting time in the morning (7:05am) was about 4 (four!) minutes.
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.
