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Travelling from Manchester to Oxford, the fastest train takes 2 hours 48 minutes with an average travel time of 3 hours 3 minutes. 29 trains are running daily, with the first departing at 05:11 and the last at 22:14. Stay updated with live train status, times, delays, and cancellations on TrainPal.
| Departs | Arrives | Operator | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
20:25 | 2 hours 48 minutes, Direct | 23:13 | CrossCountry | Find tickets |
20:41 | 5 hours 10 minutes, 2 change | 01:51 | East Midlands Railway | Find tickets |
22:03 | 9 hours, 2 change | 07:03 | CrossCountry | Find tickets |
22:03 | 9 hours 11 minutes, 1 change | 07:14 | CrossCountry | Find tickets |
22:14 | 7 hours 57 minutes, 1 change | 06:11 | Avanti West Coast | Find tickets |
Plan your journey from Manchester to Oxford with ease. Explore the first and last train times, departure and arrival stations, distance, journey time, and price options to make the most of your trip.
Getting from Manchester Piccadilly to Oxford with CrossCountry takes just under three hours.
You’ll head south on your journey, leaving Greater Manchester for the Midlands. Then, press on towards Oxfordshire, with its seemingly ancient traditional villages, large English oaks, and prototypically English countryside.
CrossCountry provides a comprehensive railway network connecting towns and cities throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. This network enables travel between major British cities, including Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Birmingham.
As the busiest station in Manchester, Manchester Piccadilly is a great place to depart. It has effortless, easy public transport links, being near Manchester Coach Station, local buses, taxis, and trams. It’s also linked to the airport by rail and the other Manchester train stations like Victoria and Oxford Road.
This all means it’s incredibly easy to get to; whether you’re coming from Manchester yourself or elsewhere like Liverpool, Leeds, Blackpool or Newcastle, you’ll easily get to Manchester Piccadilly to catch your train to Oxford.
The station can also be found on Piccadilly Station Approach, right in the heart of the city, with only a stone’s throw from its namesake: Piccadilly Gardens.
From Manchester to Oxford, there are eleven stops: Stockport, Macclesfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham New Street, Birmingham International, Coventry, Leamington Spa, and Banbury.
It’s worth considering that these stops may change due to scheduling changes or unforeseen circumstances like accidents, train faults, engineering works, or poor weather conditions. It's best to double-check before you leave to avoid disappointment.
Oxford is known poetically as ‘The City of Dreaming Spires’ and is recognised for its famous university, its higgledy-piggledy architecture spanning anywhere from the Saxons to today, and its Tolkienesque surrounding villages. That puts some pressure on its train station to live up to the name of this outstanding city.
The station, then, is a small station that lives up to its big name. Located on Park End Street, near Osney Bridge, Oxford Station is well served by public transport, including local buses and a taxi rank at its main entrance. It also boasts excellent connectivity to London, too.
*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.
Taking the train from Manchester to Oxford is both efficient and enjoyable, offering scenic views and comfort. With frequent departures from Manchester, you can arrive at Oxford in just 2 hours 48 minutes, making it a quick and convenient option for travelling between these two places.

The fastest train journey time from Manchester to Oxford is 2 hours 48 minutes . Use our Train Journey Planner to find direct trains, avoid transfers, and compare travel times for each route to see if there are fewer stops to make your journey seamless.
No, unfortunately, you need to transfer from Manchester to Oxford. Still, the TrainPal Train Journey Planner helps you find the best train. Just input your origin or destination places, then click "Search" to see the suitable route.

Manchester to Oxford trains are generally punctual, but delays or cancellations can occur due to weather, strikes, and other factors. After purchasing a ticket, use TrainPal to track live train updates. Before buying a ticket, our Train Journey Planner provides all necessary booking information. Simply enter your departure and arrival stations, click 'Search,' and view routes labelled 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest,' with all details displayed.
Typically, you should plan to arrive at the station 15-20 minutes before your train is scheduled to depart. However, the size of the station and your familiarity with it can affect this timing. For larger or less familiar stations, leaving home earlier can help reduce stress and ensure a more relaxed journey.
Yes, most trains on the route from Manchester to Oxford are equipped with Wi-Fi. Passengers can also enjoy complimentary food, drinks, and power sockets for a more comfortable journey. Please note that the availability of these services can vary depending on the train company
Make use of our Train Journey Planner for detailed transfer information, ensuring your journey is smooth and efficient, saving you valuable time and effort, and allowing you to rest completely for your travels.

Get easy and quick access to live updates and notifications via the TrainPal app. If your phone is enabled to receive messages from us, you'll receive notifications about train cancellations on your screen as soon as you pick up your phone
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