Transfer from/to the airports
Travelling to and from your Oxbridge Summer Scholars programme couldn’t be easier! For most international and UK flights, you’ll be flying into one of two major London airports: London Heathrow (LHR) or London Gatwick (LGW).
From both of these airports, you have several ways of reaching your final destination – whether you’re heading to Oxford or Cambridge – including efficient public transport links and a flexible private transfer option. Below, we explain the main ways to complete your journey with confidence.
Travel to/from Oxford
From either Heathrow or Gatwick, there are several convenient ways to reach Oxford:
Coach
- Oxford Airline – A dedicated airport coach service operating between Oxford and both Heathrow and Gatwick. Typical journey times are around 80–90 minutes from Heathrow and 2–2.5 hours from Gatwick. Fares vary depending on the time of travel and booking method. Book and view schedules on the official site.
- National Express Coaches – Frequent services run directly between Heathrow or Gatwick and Oxford Bus Station. From Heathrow, journey times are typically about 90 minutes or more; from Gatwick, around 1.5–2 hours. One‑way fares are usually in the region of £20–£25 when booked in advance. You can check timetables and fares here.
Train
Trains from Heathrow or Gatwick to Oxford require one or more changes (typically via London or Reading). While this can be faster in some cases, it involves handling luggage across train stations, so may not be ideal for all students. For planning and tickets see National Rail.
Travel to/from Cambridge
Coach
National Express Coaches operate direct services between the airports and Cambridge. Journey times on these coaches are approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, and fares often start from around £12 one‑way when booked early. Coaches typically arrive and depart from Cambridge Parkside, close to the city centre. For details and bookings, see National Express.
Train
Trains are a practical option to reach Cambridge from Heathrow or Gatwick. Services operate from the airport rail station (located at the South Terminal) with at least one change (often via London). Total journey times vary widely depending on schedule and connections. Planning and tickets can be found via National Rail.
OSS Private Transfer Service
OSS offers an optional private airport transfer service from Heathrow or Gatwick to either Oxford or Cambridge for all students who would like additional support, regardless of age.
However, for students under 18 travelling to the UK alone, a private airport transfer must be arranged either through OSS or independently by the family. This is because UK Border Force officers have become increasingly strict when assessing young travellers arriving alone. Students may be asked to provide details of who is meeting them at the airport, and in some cases, entry may be delayed or refused if appropriate arrangements are not in place.
If you arrange your own transfer, please make sure that the driver or transfer provider is available to meet the student at the airport arrivals area and take them directly to the college.
Why choose a private transfer?
- Door‑to‑door service avoiding multiple changes or heavy luggage handling.
- Convenient for late arrivals or early departures.
- Particularly helpful for younger students or first‑time visitors to the UK.
To arrange a private transfer or if you have any questions about planning your journey, please contact the OSS team in advance:
Download our programme brochure
