Getting Around Banbury

How to travel to work, explore town, or take weekend trips

Banbury is a small town, which means you won’t need a car to get around — unless you prefer driving or live outside town. Most essentials are walkable or reachable by short bus rides. For longer journeys, Banbury is also well connected by train and motorway.

🚶‍♀️ Walking

• Banbury is very walkable. You can walk from the town centre to Cherwell Hospital in around 20–30 minutes.
  
• Most supermarkets, pharmacies, and shops are within a 10–15 minute walk of central neighbourhoods like Grimsbury or Easington.
  

🚲 Cycling

• Banbury is generally safe for cycling, especially in residential areas.
  
• You can use a basic second-hand bike for commuting to the hospital or shops.
  
• There are no formal bike-sharing schemes yet, so you’ll need your own bike.
  

🛒 Try looking for bikes on Facebook Marketplace or local charity shops (sometimes refurbished bikes available for £50–£100).

🚌 Local Buses (Stagecoach)

• Operated by Stagecoach
  
• Main bus routes connect central Banbury with suburbs and nearby villages (like Bodicote, Bloxham, and Hanwell Fields)
  
• Single tickets usually cost £2–£3, but weekly/monthly passes are cheaper if you travel often
  

📍 You can catch most buses from Bridge Street / Bus Station in town

🕓 Buses typically run:

• Weekdays: 6am – 7pm
  
• Saturdays: 7am – 6pm
  
• Sundays: Limited or no service
  

💡 Download the Stagecoach app to check real-time arrivals and buy mobile tickets.

🚆 Trains from Banbury Station

• Banbury Station is located close to the centre, ~10 minutes’ walk from town
  
• Direct trains to:
  
  • Oxford (20–25 minutes)
    
  • London Marylebone (1h 5m – 1h 15m)
    
  • Birmingham Moor Street (50 minutes)
    

🎟️ Sample one-way train fares:

• Banbury → Oxford: £8–£11
  
• Banbury → London: £25–£35 (cheaper with Railcard)
  

💡 Consider getting a Railcard (£30/year) — saves you 1/3 on train fares if you travel regularly.

🚗 Driving and Car Rentals

• If you plan to drive long-term, you may need to exchange your licence (depending on your home country)
  
• Banbury is close to the M40 motorway, which connects to Oxford, Birmingham, and London
  

🅿️ Town parking: Short-stay and long-stay car parks are available, often £1–£2/hour

🚌 Weekend Coach Trips

• National Express and Megabus offer low-cost travel to London, Birmingham, and more
  
• Coaches often pick up from Banbury bus station
  

👜 Great for weekend shopping, sightseeing, or meeting friends in big cities