Clare and Martin are getting married
Internet Sites Offering Flights to Britain
I am sure that many of you will book your flights through a travel
agent, but I have found some excellent bargains on flights via the
following sites. You might also want to check out the airlines' own
websites - sometimes they have deals on offer. If nothing else, it
might be worth checking out a couple of these sites before you go to
your travel agent. If any of you have a good discount site to
recommend for inclusion here, do let me know, and I will add it in.
Canada 3000 -- a charter company offering cheap flights to London. I've
flown with them, but haven't booked on-line. The service is basic, but
the prices are good.
Air Transat -- a charter company, much like Canada 3000. Again, I've
flown with them, but not booked on-line.
Expedia -- lets you search a variety of carriers, according to price.
I have used this service (booking on-line), and
found it reliable.
Flightnetwork This offers a
similar service to expedia. I have not used it personally, but it comes
highly recommended by a reliable source and frequent traveller.
Airline Tickets Direct -- I've not used this one, but it seems to list
Canada 3000 and Air Transat flight prices.
Air Canada Home Page
British Airways Home Page
Virgin-Atlantic Home Page.
Travel from the airport to Oxford
Coach
By far the best way to get from Heathrow or Gatwick to Oxford is by
coach. The Oxford Bus Company runs a direct service from both airports
to Oxford, 24 hours a day. When using either service, you will want to
disembark at the final stop in Oxford, the Gloucester Green Bus Station.
At the airport, the coach driver will load your suitcases onto the bus
according to where you are getting off, so be sure to tell him
Gloucester (pronounced Gloster) Green. There is a taxi rank in
operation at the Oxford bus station, so that it will be easy to get to
your hotel or guest house.
Heathrow: If you fly into Terminals 1, 2, or 3
at Heathrow, you catch the bus at the Heathrow Central Bus Station, bus
stop 10. If you fly into Terminal 4 at Heathrow, you catch it at bus
stop 19, at Terminal 4. The fare for a return ticket (which is valid
for three months) is £14.00, so it is wise to make sure that you've got
at least that much in British money in your wallet!
Gatwick: If you fly
into the South Terminal at Gatwick, you catch the bus at Bus Stop 8
there. If you fly into the North Terminal at Gatwcik, you catch the bus
at Bus Stop 4 there. The fare for a return ticket (again, valid for
three months) is £21.00.
For detailed information about scheduling please see
Oxford Bus Company, and click on "The Oxford Express".
Car Rental
If you'd like to rent a car for the duration of your stay, most of the
major companies have booths at Heathrow and Gatwick. If you'd like to
make reservations in advance (and, in the summer, I would recommend
this), check out the following sites
Hertz and
Europcar.
Travel from the airport to London
If you are arriving early, and are staying in London before coming to
Oxford, the best way to get into central London from Heathrow is via the
Heathrow Express, a high-speed train that leaves Heathrow every fifteen
minutes. At £22.00 for a return trip, it may seem like a lot of money,
but trust me, it is fast and convenient, and well worth the price after
a long flight. There is a slight discount if you book on-line. See
Heathrow Express Whatever you do, do NOT take the
underground (subway), unless you fancy a ridiculously long journey, with
no place to put your luggage...
The best way to get to central London from Gatwick is (funnily enough)
via the Gatwick Express. It's pretty much the same as the Heathrow
Express, but costs £20.00 for a return trip. See Gatwick Express .