Getting here
Map
Ordnance Survey map of Charlbury.
Printable map of Charlbury Map © OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA/ODbL.
By train
Charlbury has an outstanding railway service for this size of town. Its Brunel-designed station, in the Evenlode Valley below the town, is situated on the newly upgraded Cotswold Line.
Trains run on a generally hourly basis to Oxford, Reading and London Paddington, and in the other direction to Worcester and Great Malvern. Most services are operated by comfortable Inter-City trains. Travel time is around 1hr30 from London and 20mins from Oxford.
The Cotswold Line Railcard and Network Railcard give a 33% discount on off-peak travel to Charlbury. Connections from the Midlands and North are available at Oxford and Worcester. All Charlbury’s trains are provided by Great Western Railway.
By car
Charlbury is at the junction of several B-roads - making it easy to access but without crippling through traffic.
Use the postcode OX7 3PN for your satnav, but when you reach Charlbury, please follow the signs to the Town Centre rather than trusting its directions!
From the M40 south, leave at junction 8, follow the A40 around the north of Oxford, then take the A44 (signposted Evesham, Stratford, Woodstock). After Woodstock, turn left on the B4437.
From the M40 north, leave at junction 15 (Warwick), follow the A429 south to Halford, then turn south on the A3400. Continue through Shipston and Long Compton; after it becomes the A44, turn right on the B4022 at Enstone.
From the west, take the A40 from Gloucester and Cheltenham; turn north at Burford on the A361; then after Fulbrook, turn right on the B4437.
By bus
Hourly buses run from Oxford (Stagecoach service S3), Witney and Chipping Norton (Pulhams service X9). Note that half the S3 buses (and almost all evening services) run to Chipping Norton, not Charlbury - make sure you catch the right one.
See the map of the S3 route in Charlbury.
By bike
Get cycling directions to Charlbury at cycle.travel, and find out about the Cotswold Line Cycle Route through the town.
Alternatively, from National Cycle Network Route 5 between Oxford and Banbury, leave at this crossroads and head through Kiddington. Cross the main A44 and follow a minor road, veering left before the entrance to Ditchley Park. When you emerge on the B road at the edge of a wood, turn right towards Charlbury.
From overseas
If arriving at Heathrow Airport, take the RailAir bus to Reading, the Heathrow Express train to London Paddington, or the coach to Oxford; then a train to Charlbury (its destination will be Worcester, Great Malvern or Hereford).
From Gatwick, take the train to Reading, or the coach to Oxford, and change. From Birmingham airport, take the train to Oxford and change.
The Witney Shuttle provides a daily, timetabled minibus service direct from Heathrow and Gatwick to any address in Charlbury: www.witneyshuttle.com, 08000 434633/01993 705993.
