How to travel from Oxford to Preston, United Kingdom

The distance between Oxford and Preston is around 279km (174 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 50m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Oxford to Preston by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out PrestonOxford if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
train
+

Train

Take the train to Birmingham New Street and then to Preston.

  • Duration2h 50m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £89($105)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2
train
+
plane
+
train
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to London Paddington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Preston.

  • Duration3h 20m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £260($305)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

3
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Brunel Street and then to Preston City Centre Bus Station.

  • Duration5h 10m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £30($35)

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Preston.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Distance290km (180 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Oxford and Preston

There are several options for getting from Oxford to Preston by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £14 ($17) and will take around 5h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £89 ($105).

The distance between Oxford and Preston is around 279km (174 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 243km (151 miles)

It takes around 2h 50m to get from Oxford and Preston by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Oxford to Preston is to take the train which takes around 2h 50m and will set you back approx £89 ($105).

The cheapest way to travel between Oxford and Preston, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £14 ($17) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Oxford and Preston. It typically takes around 2h 50m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Oxford to Preston. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Birmingham New Street. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 50m.

CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast run train services between Oxford and Preston. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 50m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Oxford and Preston. It typically takes around 5h 10m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Oxford to Preston. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Brunel Street. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 5h 10m.

Megabus UK and National Express run regular bus services between Oxford and Preston. Buses run once daily and take around 5h 10m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Oxford to Preston. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Preston. instead which will take 3h 20m.

The closest major airport to Preston is Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) which is approximately 48km (30 miles) from Preston. Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) and Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) (LBA) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Oxford and Preston. The distance is around 290km (180 miles) by road and it will take around 3hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Oxford to Preston is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 50m and will usually cost around £89 ($105).

How do I get from Oxford to Preston

Compare travel optionsbetween Oxford and Preston

Transport options from Oxford to Preston
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 50m
£89($105)
hourly279km (174 miles)
Train and Plane + 1 similar
3h 20m
£260($305)
hourly435km (270 miles)
Train to Southampton Airport Parkway, plane3h 40m
£265($315)
every 2 hours454km (282 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
5h 10m
£30($35)
once daily311km (193 miles)
Bus via Birmingham Coach Station, Digbeth5h 10m
£14($17)
once daily323km (201 miles)
Drive
3hrs
£51($60)
on demand290km (180 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Oxford and Preston

Airports near Preston

The following major airports near Preston offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
48km (30 miles) from Preston
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
52km (32 miles) from Preston
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
69km (43 miles) from Preston