Doncaster-Cambridge-Oxford-Doncaster

[johnnychips]

Hi. I need to go from Donny-Cambridge-Oxford-Donny on Saturday. I can get advances to and from Donny for £35 and £32 respectively, but what's the best/cheapest way from Cambridge to Oxford at about 1300-1430.

Any help appreciated.

 

[bb21]

Stagecoach X5?

 

[TEW]

I doubt you'll beat the bus on price. £12.50 for a single according to the website. It is slow though, it takes 3.5 hours. The train via London should take about 2.5 hours.

 

[johnnychips]

I didn't realise they were so far apart. I take it it's a coach on the X5 not a bus.

You are right about trains, 2.5 hrs but £51 Single/Off Peak. Would it be cheaper splitting?

Also does anybody know any nice pubs near Oxford station? I know the good Cambridge ones.

Thanks for info so far.

 

[greatkingrat]

You could just get a SSR Doncaster - Reading for £99 which is valid via Cambridge and via Oxford.

 

[johnnychips]

That sounds good. Pardon my ignorance but what is an SSR? I presume break of journeys are allowed outbound and inbound, and am I likely to get hassle on the deviation from the 'normal' route between Peterborough and London?

 

[PermitToTravel]

That sounds good. Pardon my ignorance but what is an SSR? I presume break of journeys are allowed outbound and inbound, and am I likely to get hassle on the deviation from the 'normal' route between Peterborough and London?

An SSR is a super off-peak return, and this particular one allows outbound/inbound BoJ. I wouldn't expect you to have trouble going from Peterborough to London via Cambridge, but you may need to remind gateline staff at Oxford/Cambridge of the rules (this is unlikely)

 

[John @ home]

I need to go from Donny-Cambridge-Oxford-Donny on Saturday.

How about a £93.70 Off-Peak Return Doncaster - Reading route Not Via London, which is valid for the return leg Reading - Oxford - Birmingham - Doncaster.

For the outward leg, a £99.00 Super Off-Peak Return Doncaster - Reading route ✠ Any Permitted is valid Doncaster - Cambridge - London - Reading.

You can excess the £93.70 fare to travel on the outward leg only by the route of the £99.00 fare. This costs half the difference, that's £2.65, giving a total cost of £96.35 for Doncaster - Cambridge - (Tottenham Hale or Liverpool St or Kings X) - Tube - Paddington - Reading - Oxford - Birmingham - Doncaster.

These tickets have no time restrictions on Saturdays.

 

[johnnychips]

Thanks Fahad

Hi John AH

I assume that if I go to Donny station tomorrow they will understand what your post means. I've never understood excesses!

As for the £99 SSR, National Rail won't let me have it via Cambridge but East Coast will. It might be easier to do this online for the sake of a few quid than risk difficulties on the station.

As an aside, I wondered if there were any NX coaches from Cambridge to Oxford, but it just came up with the X5 for £12.50, suggesting there were 'only four seats left' on many services, which seems misleading, to say the least.

 

[John @ home]

I assume that if I go to Donny station tomorrow they will understand what your post means.

They ought to! I'd be surprised if you had any difficulty at Doncaster.

As for the £99 SSR, National Rail won't let me have it via Cambridge but East Coast will. It might be easier to do this online for the sake of a few quid than risk difficulties on the station.

Given the small difference in price, that's the simplest option.

I've never understood excesses!

Then this is your opportunity to read East Coast's Excess Fares Guide for on-train staff, published as a result of a Freedom of Information request.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Nice pubs near Oxford station? The one nearest to the station (it's changed its name several times, and its immediately to the West of the station on the Botley Road) is a dive - and all the other pubs further along that road have now closed down. So don't go that way!

I suppose it depends on your taste, but I'd say it was worth walking the 10-15 mins towards George St/St Giles to either the Lamb and Flag, or perhaps Far From the Madding Crowd, which is on an alleyway between Gloucester Green (by the bus station) & St Mary Magdalen's church (there's another OK pub at the Gloucester Green end of the same alley, but the name escapes me). There are other passably decent places on the way, but none I'd recommend really close to the railway station.

 

[kendaldrac]

Do you have times when want to arrive and depart from your stations and destinations as there are quite a few options that could save you money on the price of the train ticket

 

[johnnychips]

Thanks for all your help, fares, timetables and pubs. I think the easiest option is to go for the £99 SSR and print a sample itinerary in case staff ask. It gives me flexibility and will avoid the unlikely event of having to explain myself when I don't understand what I'm on about.

Last question: is it a long walk to centre of Cambridge from station and VV, or should I get a bus?

 

[reb0118]

Last question: is it a long walk to centre of Cambridge from station and VV, or should I get a bus?

I think it is a fairly long walk? The first & last time I did it we stopped at various hostelries en route. There were two Scotsmen (inc. me in a kilt) & our local guide (guide in the loosest terms!) who was showing us the sights. We were well into our cups by the time we reached the centre of Cambridge. Our local friend ended up cycling into a field on his way home and was woken up by some random cow. I went off with a random nurse from Addenbrooke's - funnily enough she wasn't wearing any knickers too! A good time was had by all!

I've never been to Oxford. It's on the list though.

If you can postpone your trip for a while I believe there will be a railway linking the two educational centres in a few years.

Enjoy!

 

[kendaldrac]

Its a bit of a hike from Cambridge Railway Station to the city centre best bet catch the citi 1 bus service outside the station. Frequent service into the city centre every ten minutes from stop number seven.

 

[johnnychips]

Thanks Kendaldrac

reb0118 - if my experiences are one tenth of yours from the station to the town, I will have had a good day; the thing I'm most looking forward to actually is a couple of pints in the Eagle and a Greek Kebab from the Gardenia.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thanks for the replies: I got the necessary business done in both cities, had a kebab at the Gardenia in Cambridge and found a nice pub near the station called The Oxford Retreat (in Oxford).
I would never have thought of the ingenuity of an SSR to Reading, which allowed me flexibility and breaking of journeys. You experts are wonderful.

 

[bb21]

You experts are wonderful.

I'm surprised that it took you so long to realize.

 

[jopsuk]

the thing I'm most looking forward to actually is a couple of pints in the Eagle

whatever floats your boat, but the Eagle is a Green King tourist trap with poor beer. My city centre (ish) pub recommendations are usually The Mill and the Maypole.

(and from the Station to the city centre there's no need to wait for a Citi 1- there's also the 3, 7 & 8 plus the Guided Bus A & C (the latter a Whippet service)