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Bus from Blenheim to Oxford

I'm researching day trips for this summer from London, and I'm looking at bus schedules to get back and forth from Oxford to Blenheim Palace. I see that there are three buses according to Google that connect the two places: 7, S3 and the Park and Ride. Am I correct in assuming that tickets are only good on the specific bus you buy it on? That is, if I buy a return ticket that day on the S3 to get out to Blenheim, do I have to take the S3 to get back to Oxford? I can't take the 7 or the Park and Ride. Is that correct?

Posted by
2482 posts

just buy a single ticket for your outgoing bus, then you're not tied to a particular bus for your return

Posted by
5310 posts

The 7 and S3 buses are operated by Stagecoach. You can save money and buy a return for £4.80, or £6 if you are going to use another Stagecoach bus on the same day (and Oxford Bus Company and Thames within the Smart zone).

There are similar deals on the 500 operated by the Oxford Bus Company.

You may want to look at the arrangements for combined tickets (OBC) or discounted tickets (Stagecoach).

Posted by
5310 posts

For people coming from London just for Blenheim, it is now quicker to take the train from Marylebone to Oxford Parkway station and take the bus from there as this cuts out using the bus in the crowded centre of Oxford.

Posted by
387 posts

Thanks for all the replies!! I'm also considering now taking the 233 bus from Blenheim to the Hanborough station and going back to London from there. I'll wait and see what the ticket prices are like once I get to 12 weeks out and decide what is best.

Posted by
5310 posts

The rail service to Hanborough is less frequent than to Oxford Parkway (or indeed to Oxford) - but you may be coming from somewhere in the Cotswolds I suppose.

Posted by
387 posts

I'm considering train from London-Oxford, see sights in Oxford. In the afternoon, bus from Oxford-Blenheim, see palace and grounds (for as much time as I have). When I'm done, bus from Blenheim-Hanborough, then train back to London. Just to save on the 30 minute bus ride back to Oxford. There are definitely fewer trains to London from Hanborough, so I'll have to see if it's a feasible idea or not.

Posted by
5310 posts

The bus journey to Oxford Parkway (not Oxford) is only 15 minutes, and the frequency of the bus and onward train is double. The ride to Marylebone from there is under an hour, precise times depending on later stops.

Not that the route via Hanborough is particularly bad. However, since the option via Oxford Parkway rather than going into the centre is fairly new it was worth mentioning.