Landmarks
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
The UK's largest zoo set across 600 acres of Bedfordshire parkland with drive-through animal enclosures.
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Road trip route · United Kingdom
London to Oxford drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 1 hr 31 min
- Distance
- 60 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £10
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The London to Oxford drive
The drive from London to Oxford covers 60 miles (96 km) and takes about 1 hr 31 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
About 53% of it is on the M40, and most of the rest on the A40 and the A4142. You pass Harrow and High Wycombe on the way.
Expect gentle hills rather than climbs. The high point is around 253 m near High Wycombe.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around £10 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 60 miles this is longer than 6% of the 144 routes covered here, short enough to fold into a bigger itinerary without losing a day.
The road, mile by mile
Towns within a few miles of the fastest route, with the time it takes to reach them without stopping.
- StartLondon
- 11 miHarrow17 min in
- 30 miHigh Wycombe45 min in
- 60 miOxford
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- M4032 mi · 53%
- A4019 mi · 32%
- A41424 mi · 7%
Best stops between London and Oxford
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Museums
Brooklands Museum
The birthplace of British motorsport and aviation, featuring the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit from 1907.
Cafes & Pit Stops
Box Hill National Trust Cafe
The hilltop cafe at the summit of Box Hill offering sweeping views across the Surrey Hills, a classic destination for drivers and cyclists alike.
Cafes & Pit Stops
David's Cafe at Box Hill
A popular roadside cafe at the base of the Box Hill zig-zag road, serving as the unofficial meeting point for the Surrey biker community.
Landmarks
Thorpe Park
Thrill-focused theme park near London catering to older children and adults with intense roller coasters.
Racetracks
Brooklands
The world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, opened 1907, where surviving sections of the towering concrete Members' Banking rear up out of the Surrey woodland. The museum holds racing cars and aircraft on the original site.
Filming Locations
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - Making of Harry Potter
The Leavesden studios where all eight films were shot; the tour preserves the original Great Hall, Diagon Alley and Hogwarts Express sets.
Landmarks
Windsor Castle
The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, serving as a royal residence for over 900 years.
Landmarks
LEGOLAND Windsor
Family-friendly theme park near London with LEGO-themed rides, building workshops, and Miniland models.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
United Kingdom
- Motorway
- 112 km/h · 48 in town
- Tolls
- Individual tolled crossings (Dart Charge, M6 Toll)
- Drives on
- the left
Low-emission zones: London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in United Kingdom
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Snake Pass + Peak District
Cobblestone villages, Bronte-novel moors, and the moodiest 14 miles of road in England
104 km · 2h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
Atlantic Highway A39: North Cornwall
Cornish surf beaches, smuggler's coves, and the Westcountry pasty trail
139 km · 2.5h driving · 7 stops · 4 days
Causeway Coastal Route
Belfast to Derry along Northern Ireland's cliff-edge coast, via Game of Thrones country
200 km · 3.3h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
NC500: North Coast 500
Scotland's answer to Route 66: 516 miles of mountains, single-track roads, and empty beaches
755 km · 11.4h driving · 9 stops · 7 days
London to Oxford FAQs
How long is the drive from London to Oxford?
Driving from London to Oxford takes about 1 hr 31 min nonstop, covering 60 miles (96 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from London to Oxford?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £10 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from London to Oxford in one day?
Yes, at about 1 hr 31 min of driving, London to Oxford is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from London to Oxford?
The fastest route uses the M40 (about 32 mi), the A40 (about 19 mi), the A4142 (about 4 mi). It passes Harrow, High Wycombe.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 57 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between London and Oxford?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Brooklands Museum, Box Hill National Trust Cafe: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from London & Oxford
London → AberdeenLondon → AmsterdamLondon → BarcelonaLondon → BathLondon → BirminghamLondon → BrightonLondon → BristolLondon → BrugesLondon → BrusselsLondon → Cambridge
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in United Kingdom guide.