where we are
The workshop is a purpose-designed training space in the heart of Oxford, housed in a gingerbread cottage by Magdalen Bridge, which is at the end of the High Street. Close by in East Oxford on St Clements and Cowley Road are many cafes, sandwich bars and restaurants, and a variety of small supermarkets and a range of shops.
Facilities for refreshments are available in the training room (fair-trade where possible) and the fridge and microwave can be used. Please use washable pens or pencils to avoid accidents, and use the storage areas available for bags and coats (and if you wish, shoes) to keep the space as workable and spacious as possible.
York Place is at the back of the cul-de-sac turning on the right off the London Road, St Clements, just by the Plain roundabout if heading towards Oxford High Street — or on the left if heading out of the city centre towards South Parks, Headington and the A40/M40.
During the current pandemic, please contact us for further information
transport:
- On foot: Starting at Carfax crossroads in the centre of Oxford, with the clock tower at your back, walk along the gentle curve of the High Street and over Magdalen Bridge, staying on the left side of the road. Just after you pass the roundabout you will find York Place immediately on your left. The workshop is at the back of this cul de sac in a courtyard area.
- By bicycle: There are bike racks next door to the workshop
- By bus: All Headington, Marston and Brookes University buses stop on London Road, St Clements. The London Tube and the Oxford Express coaches (every ten minutes £16 return) to and from London Victoria via various London stops, and the coach to Heathrow and Gatwick also stop there, as well as an occasional bus to Cambridge and Stanstead airport. All these bus stops are with a couple of minutes walk. Cowley Road buses are less than three minutes walk away — see below.
- By train: There are regular trains to Oxford from the North West and Scotland and the North East, via Birmingham, via Reading from the South East, and from London. Outside the railway station is a taxi stand, or at the bottom of the steps on the right is a Blackbird Leys bus (Number 5) — get off at the Plain bus stop which is just past the roundabout on the Cowley Road. Walk back a few yards in the direction you came and turn right onto the very short Dawson Street, left on St Clements and over the pedestrian crossing. York Place is immediately on your left - under 5 minutes
- By car: Oxford has a green policy and cars are discouraged in the city area. Parking outside the workshop is only possible evenings after 5 and Saturdays after 2, and Sundays - by luck. There is a car park on the next turning on the same side of St Clements — whilst charges are nominal for an hour they rise to over £15 for the day. Please ensure you have enough £1 and £2 coins available for the whole time of your training session so that your energy and the group are not distracted by worrying about topping up your parking ticket — there is a text service with a credit/debit card. Free parking can be found sometimes on Cowley Place (cul de sac off the Plain roundabout) or in residential areas at least ten minutes walk away.
- By air: Heathrow is less than an hour away with a coach from and to the central coach station (stop 15) and to terminal 4 and 5 (stop 11) every half an hour until 21.00 and then hourly at a return cost of £23. Gatwick coaches are less frequent and more expensive. There are cheap flights to both airports, as well as to Stanstead (less frequent coaches).
accommodation:
The nearest is The Old Black Horse Hotel on St Clements which has parking and is about £70 for a single with breakfast — however it is noisy and rooms are very variable.
One of the nicest is a boutique B&B 'Ethos' from £80 about 20 minutes walk away and with parking.
On the High Street the Old Bank Hotel is delightful, expensive and has parking, and the Eastgate which is part of the Mercure chain charges for its parking and occasionally has good room deals.
The following B&Bs are all recommended: Browns Guest House; Heathers; and the Acorn on the Iffley Road all provide B&B in the £40 - £55 per night per person and are under 15 minutes walk (or bus down the Iffley Road to the Plain and a couple of minutes walk). Acorn: http://www.oxford-acorn.co.uk/ phone 01865 247 998; Browns: http://www.brownsoxford.com/; Heather House: http://www.bnbselect.com/bnb/32551.
Other excellent city hotels and chains are on the ring road (15 minutes by bus).
There is an efficient tourist board in Oxford with a website. Currently the University of Oxford is renting rooms with breakfast and provides an interesting experience http://www.oxfordrooms.co.uk/! The YHA youth hostel is by the station and is £22 per night in a dorm and has private rooms — modern and clean with the comforting sound of trains! Other hostels are not particularly recommended!
The Ship B&B is on Ship Street in the centre of town and those who like to be in the middle of things like it!