View Poll Results: Best dates for Feb 2015 FT BAEC Oxford Do
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 30. You may not vote on this poll
Jan 2, 2015, 1:29 pm
Last edit by: OxfordBlue
This wiki will contain all relevant Do info
Last updated: 26/02/15
The Do: Plan for the day
With eternal gratitude to Gagravarr for his knowledge of Oxford, the proposed schedule for the day is now here!
When, Where and What
1400 Eagle & Child, St. Giles - Famous for being a watering hole for JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis among others
1500 Pitt Rivers Museum, Parks Road - Quirky museum, lots of interesting stuff, gets us out of the pub for a while, free admission
1630 Lamb & Flag, St. Giles (opposite Eagle & Child) - Great Oxford pub
1730 to 1900 Jam Factory - Evening FTers arrive, great beers
1900 Jam Factory - Dinner
2030 Leave Jam Factory for…
2045 The Bear, Blue Boar Street - Quirky little pub – just the one here then walk to…
2115 Radcliffe Square to see the Radcliffe Camera and Bridge of Sighs
2130 Turf Tavern, Bath Place off Castle Street - Great pub, big seating areas inside and out, cool hidden location
2215 Walk via Parks Road, Museum Road to..
2230 Eagle & Child, St. Giles and/or King’s Arms, corner of Holywell St & Parks Road. Second pass at the Eagle & Child for those who weren’t around in the afternoon, or failing that, the King's Arms isn't too fussy about admission time!
Later Freud, Walton Street, Jericho - last stop of the evening for anyone who’s up for a late one, this place is open until 0200 and is in a former church. You may well become theologically inspired before the evening ends…
I'd welcome your comments and any suggestions for improvement, I'm not precious!
If you want to have dinner with us at the Jam Factory then please tell me by Friday 27/02 at noon so I can confirm numbers. Easiest way is to update this wiki... see table below.
Live updates on the day
Please follow @FTOxford2015 on Twitter - I'll use this feed to update on location changes etc. through the day.
Arrival planning
Please post ETA / Handle / Dining yes or no / Dietary requirements
1400 / OxfordBlue / Yes / None
1400 / youngbaflyer / ?? / ??
1400 / DGM1985 / Yes / None
1400 / Sards / Maybe / None
1400 / Dark Blue / Yes / Meat!
1400 / Skye1 / Yes / None
1400 / KARFA / Yes / None
1630 / exilencfc / Yes / None
2045 / Ziz + 1 / No / None
Mid-to-late afternoon / Chris1979 / Maybe / none
Travel
Getting to Oxford - thanks to Skye1 for most of this info!
From LHR and LGW
The Airline, offers a coach from LHR, and a coach from LGW, (not the same coach, that is, a separate service to/from each airport) fairly comfortable, reclining seats, plug-in power at seat, reading lights.
http://airline.oxfordbus.co.uk/timet...wick#timetable
LHR service calls at Central Bus Station and T5, runs every 30 minutes [except late night/early morning]
LGW service calls at North and South terminals, runs hourly leaving LGW S at xx15 (and LGW N a few minutes before that)
Both services run 24/7.
RailAir, offers a coach service from LHR to Reading train station, and a train from there to Oxford (but I wouldn't recommend this, will be slower, more painful and more expensive than the direct bus): http://www.railair.com/
From London Paddington
First Great Western rail services, PAD to OXF is roughly an hour (slightly under an hour if its only "stop" is at Reading)
https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/
As this is FT and all about "loyalty", you can get Nectar points (woo hoo! what value!...said no one...ever) if booked from your on-line FGW account.
https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/.../nectarNov2014 . Being a Saturday, you can probably find some cheap AP tickets for about a fiver each way, if you don't mind limiting yourself to a fixed train.
From London Victoria, Marble Arch, Shepherds Bush, and Hillingdon, by Coach:, plug-in at-seat power, free wifi
The Oxford Tube
http://www.oxfordtube.com/
The X90
http://x90.oxfordbus.co.uk/
These run 24/7.
From Birmingham and the North
Direct Rail Service from Birmingham New Street, calling at Birmingham International Station, adjacent to BHX airport through to Oxford, on CrossCountry - hourly. These trains originate at points north ranging from Glasgow and Edinburgh through Newcastle, Leeds, Stoke, Manchester, etc. - you can get to Oxford (generally) either on a direct train or with one change at Birmingham
From the West
First Great Western trains to London from Cornwall, Devon, the Bristol area, and South Wales serve Oxford with a change at Didcot Parkway; almost all trains to London stop at Didcot and there are frequent services from there to Oxford.
You may find it faster to change at Swindon and take the 66 bus operated by Stagecoach which takes you right into the middle of Oxford in about an hour. Timetable here
From the South of England
CrossCountry http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/.../places/oxford serve Oxford from Bournemouth on the route that runs via Winchester and Reading. Most services are direct or one change.
Coach/bus service, on National Express, from many points in the country:
http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx
By Car
Oxford, despite being the birthplace of the Morris Motor Company, hates cars. Driving into the city centre should not be attempted if at all possible - traffic is dreadful, parking is very expensive, various roads are bus/taxi only and you'll get fined if you drive down them, cyclists of varying states of competence are everywhere, etc. Just don't try! Instead, park your car at one of the 5 park and ride locations around the city (by all major routes in), and hop on the frequent buses into the city.
There is no free parking available anywhere near the do, parking wardens are everywhere, and city centre parking during the day is very expensive. (There's a handful of free spots with no overnight time restrictions, but with 30 mins-2 hour daytime restrictions, in a few places fairly central, but they go very fast so shouldn't be relied on)
Accommodation
OxfordBlue would love to host all of you in his country mansion just outside Oxford's dreaming spires, but unfortunately he doesn't own one!
As others have observed, hotels in central Oxford are pricey. A few Ł on bus or taxi will be more than paid back in reduced room rates. A quick scour on http://www.booking.com shows the following (prices correct at 02/01/15), include tax, single room, one night, excluding breakfast, all 3 star or above:
Malmaison - Ł215 (very nice - and it's a converted former prison!)
Randolf Hotel - Ł220 (nice grand hotel)
Mercure Eastgate - Ł205 (very occasionally crops up on the Accor Mondays list for Ł40)
Buttery Hotel - Ł80 (pretty good and very central)
Eurobar - Ł65 (can be noisy)
Westgate Hotel - Ł55 (decent, friendly 2* hotel by the station)
and various guest houses. There are also a handful of rooms still available in the various colleges that make up the university, which can make for a memorable and moderately cheap night's stay! See http://www.universityrooms.com/en/city/oxford/home for what's still available.
Alternatively, if you'd rather spend all your money on beer, then the Oxford Youth Hostel (which is pretty central, right by the train station) has twins from Ł45, quads from Ł85, so if you would really like to get up close and personal with other FTers, post in this wiki [or PM me/post in the forum if you can't edit] that you're willing to share a room and see if you get any takers... I am for one! I'll use the time-honoured lounge guesting thread format, suitably modified
[Willing to share]
arrival date / departure date / hotel (or any) / username / comments
28FEB / 01MAR / Any / OxfordBlue / I snore, you've been warned
Complimentary credit card sized badges
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Last updated: 26/02/15
The Do: Plan for the day
With eternal gratitude to Gagravarr for his knowledge of Oxford, the proposed schedule for the day is now here!
When, Where and What
1400 Eagle & Child, St. Giles - Famous for being a watering hole for JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis among others
1500 Pitt Rivers Museum, Parks Road - Quirky museum, lots of interesting stuff, gets us out of the pub for a while, free admission
1630 Lamb & Flag, St. Giles (opposite Eagle & Child) - Great Oxford pub
1730 to 1900 Jam Factory - Evening FTers arrive, great beers
1900 Jam Factory - Dinner
2030 Leave Jam Factory for…
2045 The Bear, Blue Boar Street - Quirky little pub – just the one here then walk to…
2115 Radcliffe Square to see the Radcliffe Camera and Bridge of Sighs
2130 Turf Tavern, Bath Place off Castle Street - Great pub, big seating areas inside and out, cool hidden location
2215 Walk via Parks Road, Museum Road to..
2230 Eagle & Child, St. Giles and/or King’s Arms, corner of Holywell St & Parks Road. Second pass at the Eagle & Child for those who weren’t around in the afternoon, or failing that, the King's Arms isn't too fussy about admission time!
Later Freud, Walton Street, Jericho - last stop of the evening for anyone who’s up for a late one, this place is open until 0200 and is in a former church. You may well become theologically inspired before the evening ends…
I'd welcome your comments and any suggestions for improvement, I'm not precious!
If you want to have dinner with us at the Jam Factory then please tell me by Friday 27/02 at noon so I can confirm numbers. Easiest way is to update this wiki... see table below.
Live updates on the day
Please follow @FTOxford2015 on Twitter - I'll use this feed to update on location changes etc. through the day.
Arrival planning
Please post ETA / Handle / Dining yes or no / Dietary requirements
1400 / OxfordBlue / Yes / None
1400 / youngbaflyer / ?? / ??
1400 / DGM1985 / Yes / None
1400 / Sards / Maybe / None
1400 / Dark Blue / Yes / Meat!
1400 / Skye1 / Yes / None
1400 / KARFA / Yes / None
1630 / exilencfc / Yes / None
2045 / Ziz + 1 / No / None
Mid-to-late afternoon / Chris1979 / Maybe / none
Travel
Getting to Oxford - thanks to Skye1 for most of this info!
From LHR and LGW
The Airline, offers a coach from LHR, and a coach from LGW, (not the same coach, that is, a separate service to/from each airport) fairly comfortable, reclining seats, plug-in power at seat, reading lights.
http://airline.oxfordbus.co.uk/timet...wick#timetable
LHR service calls at Central Bus Station and T5, runs every 30 minutes [except late night/early morning]
LGW service calls at North and South terminals, runs hourly leaving LGW S at xx15 (and LGW N a few minutes before that)
Both services run 24/7.
RailAir, offers a coach service from LHR to Reading train station, and a train from there to Oxford (but I wouldn't recommend this, will be slower, more painful and more expensive than the direct bus): http://www.railair.com/
From London Paddington
First Great Western rail services, PAD to OXF is roughly an hour (slightly under an hour if its only "stop" is at Reading)
https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/
As this is FT and all about "loyalty", you can get Nectar points (woo hoo! what value!...said no one...ever) if booked from your on-line FGW account.
https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/.../nectarNov2014 . Being a Saturday, you can probably find some cheap AP tickets for about a fiver each way, if you don't mind limiting yourself to a fixed train.
From London Victoria, Marble Arch, Shepherds Bush, and Hillingdon, by Coach:, plug-in at-seat power, free wifi
The Oxford Tube
http://www.oxfordtube.com/
The X90
http://x90.oxfordbus.co.uk/
These run 24/7.
From Birmingham and the North
Direct Rail Service from Birmingham New Street, calling at Birmingham International Station, adjacent to BHX airport through to Oxford, on CrossCountry - hourly. These trains originate at points north ranging from Glasgow and Edinburgh through Newcastle, Leeds, Stoke, Manchester, etc. - you can get to Oxford (generally) either on a direct train or with one change at Birmingham
From the West
First Great Western trains to London from Cornwall, Devon, the Bristol area, and South Wales serve Oxford with a change at Didcot Parkway; almost all trains to London stop at Didcot and there are frequent services from there to Oxford.
You may find it faster to change at Swindon and take the 66 bus operated by Stagecoach which takes you right into the middle of Oxford in about an hour. Timetable here
From the South of England
CrossCountry http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/.../places/oxford serve Oxford from Bournemouth on the route that runs via Winchester and Reading. Most services are direct or one change.
Coach/bus service, on National Express, from many points in the country:
http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx
By Car
Oxford, despite being the birthplace of the Morris Motor Company, hates cars. Driving into the city centre should not be attempted if at all possible - traffic is dreadful, parking is very expensive, various roads are bus/taxi only and you'll get fined if you drive down them, cyclists of varying states of competence are everywhere, etc. Just don't try! Instead, park your car at one of the 5 park and ride locations around the city (by all major routes in), and hop on the frequent buses into the city.
There is no free parking available anywhere near the do, parking wardens are everywhere, and city centre parking during the day is very expensive. (There's a handful of free spots with no overnight time restrictions, but with 30 mins-2 hour daytime restrictions, in a few places fairly central, but they go very fast so shouldn't be relied on)
Accommodation
OxfordBlue would love to host all of you in his country mansion just outside Oxford's dreaming spires, but unfortunately he doesn't own one!
As others have observed, hotels in central Oxford are pricey. A few Ł on bus or taxi will be more than paid back in reduced room rates. A quick scour on http://www.booking.com shows the following (prices correct at 02/01/15), include tax, single room, one night, excluding breakfast, all 3 star or above:
Malmaison - Ł215 (very nice - and it's a converted former prison!)
Randolf Hotel - Ł220 (nice grand hotel)
Mercure Eastgate - Ł205 (very occasionally crops up on the Accor Mondays list for Ł40)
Buttery Hotel - Ł80 (pretty good and very central)
Eurobar - Ł65 (can be noisy)
Westgate Hotel - Ł55 (decent, friendly 2* hotel by the station)
and various guest houses. There are also a handful of rooms still available in the various colleges that make up the university, which can make for a memorable and moderately cheap night's stay! See http://www.universityrooms.com/en/city/oxford/home for what's still available.
Alternatively, if you'd rather spend all your money on beer, then the Oxford Youth Hostel (which is pretty central, right by the train station) has twins from Ł45, quads from Ł85, so if you would really like to get up close and personal with other FTers, post in this wiki [or PM me/post in the forum if you can't edit] that you're willing to share a room and see if you get any takers... I am for one! I'll use the time-honoured lounge guesting thread format, suitably modified
[Willing to share]
arrival date / departure date / hotel (or any) / username / comments
28FEB / 01MAR / Any / OxfordBlue / I snore, you've been warned
Complimentary credit card sized badges
Click to enlarge
FT 2015 Oxford(shire) Do : Sat 28 Feb
Dec 12, 2014, 1:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Essex, UK
Programs: BA Executive Club, AZ, VS, AA, UA
Posts: 602
FT 2015 Oxford(shire) Do : Sat 28 Feb
Evening all.. Just a little bump to remind you that the do fast approaches. Please let me know your ETA if your travel plans are in place by posting on the wiki or updating this thread, and also if you'd like to have dinner at the Jam Factory in the evening. Can everyone who's definitely coming please also post/update wiki so I can prepare the necessary collateral :-).
Looking forward to this one, February can be a depressing month so this will cheer us all up!
Looking forward to this one, February can be a depressing month so this will cheer us all up!
Last edited by OxfordBlue; Feb 8, 2015 at 1:05 pm Reason: Bumped
Dec 12, 2014, 1:29 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: ±38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,426
A few recent posts have unearthed several FTers in the shire who have expressed an interest in a do. I'm thinking late Jan/early Feb as it's a glum time of year, on a Friday night. Personally I'd suggest Oxford itself as there are some great pubs and it's easy to get to/from by public transport (not planning on driving that night!).
For any who might be tempted to join from further afield, it's a simple run up the M40 and there's a great bus service from LHR (Central bus station and T5) and even direct services from LGW.
Post back if you're interested and if you have any alternative ideas for a place to have it...
For any who might be tempted to join from further afield, it's a simple run up the M40 and there's a great bus service from LHR (Central bus station and T5) and even direct services from LGW.
Post back if you're interested and if you have any alternative ideas for a place to have it...
Dec 13, 2014, 1:19 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HHonors Diamond, IHG Uninspired, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, UK AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,152
Location wise, the Jam Factory is handy for trains, London buses and airport buses, does food as well as drink, and we can book a large table fairly easily. Normally only one or two real ales though, mostly beer wise is interesting lagers / craft beers / belgian beers. Far From The Madding Crowd is handy for buses, and has good real ale, but might be hard for people to find? Royal Blenheim has good real ale, but not sure there's enough space for a bit group. Turf might be good, except for the challenges of getting a table in a predictable place?
Anyone else care to suggest a potential good spot?
If we're going for a Friday night, personally I'd opt for Friday 23rd Jan, Friday 6th Feb or Friday 13th Feb. I seem to have rather a few busy Friday nights / weekends away already planned in for Jan/Feb....
Anyone else care to suggest a potential good spot?
If we're going for a Friday night, personally I'd opt for Friday 23rd Jan, Friday 6th Feb or Friday 13th Feb. I seem to have rather a few busy Friday nights / weekends away already planned in for Jan/Feb....
Dec 13, 2014, 3:29 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: BAEC Bronze, AS MVP Gold 75K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 488
Royal Blenheim has clearly changed. That is where 15 years ago everyone went for a drink while under age!
How about the Rusty Bicycle or the Rickety Press. Not central but they both do fantastic food (went to school with the guys who own them), good ales and have space large enough for a group. Plus the places will not be full of tourists. I would suggest the Rickety Press as it is much closer to the station and the advantage is that it is not too far from Walton Street/Little Clarendon Street if people wanted to move on to other places later in the day.
As this Do is going to be in my home city (although I am now based in Newbury and work in Reading) I am very keen to attend. February works a lot better for me and a Friday would be good although it will depend what is on at work if I can make it. Count me in for now.
How about the Rusty Bicycle or the Rickety Press. Not central but they both do fantastic food (went to school with the guys who own them), good ales and have space large enough for a group. Plus the places will not be full of tourists. I would suggest the Rickety Press as it is much closer to the station and the advantage is that it is not too far from Walton Street/Little Clarendon Street if people wanted to move on to other places later in the day.
As this Do is going to be in my home city (although I am now based in Newbury and work in Reading) I am very keen to attend. February works a lot better for me and a Friday would be good although it will depend what is on at work if I can make it. Count me in for now.
Dec 13, 2014, 4:08 am
#8
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,881
Surely a bit of an Oxford pub crawl might be good? We can't not go to the Turf at least?
pmcgurk, for dates one way to decide is ask one of the moderators to add a poll with the possible ones and give folks a few days to vote as I did for the London Do. Or just see what seems more popular and pick one. I could do any weekend in February at the moment. Looks like I could get there by 1840 on a Friday. Must admit I would prefer a Saturday, but could do either.
pmcgurk, for dates one way to decide is ask one of the moderators to add a poll with the possible ones and give folks a few days to vote as I did for the London Do. Or just see what seems more popular and pick one. I could do any weekend in February at the moment. Looks like I could get there by 1840 on a Friday. Must admit I would prefer a Saturday, but could do either.
Dec 13, 2014, 6:31 am
#9
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Scotland & London
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Posts: 3,020
I can do some dates - I will see what the final decision is - I like the poll idea, although every time there has been one, the date has always been one I can't do! 
Sat is my preference too!
Regards
aks120
Sat is my preference too!
Regards
aks120
Dec 13, 2014, 9:01 am
#10
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,128
I'd certainly consider attending so a maybe for me at the moment.
Hope you can make a Do again aks120 ^ 
Saturday's are better for me due to finishing at 5 on a Friday and also coming down from the regions.
Saturday's are better for me due to finishing at 5 on a Friday and also coming down from the regions.
Dec 13, 2014, 10:30 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR- ish
Programs: MUCCI, BA Blue
Posts: 4,295
Sounds good. Though Oxford is actually a bit of a pig to get to from my corner of Oxfordshire. Saturdays are much better for me, I work lates on Friday.
I like the Kings Arms. I think an FT do would be too big for the room with the coal fire though. Not sure about the Turf, I don't think any of the rooms in it are big enough for an FT do and it always seems to be heaving. I'm not familiar with the other pubs mentioned - but I do think it needs to be reasonably close to the railway station.
I like the Kings Arms. I think an FT do would be too big for the room with the coal fire though. Not sure about the Turf, I don't think any of the rooms in it are big enough for an FT do and it always seems to be heaving. I'm not familiar with the other pubs mentioned - but I do think it needs to be reasonably close to the railway station.
