Didcot

Didcot is a town in South Oxfordshire, England. If you are a rail enthusiast, you may be interested in Didcot because it is the home of the Didcot Rail Centre (see 'See' below).

Understand

North of the Goring Gap and south of Oxford, Oxfordshire opens out into a broad plain, overlooked from the south and east by the Berkshire Downs and the Chiltern Hills. In the midst of this plain, Didcot once stood out because of its huge coal-fired electricity generating plant, which dominated the skyline. However, it was closed in 2016 and demolished over the next few years. A natural gad-fired plant remains.

Didcot was founded because it lies at the point where the Great Western Railway's line north to Oxford and Birmingham branches off from the main line from London to Bristol and Cardiff. Since then a large military depot, now replaced by a business park, and the power station, have added to the economy.

If the above makes you think that Didcot sounds like an inappropriate destination for a tourist, you would probably be right. However, if you need to stay in Didcot because of business or personal commitments, don't despair, there are plenty of interesting places nearby (see 'Go next' below).

Get in

By car

Didcot is 20 mi (32 km) north-west of Reading on the A4074/A4130 and 14 mi (23 km) south of Oxford on the A34/A4130.

By train
  • 🌍 Railway Station, Station Rd, Didcot, OX11 7NR. On the main lines from London and Reading to Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford and Birmingham. From London, travel from London Paddington Station; there are several fast trains an hour taking some 45 minutes for the journey. From Reading there are several trains an hour taking around 20 minutes for the journey. Train times (from any station) can be found on the National Rail Planner or by calling +44 8457 484950 from anywhere in the UK. Cheap Advance rail tickets are not available to/from Didcot, but when coming from London it is possible to buy Advance ticket to Oxford or Swindon through Didcot. When buying such ticket on the National Rail website you can open the list of calling points and check if Didcot is there. (updated May 2017)

By air

If arriving by plane, see the Reading article, and then travel on from Reading.

By bicycle

On foot

The Ridgeway long distance path (running 87 mi (140 km) from near Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon) passes only 4 mi (6.4 km) S of the town.

Get around

All locations in and around the town are walkable or drivable.

See
  • 🌍 Didcot Railway Centre, OX11 7NJ, ☏ +44 1235 817200, . Sa Su 10AM-4PM, and Jun-Aug: M 10AM-4PM. An old rail depot adjacent to the rail station. Its collection includes the largest number of Great Western Railway steam locomotives in captivity, together with rolling stock, track and lineside equipment from the Great Western Railway. Much of the stock is in running condition, and the center has two rather short running lines on which it is regularly exercised. There is also a demonstration track of Brunel's original 7 ft (2.1 m) broad gauge. £4-8 (adult); £3.50-6.50 (senior); £3-6.50 (child); lower price applies if no steam trains operational. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Halk Walk (Falconry Demonstrations and Experiences), Sands Lane, South Morton, ☏ +44 1235 811912, . (updated May 2017)

Do

Buy

Supermarkets
  • 🌍 Sainsbury's Local (Convenience Store), 53 Wantage Rd, Didcot, OX11 0BS, ☏ +44 1235 706630. Daily 7AM-11PM. ATMs (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Sainsbury's (Superstore/Supermarket), Central Drive, Didcot, OX11 7ND, ☏ +44 1235 814159. M-F 7AM-11PM; Sa 7AM-10PM; Su 10AM-4PM. ATMs. Petrol station (different hours). (updated May 2017)

Cyclists

Eat

Drink

There is a wide range of take-aways around the town.

Sleep

Connect
  • 🌍 Post Office, 188 The Broadway, Didcot, OX11 8RN. M-F 9AM-5:30PM; Sa 9AM-1PM. (updated May 2017)

Go next
  • For architecture, history and culture, visit Oxford which is 14 miles to the north by car or 15 minutes away by train.
  • For history of the Great Western Railway, including the STEAM Museum specialising in that subject and the former workshop buildings, visit Swindon, 15 minutes by train.
  • For shopping and nightlife, visit Reading which is 20 miles to the south-east by car or 20 minutes by train.
  • For attractive countryside and pretty riverside villages, visit Goring and Streatley, which are 9 miles south-east by car or 11 minutes by train.
  • And London is only 45 minutes away by fast train. If going to London for the day, buy a one-day Travelcard from Didcot Station; this covers the rail journey together with unlimited travel on the tube and buses whilst in London.
Routes through Didcot
Oxford ← Abingdon ←  N  S  → Newbury → Southampton


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