Lower Heyford, Oxfordshire Pre-Departure Information

Base Map

LOWER HEYFORD BASE INFORMATION

Station Road
Lower Heyford
Bicester
Oxfordshire, OX25 5PD

Base Contact:

Tel: 0044 (0)

Email:

We look forward to welcoming you!

Thank you for your holiday booking to depart from our Lower Heyford hire base in Oxfordshire, we look forward to welcoming you.

Below is some useful information to help you plan your holiday, including handy videos to watch, directions on how to find us, places to stay if you are arriving early, grocery shopping etc. There may also be things you need to pre-book, such as lock or tunnel access.

Please do not hesitate to call our team if there is anything you would like help with, on 0044 (0) 1527 575115.

Preparation & Planning

BOATERS HANDBOOK VIDEO

The best way to be prepared for your forthcoming trip is to read or watch watch the video on the Boaters Handbook, a guide to basic boat handling and safety by the Canal & River Trust. When you receive your handover tuition at the hire base you will be asked if you have watched/read this guide and be asked to sign handover documentation to confirm this.

Watch the Boaters Handbook Video.

It’s also good to get familiar with the operation of own narrowboats and you can do this by watching our Induction video on the link below.

Watch the Induction to a Black Prince Narrowboat Video

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

It’s good to have an idea of your planned route before you go, although please bear in mind that it’s good to be flexible due to the changing nature of the canals and rivers. See all the Route Options for Lower Heyford here. If you have any particular questions about the route, places to moor up and stay etc, you can contact the base directly on the contact phone / email shown above before your trip and the team will be able to help you.

How to Find Us

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

NATIONAL RAIL:

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Tel: 08457 484950

www.thetrainline.com

Tel: 0871 244 1545

Nearest Airports:

Birmingham International

Tel. 0121 767 5511

www.bhx.co.uk

London Heathrow

Tel. 0844 335 1801 (UK)

www.heathrow.com

+44 20 3368 8968 (non UK)

London Gatwick

www.gatwickairport.com

Nearest Railway Station:

Heyford

FLYING INTO LONDON

We are next door to Heyford railway station which has direct train connection with London, Reading, Oxford and Banbury

From Heathrow airport, get the London underground tube to Paddington or Marylebone station.

From Gatwick airport, get the Gatwick Express to Reading then the local train to Heyford

From Stansted airport, get the London underground tube to Paddington or Marylebone

From Paddington get the train to Reading then the local train to Heyford

From Marylebone get the train to Banbury then the local train to Heyford

Visit www.tfl.gov.uk to plan your route on the London Underground.

FLYING INTO BIRMINGHAM

Get a train to Banburyand then the local train to Heyford

HOW TO FIND US BY CAR

M40 : Exit at Junction 10 (Ardley) and take the B430 to Middleton Stoney turning right on to B4030 at the traffic lights. At Lower Heyford crossroads turn left and we are half a mile down the road on the right.

www.theaa.com/route-planner

When to Arrive at the Hire Base

Boats are available from 2.30pm and must be returned and vacated by 9.30am.

Included in the Price of Your Holiday

Everything you need for your boating holiday is included, such as lifejackets (if required), windlasses, mooring ropes, life ring etc. Bedlinen, towels and a dish washing-up pack is also included.

You can find a full list of what’s included in the boat inventory here.

For a list of recommended items to bring with you, please click here.

Please note that fuel is not included in the price of your holiday. This will be charged for on your return to the hire base. The average per day cost, depending on how far you travel, is approximately £18 – £20.

Groceries

You can pre-order a supermarket delivery to the base. Please book a slot to the base address between 10am and 2pm on the date of your departure.

Please note that the freezer compartment on board is no bigger than a shoe box so best to keep freezer items to a minimum. The base will not have anywhere to keep your shopping refrigerated so bear this in mind when doing your shop and choosing a delivery slot. You do not need to order food for the whole of the holiday, there will be ample opportunity to buy food along the way and perhaps sample local produce and specialities.