Locating Bicester Airfield

Bicester Airfield (kmz)

The X5 (Oxford-Cambridge service) goes from the Gloucester Green Bus Station (bay 12) and will stop at the Skimmingdish Lane - Buckingham Road roundabout; right outside the airfield! Ask the driver for the 'Caversfield' Stop. The service is generally very quick and runs 7 days a week, every 30 minutes, including Sunday's and Bank Holidays. See the X5 time table (pdf).

The S5 (formerly # 27) service to Glory Farm, Bicester - go from T1 on Magdalene Street, outside the Randolph Hotel or any bus stop along Banbury Road, and will stop very close to the airfield. This service is also quite quick and runs about every 20 minutes including Sundays and Bank Holidays. See the following link to 'Bus Stops in Bicester' for information about where to get-off.
see the S5 timetable (pdf), where the Bus Stops in Bicester (pdf).

Bicester is served by 2 railway stations, Bicester North (Chiltern Line from London and Birmingham) and Bicester Town (Great Western Link trains from Oxford and Bicester). The nearest station to the airfield is Bicester North and is about a 15 minute brisk walk to the airfield. Bicester Town however, has a direct railway line from Oxford but is 1½ to 2 miles from the airfield and to be honest, hardly ever runs, so the X5 bus service is probably much the better option.
Both stations are served by taxis or local buses.
There is no rail link from the east (See the X5 bus service above).

From Oxford, go via the Banbury road towards Kidlington and take the A34 north-east to Bicester. At Bicester continue straight on following sign posts to Buckingham. The airfield is on the outskirts of Bicester as you leave the town towards Buckingham. See the map for more information.

From the North or the South: Take the (M40 or A34) to Junction 9 of the M40. Take the A41 north-east to Bicester, approximately 3 miles. Stay on the main road through the town and keep going straight on. You will pass a fire station, a police station magistrates court and sports centre all on your left, and you will eventually pass through a set of traffic lights. After the lights you approach a mini roundabout, take the second exit, Buckingham Road, to Buckingham. After one mile there is another roundabout with signposts pointing straight on for Buckingham (A4421) or a right turn to Aylesbury (also A4421).. Turn right onto the A4421 towards Aylesbury. The airfield entrance is one hundred yards on the left.

From the East (A41 from Aylesbury) at the first roundabout by the Army storage depot, take the third exit onto the Bicester by-pass towards Buckingham (A4421). Stay on this road, across 2 more roundabouts, you will pass some large storage warehouses on the left and cross a railway crossing. Then at the next roundabout turn left. Then at another roundabout turn right onto Skimmingdish Lane (A4421) towards Buckingham. Half a mile along this road the airfield is on the right. You will see the airfield and the hangars before you reach the entrance gate on your right.

From the North East (A4421/ A421 from Buckingham, Milton Keynes, Northampton) head towards Bicester. The first appearance of the airfield will be of the old hangars on the left and airfield itself just before a roundabout. As you approach the roundabout, the old RAF base entrance will appear on the left. Ignore this! At the roundabout, turn left onto Skimmingdish Lane towards Aylesbury (still the A4421) and one hundred yards upon the left is Bicester airfield entrance.

Traveling by Air.

Bicester airfield is a well drained short grass airfield with a perimeter track. It is available all year round subject to weather with a current ceiling up to FL55.

BGA turnpoint designator: BIC
GPS Position: N51º54.91 W001º08.11
Elevation approx 270' amsl - QFE approx 9mb.

There are 3 unmarked grass runways:

24 - 06. (1100 meters inside perimeter track)
31 - 13. (1000 meters inside perimeter track)
36 - 18. (1000 meters inside perimeter track)

Contact Bicester Radio on (Gliding) frequency: 129.975mhz.

Telephone: 01869 243030
Airfield mobile: 07986 049036

Please download a copy of the Visiting Aircraft Brief (pdf)

Accommodation.
Bunk-room accommodation and shower facilities are available at the airfield. You will need to take a sleeping bag and washroom necessities.

Food
There is catering at the airfield on the airfield bus/mobile cafe. The club bar opens after flying. Evening meals are either by ordering in, there are kitchen facilities if you want to bring your own or there's a good choice of restaurants around Bicester if you fancy eating out.

Clothing
In winter take plenty of very warm clothes including a hat, a scarf, gloves, a stout pair of shoes or boots and thick socks, the wind chill especially from the North and East, can cut you to the core as it blows in from the arctic! Layers are the best option. Always bring more than you need.
In summer take plenty of sun block, water, a light hat and sun glasses. And it is always advisable to keep a spare jacket or jumper available. Ladies are advised to wear trousers or jeans.

Airfields can be dangerous.
Please read the Airfield Safety and Risk Assessment (pdf) documents.

Your first time
Students traveling to the airfield for the first time, may want to email a committee member who may be able to help escort you to the airfield. The welcome pack (pdf) provides some useful information to help you on your first day.