Didcot

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 stands out because of its huge coal-fired electricity generating plant, which dominates the skyline.
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 are a rail enthusiast, you may think differently as Didcot is the home of the Didcot Rail Centre (see 'See' below). And if you need to stay in Didcot because of business or personal commitments, don't despair, there are plenty of interesting places nearby (see 'Get out' below).

By car

Didcot is north-west of Reading on the A4074/A4130 and south of Oxford on the A34/A4130.

By train

• Railway Station

  address: 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.

By air

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

By bicycle

• The town lies on National Cycle Route 5 running from Reading to Hollyhead.
• The town lies at the E end of National Cycle Route 544 that connects the town to Wantage
• The Hanson Way cycle route runs from Abingdon () and on to Oxford (a further ) to the N (see Sustrans leaflet for route details).

On foot

The Ridgeway long distance path (running from near Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon) passes only S of the town.

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

• Didcot Railway Centre

  phone: +44 1235 817200
  address: OX11 7NJ
  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 broad gauge.

• Halk Walk

  phone: +44 1235 811912
  address: Sands Lane, South Morton

• Cornerstone Arts Centre

  phone: +44 1235 515144
  address: 25 Station Rd, Didcot, OX11 7NE

• Cineworld Cinema

  phone: +44 871 200 2000 (premium)
  address: 27 Station Rd, Didcot, OX11 7NE

• Didcot Wave Swimming Pool

  phone: +44 1235 819888
  address: Newlands Ave, Didcot, OX11 8NX
  Gym, swimming pools, café

• Didcot Leisure Centre

  phone: +44 1235 811250
  address: Mereland Rd, Didcot, OX11 8AY
  Sports hall, squash courts, studio, cycle studio, bar, function room.

• Orchard Shopping Centre

  phone: +44 1235 519014
  address: 20 Station Rd, Didcot, OX11 7LL
  More than 30 stores including Argos, Sainsbury’s, Next, cafés, Robert Dyas and Boswells coffee shop, a restaurant, entertainment centre and cinema. 500-space car park with free parking for 2 hours.

• Thames Valley Farmers' Market

  phone: +44 7818 215623 (mobile)
  address: he Orchard Centre, Didcot, OX11 7LL
  Monthly Farmers' Market

Supermarkets

• Sainsbury's Local

  phone: +44 1235 706630
  address: 53 Wantage Rd, Didcot, OX11 0BS
  ATMs

• Sainsbury's

  phone: +44 1235 814159
  address: Central Drive, Didcot, OX11 7ND
  ATMs. Petrol station (different hours).

Cyclists

• Mountain Mania Cycles

  phone: +44 1235 759366
  address: 62 Wantage Rd, Didcot, OX11 0BY=
  Bikes, accessories & workshop.

• Prezzo

  phone: +44 1235 511271
  address: 8 Market Place, Didcot, OX11 7LE

• Wildwook

  phone: +44 1235 519968
  address: 19 The Orchard Centre, 8 Station Rd, Didcot, OX11 7LL
  Free Wi-Fi.

• Little India

  phone: +44 1235 510993
  address: 218 Broadway, Didcot, OX118JR

• SunKoshi

  phone: +44 1235 812796
  address: 226a Broadway, Didcot, OX11 8RS

• Broadways

  phone: +44 1235 814924
  address: 130 Broadway, Didcot, OX11 8RG

• Ladygrove

  phone: +44 1235 250162
  address: Cow Lane, Didcot, OX11 7SZ

• The Royal Oak

  phone: +44 1235 815992
  address: 118 Park Rd, Didcot OX11 8QR
  Free Wi-Fi.

• Prince of Wales

  phone: +44 1235 511380
  address: 113 Station Rd, Didcot OX11 7NN

• Wheatsheaf

  phone: +44 1253 519114
  address: Wantage Rd, Didcot OX11 0BS

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

• Premier Inn

  phone: +44 871 527 8868 (premium)
  address: Interchange, Milton, OX14 4TX
  Free on-site parking. Free Wi-Fi.

• The House on the Corner

  phone: +44 1235 812806
  address: 2C Hagbourne Rd, Didcot OX11 8DH

• Southern Wood

  phone: +44 1235 212202
  address: 70 Park Rd, Didcot OX11 8QP
  Free Wi-Fi. Off-road parking.

• Prospect House

  phone: +44 1235 850268
  address: Upton OX11 9HU
  Outdoor heated pool (Jun-Sept). Free Wi-Fi.

• Kingswell

  phone: +44 1235 833043
  address: Reading Rd, Harwell OX11 0LZ

• Milton Hill House

  phone: +441235 831 474
  address: Steventon, Abingdon OX13 6AF
  Free Wi-Fi. In 22 acres of parkland.

• Post Office

  address: 188 The Broadway, Didcot, OX11 8RN

• 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.