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Didcot

Built-up area in South Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, England

Coordinates:51.611, -1.249
OS grid ref:SU 52 90
Population:29,341
Dialling code: 01235 (Abingdon)

Didcot is a former railway town in South Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, England, sitting roughly between Oxford and Reading. It grew up in the 19th century around a key Great Western Railway junction and remains an important transport hub centred on Didcot Parkway, which helps make the town a popular commuter base for Oxford, Reading and London. The skyline was long marked by the nearby power station chimneys, now gone, and the town’s railway heritage is celebrated at the volunteer‑run Didcot Railway Centre.

Beyond transport, Didcot sits close to major science and energy sites such as Harwell and Culham, which influence the local economy and workforce. The town has seen steady housing and retail development in recent decades, and retains a lively community life with parks, local markets and cultural events that reflect its mix of commuters, long‑time residents and science-sector professionals.

Postcode districts covering Didcot

Nearby towns and villages

Neighbouring places

Transport links

  • Airport London Heathrow Airport 35.4 miles57 km
  • Airport Luton Airport 41.9 miles67.4 km
  • Railway station Didcot Parkway Railway Station 0.3 miles0.5 km
  • Railway station Appleford Railway Station 2.1 miles3.3 km
  • Bus station Oxford Bus Station 9.9 miles15.9 km

Local points of interest

  • Didcot Railway Centre Museum 0.3 miles0.5 km
  • Kassam Stadium Stadium 7.5 miles12.1 km
  • Christ Church College College 9.6 miles15.5 km
  • Oxford Botanical Garden Gardens 9.7 miles15.6 km
  • Magdalen College College 9.8 miles15.7 km
  • Bodleian Library, University of Oxford Library 9.9 miles16 km
  • Rewley Abbey Historic site 10 miles16 km
  • Ashmolean Museum Museum 10 miles16.1 km
  • Saint Bernard's College, Oxford Historic site 10.1 miles16.2 km
  • University of Oxford University 10.1 miles16.2 km
  • Pitt Rivers Museum Museum 10.2 miles16.5 km
  • Swyncombe House Estate 10.7 miles17.3 km

Example postcodes in Didcot