The journey starts at Marlybone Station, just off the Euston Road in London, but easily accessed by the Bakerloo Line as the exit to the tube station is actually in the station concourse, and it will bring you almost directly to the ticket counters. Depending on the time of day you might find rather large queues here, but there are some automated ticket machines where the queues move much faster. Personally I tend to use these as it takes less time to get my ticket.

The station is quite small, so no huge waiting areas, or vast numbers of platform gates, but a word of warning, read the departure boards BEFORE going onto the platform, as once you get past the ticket barrier the train information is almost non existent, and more than once in the ornings I have found myself wandering up and down the platform looking at individual monitors trying to find where my train departs from. This can be made even more difficult by the fact that an incoming train becomes and outgoing train very quickly and platforms dont seem to be announced until almost the times of departure. If you do decide to wait around outside the ticket barriers there is a pleasant little coffee shop for some caffeine, and also usefully the toilets are easily accessible, just remember you will need 30p to use them.

Chiltern Railways provide a punctual service, with frequent trains, and I personally have never experienced any major delays, and the Class 165 or 168 Diesel multiple Units are comfortable if a little noisy. And an added bonus is usually when I have travelled from London I almost always get a seat, although depending on the time of day that might not always be possible. A useful tip for the return back to London is walk down the platform towards the London end of the train as the trains start at Birmingham, and by the time they get to Banbury they can be fully loaded, but the chances of getting a seat are higher at the front.

The journey itself is quite pleasant, with the first part as it winds its way through the London suburbs quite interesting as it follows the tube lines westwards and you pass numerous tube stations and tube depots, before passing into green fields for almost the rest of the 1hr and 10 minute journey, although some journeys times will vary a bit depending on the exact route and stations the train stops at.