Mini Plant Oxford
Mini Plant Oxford
5
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Full view
About
The MINI factory in Oxford is one of the oldest, and yet most modern, car factories in the UK. Over 800 MINIs roll off the production line every day. This legendary car has been made here for over 20 years, we combine the passion of car building with lean production, sustainability and digitalisation. Come and see for yourself how MINIs are made in our busy and exciting factory.
Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2023
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(17 reviews)
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
597 reviews
Excellent
497
Very good
83
Average
9
Poor
4
Terrible
4
ThrapstonGeezer
Northamtonshire84 contributions
Sep 2022
Just returned from a fascinating 2 hour tour of the Mini assembly plant in Cowley. Our guide John explained & showed us how BMW have got 'Just In Time' delivery of components down to a very fine & impressive art. The huge army of robots that weld all the components forming the bodyshell was a real sight to see. You don't get to see the painting of cars but you see everything else. John our guide encouraged us to ask any questions we liked as we were going around. He was very knowledgeable & personable. All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon & great for the step count! Thank you!
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, so pleased you enjoyed the tour and appreciate what we do here.
Written November 1, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Trevor K
Gillingham, UK17 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
We ( my wife and I) visited 26th September and pretty much like everyone else came away absolutely stunned at the technology on show. Anyone hovering about a visit should have no qualms, it is mesmerising. I’m not a petrol head and my wife even less so, but we were both enthralled from start to finish. Our guide was amazing having worked there for 40 years ( and her family before her), so knowledgeable- and it turn out it was her maiden solo tour! 👏👏 couldn’t stop talking about it all the way home.
My only comment is that we would have loved to buy a momento to mark the visit but didn’t find a shop.
My only comment is that we would have loved to buy a momento to mark the visit but didn’t find a shop.
Written September 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed the tour, especially as not a "petrol head". Appreciate your point about merchandise - this is something we are looking to improve soon.
Written November 1, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dom
Cheltenham, UK1 contribution
Feb 2023 • Business
Just got back from a visit today with my A Level students. All agreed it was a great experience. To see topics they have studied implemented in real time was a great way to cement the classroom based learning we have undertaken since September. Our guide, Graham was clear and highly informative linking topics such as production scheduling, logistics, quality and Automation. The facility was vast but the tour explained the processes in really accessible terms. Great value for money! We’re definitely coming back next year!
Written February 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your fantastic review. Our guides are very happy to support the translation of classroom based learning into the reality of our production systems and we very much welcome students to the plant. We will definitely pass your feedback on to Graham and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future.
Written March 4, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
John F
Buckinghamshire, UK501 contributions
Jan 2023
This must be a loss leader, designed to promote the brand. There is plenty of (free) parking and a warm welcome at the visitor centre. It is a comfortable building with a small museum (so arrive early and have a look) and very clean toilets. The staff apologised that the shop and drinks machines, removed for Covid, have yet to ne reinstated.
The tour starts with an incredibly boring video from the Plant Director. The content is full of green credentials - but, as it is all delivered in a highly comic German accent, the three minutes soon pass.
Our guide (Ian) had worked in the plant for 40 years and knew every part intimately. He had a dry sense of humour and a good delivery, so was the ideal person to show us round.
At the moment there are only two tours a day - at each end of the day. Having a tour in the middle of the day would avoid the rush hour traffic that can extend journey times.
The tour starts with an incredibly boring video from the Plant Director. The content is full of green credentials - but, as it is all delivered in a highly comic German accent, the three minutes soon pass.
Our guide (Ian) had worked in the plant for 40 years and knew every part intimately. He had a dry sense of humour and a good delivery, so was the ideal person to show us round.
At the moment there are only two tours a day - at each end of the day. Having a tour in the middle of the day would avoid the rush hour traffic that can extend journey times.
Written January 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to review your tour of MINI Plant Oxford and we’re pleased that you found it to be brilliant value for money. For clarity, tours are offered at various times of the day, so it may have been that any other slots were full on the day you booked. Our tour guides are rightly proud of their knowledge of the plant and the production processes and we will definitely pass your comments on to Ian.
Written March 4, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
lrnnnn
Oxford, UK2,862 contributions
May 2023 • Family
A well-organised, informative tour around the BMW/MINI factory in Oxford. We started with a look around the small visitor museum, which houses MINIs from multiple eras. Our guide (Nigel) gave us a fantastic insight into the production of these iconic cars & was happy to answer all our questions. We saw both robots & staff in action - building, welding, fitting interiors/doors etc. - & followed the journey of a MINI from individual metal body parts to the finished car driving off the assembly line. Great value for money & recommended to everyone (not just car fanatics!).
Written May 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so pleased that your group had such a great experience on the tour with Nigel and thank you for taking the time to leave your review. We would be delighted to welcome you back if you decide to come again in the future.
Written June 1, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Morgan Richards
9 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
We loved this tour! The length and detail was outstanding and well thought out. Graham was a fantastic tour guide, full of lots of knowledge and anecdotes- his 20 year experience in the company added huge value. Tony zipped us to each location making it an easy transition for the 100 minutes (around 3000 sets with one flight of stairs). It was amazing to see all the stages of minis being built and the final product driving off the track! We managed to book only a day in advance so would really recommend this!
Written April 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We really appreciate you taking the time to leave your review and are so pleased that you had such a positive experience. Graham and Tony definitely make a great team and we'll be sure to pass your feedback on to them both.
Written May 3, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MJThames
Oxfordshire, UK9 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
I visited the Mini Plant Tour with my Mini fanatic father as a Christmas present from my Mum.
The staff were so welcoming and very cheerful. The location was easy to get to and very light & clean.
Ladies ‘facilities’ were super clean too, which I personally think says a lot about a visitor centre!!!!
Our guide was a very lovely young man called Tristan. He was an excellent character and super informative when going on the tour. Also happy to stop and explain anything.
The tour lasted around 2 hours and we managed to cover a large area in that time.
Was good fun at the end seeing a electric Mini speed off the end of the production line.
If I had to be picky, the only thing they could do to improve, would be to provide or offer tea/coffee for early arrivals to the centre before the tour.
Wonderful trip and I will definitely be back! Thank you Mini Tour Team
The staff were so welcoming and very cheerful. The location was easy to get to and very light & clean.
Ladies ‘facilities’ were super clean too, which I personally think says a lot about a visitor centre!!!!
Our guide was a very lovely young man called Tristan. He was an excellent character and super informative when going on the tour. Also happy to stop and explain anything.
The tour lasted around 2 hours and we managed to cover a large area in that time.
Was good fun at the end seeing a electric Mini speed off the end of the production line.
If I had to be picky, the only thing they could do to improve, would be to provide or offer tea/coffee for early arrivals to the centre before the tour.
Wonderful trip and I will definitely be back! Thank you Mini Tour Team
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gena S
1 contribution
Sep 2022 • Friends
We (SLMOC) were one of the first groups back on a tour in August 2022 after the reopening following the covid lockdown. I hope things have changed in the year since then as retired staff from the factory were doing their best. The headset/speaker things enabling the tour guides to communicate with us kept failing due to battery issues. Visibility was poor for myself in my wheelchair.
Prior to covid, wheelchair users were not allowed on the tour and I can understand why, Since covid, I don't see anything has changed with the tour and yet I was welcomed with my wheelchair, It really wasn't idea though, My husband had to heave my wheelchair in and out of the minibus as we moved from one building to the next and there were some steps into the second building which were undergoing some maintenance. Now if they've fitted a ramp there, it'll be fantastic but I very much doubt it.
So if you are disabled, check the current situation before buying your ticket.
Prior to covid, wheelchair users were not allowed on the tour and I can understand why, Since covid, I don't see anything has changed with the tour and yet I was welcomed with my wheelchair, It really wasn't idea though, My husband had to heave my wheelchair in and out of the minibus as we moved from one building to the next and there were some steps into the second building which were undergoing some maintenance. Now if they've fitted a ramp there, it'll be fantastic but I very much doubt it.
So if you are disabled, check the current situation before buying your ticket.
Written August 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review Gena S and whilst we're sorry that your experience fell short of your expectations on this occasion, we can report that many things have changed since your visit a year ago. We welcome wheelchairs on all our tours, the only prerequisite being that the wheelchair must be foldable and the user must be able to get on and off our minibus without it, as we do not currently have an adapted minibus for wheelchairs to be wheeled in or out. We do have our own foldable wheelchairs for anybody that needs them. Access to the buildings is wheelchair friendly. Access to Body in White is via a ramp and we are currently awaiting an upgraded lift to replace the previous one by the steps in front of the Final Assembly building. The guides and minibus driver are always on hand to lift any wheelchairs in or out of the bus.
If you decide to visit us again in the future we would be delighted to show you the changes.
Written September 4, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
IgnorantBystander
Edinburgh, UK302 contributions
Nov 2022
A two-hour tour splits into two halves. Part one is where huge robots lift, glue, weld and check the body. Sparks fly, but the power and synchronisation are jaw-dropping. Part two is where the engine is fitted and the interior is kitted out. The organisation is just unbelievable. The tour guide was excellent, explaining all the processes without jargon and answering all the groups questions. I absolutely loved it and have recommended it to everyone who will listen!
Written December 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for such an excellent review - really pleased you had a good time here.
Written January 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JoLe56
Hampshire6 contributions
May 2023
Yesterday we had a group tour of the Mini Factory in Cowley. We arrived early, but were able to look around the small museum on site. The tour around a working car factory is quite outstanding and was well led by an expert tour guide. (She had worked at Cowley for 40+ years). We visited the car body assembly building (body in white) and then the final assembly building, including the completed Minis being driven off the line. No photographs are allowed, but we would thoroughly recommend a visit.
Written May 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are very pleased to hear of your positive tour experience and thank you for taking the time to leave your review and recommendation. We will pass your comments on to Donna who was your tour guide.
Written May 13, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nazlie D
Cape Town Central, South Africa284 contributions
We just found out all tickets sold out :-(. We leaving UK 7 June and unfortunately won’t be able to go 😬😳
Nazlie D
Cape Town Central, South Africa284 contributions
Can one take photos in the museum or the plant?
Anne Cooper
Banbury, UK3 contributions
where do you park?
MINI Plant Oxford
Oxford, UK
Hi, there is a large car park in front of the visitor centre and you can park anywhere in there. There are disabled spaces for any visitors with mobility issues. We hope you enjoy your tour.
Mike M
Leicester, UK
I have a voucher for 2. The Tel number on the voucher when called suggests the tours are not currently operating but your website says they are? How do I book it?
MINI Plant Oxford
Oxford, UK
Hi Mike, sorry this has taken so long - please write to the email address on the website with your voucher numbers, hope to see you soon
Is there a gift shop at the Oxford Plant?
TeeandR
Somerset57 contributions
Yes, a small one, but with good quality goods.
TxSimm
Texas100 contributions
Public transport from London to the Mini Plant?
Forgive my confusion; on the Mini website it lists the address as Oxfordshire. But is this a region and the town is actually Oxford? I looked at the National Rail website and of course there is no Oxfordshire station. I need to get from London to the Mini Plant by train-so, which station do i use and then once I get to the station, are there taxis there or do they need to be pre-arranged? Or is there car rental at the station? TIA!
Georgia V
Oxfordshire, UK
Hi I live in oxford, and there will be lots of taxis at the train station that can you take you there I wouldn’t recommend a bus as the stops are quite far away from the factory. Hope this helps.
Reverend Reviewer
Worthing, UK288 contributions
Hi I’ve just brought my brand new mini last week (thank you guys!) just so happen to be in the area tomorrow and wondered if the plant had a MINI accessories shop etc. Bigger than the few bits that are in mini dealers???
Thanks in advance
Slo01
England, UK258 contributions
No. This is not an accessory shop. Just a few souvenirs
Reverend Reviewer
Worthing, UK288 contributions
Hi I’ve just brought my brand new mini last week (thank you guys!) just so happen to be in the area tomorrow and wondered if the plant had a MINI accessories shop etc. Bigger than the few bits that are in mini dealers???
Thanks in advance
Blue GB
United Kingdom120 contributions
Small shop. Not what one might expect from a company of this size.
apparently there is a mini themed hotel nearby in oxford a friend stayed there recently, wondering what the name of it is called my friend went back to America so I cant ask him, hope you can help
Christine029
South West England, UK228 contributions
Sorry, haven’t heard about this hotel.
Andrew L
St. Asaph, UK13 contributions
Is it wheelchair friendly?
MINI Plant Oxford
Oxford, UK
Hi Andrew,
We can accommodate wheelchair users, when making a booking just make the team aware.
Cheers,
Duncan
Mini Plant Oxford - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
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