oxford mini factory tour

Mini Plant Oxford tour

Mini cars are assembled at the Plant Oxford factory complex in the southeastern suburb of Cowley and it is possible to take a tour of the facility to see Minis being made.

Minis are made at three plants in the UK. Engines are made at Plant Hams Hall, the body pressings and sub-assembly is done at Plant Swindon and it all comes together at Plant Oxford where the body shell production, final assembly and painting takes place. Up to 1,000 cars roll off the production line at Plant Oxford every day and it is the only one of these plants where you can take a guided tour.

A visit is highly recommended if you own a Mini or if you simply love seeing how things are made. It is also worth a visit if you’re spending a few days in Oxford and can’t stomach the thought of visiting yet another college.

What to see on the factory tour

Visitors to Plant Oxford start off at the Visitor Centre, which has a small exhibition about the history of the Mini.

It is a very well structured tour that shows the entire production process from start to finish. First, you see robots building the body of the car and then you get to see the individual components being added to the car before watching the finished cars roll off the production line.

Visiting Mini Plant Oxford

Mini Plant Oxford is in Cowley, around 5.2km (3¼ miles) southeast of Oxford city centre. Tours depart from the Mini Visitor Centre on Horspath Road just off the Eastern By-Pass Road.

The Visitor Centre has an exhibition space as well as a gift shop that sells Mini-themed merchandise.

It is best to pre-book your tour as group sizes are limited to a maximum of 15 people on each tour. It is best to book at least six to eight weeks in advance if there is a specific date that you want to visit.

There is the option of either the basic tour or the family tour. The basic tour should suit most people; however, the family tour is more suitable if you have children as the production process is explained in a more age-appropriate way on this tour.

Children younger than 14 cannot take the tour and children aged 14–17 must be accompanied by an adult at a ratio of two children to each adult.

Although you can take photos in the museum area of the visitor centre it is not possible to take photos (or video) in the factory and you’re required to place your phones and cameras in a locker prior to taking the tour.

The plant tour is now wheelchair accessible, however, you will need your own transport as the tour moves between different buildings on the plant and the shuttle bus is not wheelchair accessible.

Tours run for 90 minutes but you should allow a little longer for the entire experience. It is recommended that you get there around 15 minutes before the start of your tour and allow time to look at the museum inside the visitor centre after the tour.

Tours are running again

Please see our Website: www.visit-bmwgroup.com/en - Tours are running again in Oxford.

5 August 2022

Are you scheduling tours yet!

We have been patiently waiting to have the tour of your plant. We will only be in Oxford a few more months. Are you scheduling the tours yet? We sure hope so! Thank you!

5 July 2022

When can we visit your Cowley production facility. My wife is on her third Mini now, and still has the ''Mini Purse'' from 2003, although we are just having a new zip fitted. My wife is 74 this year, and it would be great for her, if I could bring her to Cowley as a surprise. I am 75 this year, still driving, and for a Main Dealer, so please let me know when I can bring her. We live in Grimsby, North East Linolnshire, near Cleethorpes, and I would love to bring her to your facility, to see what goes on. She has had a lot of bad health recently, nearly at deaths door, but is recovering vey well, so could you let me know if I can bring her, sometime this year. Many thanks Brian Ford.

25 April 2022

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Mini Plant Oxford

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Mini Plant Oxford - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

What's On In Oxford

Things to do in oxford, the oxford mini plant tour: a ticket to automotive excellence.

January 29, 2024

Delve into the heart of British automotive craftsmanship at the BMW Group Plant Oxford, the revered birthplace of the legendary MINI. This plant, operational since 1913, is not just one of the oldest automobile factories in the world; it’s a living museum of automotive innovation and a testament to sustainable mobility. With over 10 million MINIs sold in 110 countries since 2001, the Oxford Mini Plant is an emblem of enduring success, blending historic charm with state-of-the-art technology. Here, every day, the confluence of tradition and innovation results in the production of about 1,000 cars across three different body styles.

The iFactory Experience: A Portal to Automotive Mastery

The Oxford Mini Plant offers the iFactory Experience, a journey through the pulsating heart of one of the most modern car factories in Britain. Whether you opt for the Basic Tour or the Family Tour , you’re signing up for 90 minutes of immersive automotive discovery.

Tickets and Booking Information

Embarking on this journey requires a ticket, each offering a unique perspective into the world of MINI. Here are your options:

Single Ticket Basic Tour (90 min), BMW Group Mini Plant Oxford

• Location: MINI Plant, Oxford OX4 6NL, UK
• Duration: 1 hour 30 min
• Highlights: Witness the production of the legendary MINIs, a British icon that has graced the roads for over two decades.
• Price: From £17.00
• Booking: Book Now

Group Ticket Basic Tour (90 min), BMW Group Mini Plant Oxford

• Location: MINI Visitor Centre Oxford, UK
• Highlights: Explore one of Britain’s most modern car factories and see where the legendary MINIs have been rolling off the production line for more than 20 years.
• Price: From £225.00

Single Ticket Family Tour (90 min), BMW Group Mini Plant Oxford

• Location: MINI Plant Oxford, Oxford OX4 6NL, United Kingdom
• Highlights: Get up close and personal with one of the most modern car factories in Britain. Dive behind the scenes to witness the assembly of a British icon.

Navigating Your Tour: What to Expect

Prepare to be enthralled by the precision and passion that go into creating every MINI. Starting in the body shop, watch as 1,200 robots and 650 employees skilfully craft the basic framework from steel sheets. Then, proceed to the final assembly hall, where you’ll see the MINI come to life, from the installation of the cockpit to the wedding of the power units and through to the final validation checks.

Before You Go: Important Considerations

To ensure your visit is seamless and enjoyable, here are a few key points to note:

• Due to global events, tours may be subject to changes or cancellations. Rest assured, alternative arrangements or refunds will be provided promptly if necessary.
• Age restrictions apply for factory access. Please refer to the official guidelines for detailed information.
• Closed shoes are required for the tour, and personal items, especially electronic devices, should be left in a lockable cabinet as they are not allowed on the visitor path.
• Restroom facilities are available before and after the tour, but not during.

The Oxford Mini Plant Tour is more than just a factory visit; it’s an invitation to witness the confluence of heritage and innovation. Whether you’re a solo traveller, a group of enthusiasts, or a family keen on inspiring young minds, this tour offers an unparalleled peek into the heart of British automotive excellence. Secure your ticket today and gear up for an experience that’s as iconic as the MINI itself.

Get Access Now: Book Your Oxford Mini Plant Tour

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Mini Plant Oxford Factory Tour

Oxford is the birthplace of the Mini and the centre of its production. Hundreds of Mini motorcars, manufactured to the specifications individually chosen by customers, leave the factory each day. Here you can see behind the scenes at this vast factory and view this iconic car being manufactured.

Restrictions

• Photography and filming on the tour is prohibited. Cameras and mobile phones may not be used and can be placed in lockers.
• Closed shoes must be worn for safety reasons. No sandles or shoes where parts of the feet are exposed.
• All tour participants must be at least 14 years of age. Visitors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
• Wheelchair users are welcome on the tour and must bring their own wheelchair.
• People with heart pacemakers or insulin pumps will have to skip a couple of stations on the tour due to the presence of electromagnetic radiation.
• No pets or animals are permitted on the factory tour.
• Closed shoes should be worn.

The Mini car factory is located in the south east of Oxford, about 8km (5 miles) from the city centre. Click the map pin icon to view the location on a map.

Visitors should arrive 10 or 15 minutes before the start of the tour. For further details, including tour times, information about the reduced price ticket category and to book a tour, click the "More info" button below.

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Mini Plant Oxford

Go behind the scenes of the factory making one of the UK’s most iconic cars Tour the Mini car production plant in Oxford together with an expert Extend your experience with the MINI Racing Challenge!   

Visit the MINI Plant in the beautiful city of Oxford, England.  Experience the amazing almost clinical environment in which some of the world’s most famous small vehicles are manufactured.  Venture behind the scenes at the Mini’s historic birthplace and heart of its modern day production.

MINI PLANT OXFORD FACTORY TOUR

Optional extension – mini racing challenge.

Get behind the wheel. Go head to head with your friends or colleagues in a modern MINI race car or a classic Mini in state of the art racing simulators . Nothing brings people together quicker than the thrill and exhilaration of racing around legendary tracks and circuits. Who will make it to the podium?

Fantastic Customer Service

Hi Monika, everything was just fine! The group enjoy very much everything – especially the program and the hotel (it is very good, the location is perfect). Thank you!

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OXFORD MINI PLANT OXFORD TOURS BAG TOP AWARD.

• MINI Plant Oxford tour receives ‘Best Told Story’ accolade from VisitEngland
• Award recognises attractions that ‘go the extra mile to provide a high quality day out’
• Record 21,000 visitors came to see how MINIs are made in 2017

MINI Plant Oxford has received a top visitor attraction award from the official national tourism agency for England.

The plant, which builds more than 1,000 MINIs each day, has been recognised by VisitEngland with a ‘Best Told Story Accolade’ for its factory tour, which gives visitors a behind the scenes look at how this iconic British car is made.

With a dedicated team of tour guides, MINI Plant Oxford welcomed well over 21,000 visitors from all over the world last year to see how a new car is built here every 67 seconds. The VisitEngland accolade builds on the TripAdvisor ‘Certificate of Excellence’ awarded to the team in September.

In November the plant’s tour was recognised with a VisitEngland ‘Quality Rose Marque’ - a sign that the MINI Plant Oxford tour has been independently assessed and meets the high standards that visitors expect. Tours of MINI Plant Oxford run Monday to Friday and last just over two hours. There is a maximum of 15 people per group and the minimum age is 10 years old.

For full details and booking information please go to www.visit-mini.com

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Mini Plant Oxford Tour

Book a Mini Plant Oxford Tour to look behind the scenes to see how MINIs are made at MINI Plant Oxford. Tours run on Mondays to Fridays from 9.00am to 4.00pm and last for around 2 hours.

Book tickets

Description

Oxford is the birthplace of the Mini and the centre of its production. The plant was founded in 1913 and has been in constant production ever since, making it one of the oldest car plants in the world.

It was the birthplace of the original Mini in 1959 and came into BMW Group ownership in 1994. The new MINI was launched at the plant in 2001, and the first electric MINI was produced there in 2020.

But despite being one of the oldest car plants in the world, it is also one of the most modern car factories in the UK. Up to 1,000 cars roll off the production line daily at this site. And as many as 4,500 employees work here to assemble the British cult car.

Take a tour and experience the most exciting elements of car production, from the bodyshop, where pressed steel panels are welded or bonded together with the help of 1,200 robots, to the final assembly halls where the finished MINI comes together.

The tour takes around 2 hours to complete, and you are free to visit the museum before and after your slot.

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Information about factory tours.

We are very pleased to announce that tours are back and once again welcome you into our plants!

Come and gain exciting insights into the world of BMW Group plants and learn all about the future of production.

Visit us in Berlin, Leipzig, Munich and Oxford and experience what is behind the  iFACTORY EXPERIENCE .

We have a range of tour formats available for you to choose what best suits you. For more information and tickets , visit www.visit-bmwgroup.com .

The public Plant tours start in Oxford in August 2022, and in Berlin and Leipzig in September 2022.

A visit to the BMW Group plants in  Dingolfing, Landshut, Regensburg and Steyr  is only possible by arrangement for special stakeholders of the plant. Tours for private individuals and corresponding registrations are not planned until further notice.

Tours are already up and running in Munich . To book, please contact [email protected] directly or call 089 /1250 16001.

Interested? Then we look forward to welcoming you soon at one of our BMW Group plants!

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us by e-mail at [email protected] .

We look forward to seeing you!

2-Hour MINI Plant Guided Group Tour

• Tour equipment, tour head-sets, hi-viz vests, safety glasses will be made available for the duration of your tour.
• Entry/Admission - Oxford
• MINI Visitor Centre, MINI Plant Oxford, Oxford OX4 6NL, UK The MINI Visitor Centre can be accessed from the Eastern By-Pass Road via gate 5 or Horspath Road via gate 7. You can enter the postcode OX4 6NL into your GPS or follow the brown signs on the ring road.
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Most travellers can participate
• The tour is unfortunately not suitable for visitors with a pacemaker or insulin pump.
• Cochlear implants and hearing aids can be accommodated, please make your tour guide aware at the start of your tour if you have a cochlear implant or hearing aid.
• Footwear. Please wear sensible and comfortable footwear, which is not open-toed. No heeled footwear is permitted.
• Minimum age. The minimum age is 10 and every 2 children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Filming and photographing is strictly prohibited in the production areas. Cameras and mobile phones may to be used and can be place in lockers.
• Belongings. All personal belongings including bags and mobile phones will be locked away for the duration of the tour as these are not permitted in production areas.
• Distance. The plant tours lead through different production and plant site areas. The distance covered is 3.5 km. Please wear comfortable and closed shoes.
• Food & drink. You can purchase soft drinks from the vending machine located in the Visitor Centre. Please note that no food or beverages may be taken on the plant tour. Visitors are not able to buy food at the plant.
• No animals. Pets and animals of any kid are not allowed.
• Arrival time. Please arrive at the MINI Visitor Centre 15 minutes before the start of your tour.
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• You'll start at MINI Visitor Centre MINI Plant Oxford, Oxford OX4 6NL, UK The MINI Visitor Centre can be accessed from the Eastern By-Pass Road via gate 5 or Horspath Road via gate 7. You can enter the postcode OX4 6NL into your GPS or follow the brown signs on the ring road. See address & details
• 1 MINI Plant Oxford Stop: 2 hours - Admission included Come with us on a journey through more than 100 years of Oxford's car building history and take a behind the scenes look at how we produce over 1,000 unique, made-to-order MINIs every day. Our award-winning guided tours will take you on an adventure through our state of the art production facilities, where a new MINI is built every 67 seconds. Your MINI adventure will start at the Visitor Centre with a brief factory history and heath&safety, followed by a visit to the body shop and the assembly hall. Read more
• You'll return to the starting point

More to explore in Oxford

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2-Hour MINI Plant Guided Group Tour - with unbiased reviews

The most important questions about your plant tour

General questions.

Tickets for the Plant Tour Leipzig are available in the ticket shop . Please note that all tickets for guided tours must be purchased in advance. There is no ticket counter on site. Tickets can be purchased three months before the respective tour date. If you are planning a visit for a longer period of time and the desired period is not yet bookable, please register on our waiting list .

Tickets for the Plant Tour Berlin are available in the ticket shop . Please note that all tickets for guided tours must be purchased in advance. There is no ticket counter on site. Tickets can be purchased three months before the respective tour date. If you are planning a visit for a longer period of time and the desired period is not yet bookable, please register on our waiting list .

Tickets for the Plant Tour Oxford are available in the ticket shop . Please note that all tickets for guided tours must be purchased in advance. There is no ticket counter on site. Tickets can be purchased three months before the respective tour date. If you are planning a visit for a longer period of time and the desired period is not yet bookable, please register on our waiting list .

Here you will find all the information you need about purchasing tickets at the BMW Museum and BMW Welt München.

You will find information on the ticket costs for your chosen factory tour in our ticket shop . If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our staff by sending an email to [email protected]

All information about your visit to the BMW Group Plant Munich can be found here .

Reduced prices apply to children and pupils under 18, apprentices, students, severely disabled persons, unemployed, pensioners and BMW Clubs. BMW Group employees receive a reduced price on single tickets.

A transfer of the ticket to another person is possible up to two days before the booked date. Please inform our booking centre in advance of the name change in writing by e-mail to [email protected] .

Tickets can be cancelled free of charge or rebooked for another date up to 14 days before the booked date, after which the full ticket price will be charged as a cancellation fee. If you wish to change or cancel a booked tour, please contact our ticket shop at [email protected] .

In exceptional cases, tours that have already been booked may be curtailed or cancelled for operational reasons. In this case, the price of your guided tour will of course be refunded in full.

Should it not be possible to conduct a tour due to official orders, the BMW Group reserves the right to cancel the tour.

The cancellation conditions for the BMW Museum and BMW Welt Munich can be found here .

For safety reasons, children under the age of 7 are not permitted to take part in the guided plant tours, and children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. An accompanying person may look after a maximum of five children at the same time. The BMW Group offers school classes the opportunity to visit selected plants in specially tailored tours. If you are interested, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected] .

For safety reasons, children under the age of 14 are not permitted to take part in the plant tours. 

The BMW Group offers school classes the opportunity to visit selected plants in specially tailored tours. If you are interested, please send an email to [email protected] .

Children under the age of 14 are not allowed to enter the factory premises. Children under 16 years may only enter the factory premises if accompanied by an adult.

The BMW Group currently offers public tours at several locations. Three locations are in Germany: Berlin, Leipzig and Munich. A fourth location with the option of a public plant tour is in Oxford (United Kingdom).

Not all BMW Group production and assembly sites offer public plant tours. The BMW Group plants in Dingolfing, Landshut, Regensburg and Steyr, for example, are so-called target group locations that offer their tour formats for trade visitors and special formats. Guided tours are therefore not bookable.

The public factory tours are offered in German and English. For safety reasons, tour guests should understand the language of the respective tour or have an interpreter present.

Tickets can usually be booked three months in advance. If you are planning a visit in the longer term and the desired period is not yet available for booking, please register on our waiting list . We will then inform you as soon as the period is available for booking.

Please note: Unfortunately, no guided tours can be offered at the Berlin plant during the months of July, August and September.

You can find all information about your arrival here .

We recommend travelling by public transport: The bus and underground station “Haselhorst” is only a three-minute walk from the main entrance at Gate 1. You can find all information about your arrival here .

Parking spaces for passenger cars can be found in front of the entrance to the central building. Please make sure to park only in the appropriately marked parking spaces for guests. Parking spaces for coaches can be provided, subject to prior notification via the booking centre .

You will find public parking spaces for cars in Zitadellenweg. Due to the limited number of parking spaces, we recommend travelling to the plant by public transport: The underground station “Haselhorst” is only a few minutes’ walk away. Parking spaces for motorbike groups and coaches can be reserved by prior arrangement via the booking centre .

Parking spaces for coaches can be reserved in advance via the booking centre . No reservation is possible for cars. Sufficient public car parking spaces are available and are signposted on site.

Group tours

A group can consist of up to 15 participants. Groups of up to 30 participants will be divided between two guides.

A group can consist of up to 15 participants. Larger groups are divided among several guides. 

Group tours are exclusive tours for the participants of your group only and can be booked directly through our ticket shop

Individual requests can be made by emailing [email protected] . For group requests, please let us know the number of participants and your preferred date, and we will try to enable said request or suggest alternatives.

Persons using pacemakers must avoid the body shop as there is electromagnetic radiation in these areas. The stations can be skipped during the tour without any problems. Before visiting the factory, please contact the booking centre .

For a full tour experience visitors will receive audio guides with headphones. Wearing the headphones is mandatory. If you are unable to wear headphones for health reasons, please contact the booking centre before visiting the plant.

Persons using pacemakers or insulin pumps must avoid certain areas, but may still participate in the plant tour. Before visiting the factory, please contact the booking centre .

Tours are not suitable for pregnant people or persons with an electronical medical implant (e.g. pacemakers, insulin pumps, etc.)

Assistive listening technology can be provided for individuals with reduced ranges of hearing (Inductive Neck Loops).

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY

The tour is suitable for wheelchair users.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, but it is necessary that the person in the wheelchair can board a bus independently. Upon arrival of the bus, we will provide a foldable wheelchair for the duration of the tour, you can leave your own wheelchair at the Visitor Center. No electric wheelchair may be brought along. Whether your own wheelchair can be taken along, can only be checked on site (subject to availability, must be able to be lifted into the bus). An accompanying person will have to push the wheelchair during the tour; carers have free entry. Please note that you can use the toilets only at the beginning and/or at the end of the tour.

Our shop is located directly at Gate 1 – this is also the meeting point at the beginning of the tours.

The BMW Lifestyle Shop is located in the central building of the BMW Group Plant Leipzig.

Visit the MINI Online Shop: shop.mini.co.uk

All information about your visit and purchase at the BMW Group Plant Munich can be found here .

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