help!!!!when should you actually be applying?

I know oxbridge applicants apply in October and in general it ends in January. But what's an ideal time? If I wait to send off my application in early Jan would a lot of places already be gone for top unis?

universities have to give all applications equal consideration so i don't believe they will fill all their spots before the jan deadline. some unis even wait until after everyone has sent in applications to send out offers. that being said, there are a lot of benefits to sending out your application early - don't rush it but my school is having everyone send theirs off by december to prevent people leaving it to the last minute and letting stress about applications interfere with mocks!!