Heading into town this week for half term? From Wednesday 29th October, drivers can park at an Oxford Park & Ride for £2.50 (up to 16 hours) and travel into the city centre by bus for free, part of a three-month pilot to ease congestion and cut costs for visitors, shoppers and commuters.
Under the offer, anyone who buys a £2.50 Park & Ride parking ticket can ride the Park & Ride buses for free, along with one other adult and up to three children, to and from Oxford city centre and key stops including the John Radcliffe Hospital and Oxford Brookes University.
Just show your parking ticket or app receipt to the driver when you board. The deal applies at all five Park & Ride sites; Seacourt, Redbridge, Thornhill, Pear Tree and Oxford Parkway, and is valid on Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and Stagecoach services that serve the Park & Rides (excludes the Airline coach).
“This is fantastic news for bus passengers and our network,” said Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company. “Oxford has struggled with congestion for a long time, and making bus travel more attractive is key to improving the situation. Park & Ride is the most affordable, accessible and sustainable way to travel in and out of the city. We’re encouraging people to give this three-month pilot a try so it can be extended.”
The scheme, agreed through the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership between local councils and operators, supports the city’s temporary £5 congestion charge and wider bus network upgrades. Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel say the improvements will allow them to redeploy nine buses to boost reliability on routes hit by traffic.
As part of the changes, the 700 will run every 20 minutes Mon–Fri (every 30 mins at weekends) on a consistent route Kidlington–Blackbird Leys, and the Redbridge 300 gains new stops at Lake Street on Abingdon Road, after feedback from councillors and residents.
How it works
- Park at Seacourt, Redbridge, Thornhill, Pear Tree or Oxford Parkway and pay £2.50 for up to 16 hours.
- Board any Park & Ride service (Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel or Stagecoach — not the Airline).
- Show your parking ticket/QR code to the driver.
- Ride free into Oxford city centre (and to JR Hospital / Oxford Brookes) for you + one adult + up to three children — return travel included.
Need to know
- When: 29 Oct 2025 – late January 2026 (three-month pilot)
- Where: Pear Tree, Oxford Parkway, Seacourt, Redbridge, Thornhill Park & Ride sites
- Cost: £2.50 parking (up to 16 hours) + free bus travel for 2 adults + up to 3 children
- Why now: Supports a temporary £5 Oxford city-centre congestion charge and encourages greener trips
- Extras: Oxford Bus Company staff will be at Park & Ride sites during launch week to help with tickets and queries
Plan your trip, check live departures and use the savings calculator at oxfordbus.co.uk/free-park-and-ride or call 01865 785 400.
Make a day of it: five easy Park & Ride mini-itineraries
Turn “park for £2.50, ride free” into a full day out. Each plan starts at a different Oxford Park & Ride site. Times are approximate; check live departures in the operator apps on the day (offer valid on P&R services; Airline coaches excluded).
Seacourt → Westgate & the Covered Market (city centre)
- Park: Seacourt P&R (Botley Rd) — £2.50 for up to 16 hours.
- Ride / walk in: Hop the Seacourt P&R bus (look for 400/300 via city) or stroll the Thames Path via Osney Lock (≈15 mins to Westgate).
- Family tip: The riverside path is buggy-friendly; kids love a quick climb up Castle Mound for skyline views.
- Return: Seacourt buses run late Fri/Sat — check last departures.
Things to do:
- Brunch with a view on the Westgate Rooftop (Victors, Mowgli, Pizza Pilgrims) or pop into M&S Café.
- Browse the Covered Market (Gail’s, Moo-Moos, Ben’s Cookies) and hunt gifts on Turl St & Cornmarket.
- Culture fix: Ashmolean Museum (free), Weston Library, Christ Church Meadow loop.
Redbridge → Christ Church Meadow, Folly Bridge & Westgate
- Park: Redbridge P&R (Abingdon Rd) — £2.50 for up to 16 hours.
- Ride / walk in: Take P&R 300 (now stopping at Lake Street on Abingdon Rd) to Westgate / High St, or walk the Thames Path via Hinksey Park (playground & café).
- Practical: Abingdon Rd can be busy — the 300 P&R avoids city-centre driving and now serves Lake Street after feedback from locals.
Things to do:
- Riverside wander: Cross Folly Bridge, loop Christ Church Meadow, watch punts and swans.
- Lunch at The Head of the River or The Folly; warm up with coffee on St Aldate’s.
- Shop & sparkle: Finish at Westgate or explore Modern Art Oxford and the Covered Market.
Thornhill → JR Hospital & Headington High Street
- Park: Thornhill P&R (A40/London Rd) — ideal for JR/Churchill visits or a browse in Headington.
- Ride: 700 to JR / Old Rd / Churchill (now every 20 mins Mon–Fri, 30 mins weekends). For city centre, use the Thornhill P&R shuttle.
- Tip: Check exact stop names in the app (e.g. “JR Hospital – West Wing”, “Headington Shops”) for your return.
Things to do:
- Appointments made easy: Direct stops at JR West Wing & Churchill — arrive early, grab a coffee nearby.
- Head into Headington: Cafés on London Rd (Gail’s, independent bakeries), snap the Headington Shark, stroll Bury Knowle Park.
Oxford Parkway (Water Eaton) → Summertown & the city
- Park: Oxford Parkway P&R (Water Eaton) — perfect for north Oxford & quick hops into town.
- Ride: P&R 500 to Summertown & Magdalen St/High St, or take a short Chiltern Railways train to Oxford station.
- Family tip: Plenty of cycle parking if you want to bring bikes and ride the flat path into town.
Things to do:
- Summertown saunter: Brunch on Banbury Rd (Gail’s, The Lemon Tree), indie bookshops, Oxford Wine Café, Summertown Market (weekends).
- Green escape: Walk Port Meadow or University Parks; drop into Pitt Rivers & Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Pear Tree → Jericho, Port Meadow & North Wall Arts
- Park: Pear Tree P&R (A34/A44) — best for Summertown/Jericho and northern museums.
- Ride: Pear Tree P&R service into St Giles/Magdalen St for the Ashmolean & city centre; or alight earlier for Jericho.
- Tip: If you’re heading to Blenheim Palace, consider the Stagecoach S3 from city centre (check timetables) or drive from Pear Tree — it’s a quick hop up the A44.
Things to do:
- Jericho charms: Brunch at Gail’s, Gail’s or Barefoot; browse Objects of Use & Alice’s Shop; stroll Canal and Port Meadow (Wolvercote & The Perch).
- Museums: Pitt Rivers & Natural History (free, family-friendly).
- Evening: Catch a show at The North Wall Arts Centre or a film at Phoenix Picturehouse.
