A new summer shuttle bus will link Thornhill Park & Ride, Wheatley and Waterperry Gardens, giving visitors a more sustainable way to reach the popular Oxfordshire attraction at weekends and on bank holidays.
At a glance
| Service | WP1 Waterperry Gardens shuttle bus |
| Route | Thornhill Park & Ride, Wheatley and Waterperry Gardens |
| When it starts | Saturday 13 June 2026 |
| When it runs | Weekends and bank holidays until Sunday 30 August 2026 |
| First outbound bus | 9.30am from Thornhill Park & Ride |
| Last return bus | 5.30pm from Waterperry Gardens |
| Timetable | Available through Oxford Bus Company |
A new shuttle bus service has been launched to help people visit Waterperry Gardens without driving this summer.
Oxford Bus Company and Waterperry Gardens have partnered on the new WP1 route, which will run at weekends and on bank holidays from Saturday 13 June until Sunday 30 August.
The service will operate between Thornhill Park & Ride, Wheatley and Waterperry Gardens, calling at local bus stops along the route.
Waterperry Gardens, near Wheatley, is known for its 20 acres of ornamental gardens, as well as its plant centre, garden shop, gift barn, gallery, museum and tea shop.
Why the shuttle has been introduced
The new route is intended to make it easier for visitors to reach Waterperry Gardens by public transport during the attraction’s busy summer period.
Waterperry Gardens has partnered with Oxford Bus Company as part of its drive to reduce its carbon footprint and offer more sustainable access to the site.
Thornhill Park & Ride will act as the main connection point for the service, giving visitors the option to travel by bus from Oxford and then continue onwards to Waterperry.
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “This is an exciting new partnership based on shared sustainability values.
“The new WP1 service is designed to help people travel to and from Waterperry Gardens via bus during its peak summer period, with Thornhill Park & Ride acting as a key connectivity hub.
“All the details of the new timetable are on our website and we look forward to welcoming people on board across the summer to visit one of Oxfordshire’s premier attractions.”
WP1 shuttle timetable
The shuttle will run several times a day on operating days, with journeys taking about 15 minutes between Thornhill Park & Ride and Waterperry Gardens.
| Outbound | Thornhill Park & Ride | Wheatley St Mary’s Church | Wheatley Tynedale | Waterperry Gardens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am | 9.37am, 10.37am, 11.37am | 9.40am, 10.40am, 11.40am | 9.45am, 10.45am, 11.45am |
| Afternoon | 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm | 12.37pm, 2.37pm, 3.37pm, 4.37pm | 12.40pm, 2.40pm, 3.40pm, 4.40pm | 12.45pm, 2.45pm, 3.45pm, 4.45pm |
| Return | Waterperry Gardens | Wheatley Tynedale | Wheatley St Mary’s Church | Thornhill Park & Ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 10am, 11am, 12pm | 10.05am, 11.05am, 12.05pm | 10.08am, 11.08am, 12.08pm | 10.15am, 11.15am, 12.15pm |
| Afternoon | 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 5.30pm | 2.05pm, 3.05pm, 4.05pm, 5.05pm, 5.35pm | 2.08pm, 3.08pm, 4.08pm, 5.08pm, 5.38pm | 2.15pm, 3.15pm, 4.15pm, 5.15pm, 5.45pm |
Passengers should check the live timetable and fare information on the Oxford Bus Company website before travelling, as times and operating arrangements may change.
What visitors can do at Waterperry Gardens
Waterperry Gardens is one of Oxfordshire’s best-known garden attractions, with 20 acres of landscaped ornamental gardens close to Wheatley.
The site was made famous by horticulturalist Beatrix Havergal, who established her School of Horticulture for Ladies at Waterperry in 1932. Today, the gardens include formal planting, borders, long vistas, trees, shrubs, flowers and seasonal displays.
Visitors can also use the plant centre, garden shop, gift barn, gallery, museum and tea shop. Waterperry Gardens is open seven days a week and, between April and October, lists opening hours of 10am to 5.30pm.
There is a charge to visit the ornamental gardens, but Waterperry says access to the rest of the estate, including the plant centre, garden shop, gallery, gift barn and tea shop, is free.
Waterperry welcomes sustainable travel link
Simon Buchanan, Steward of Waterperry House and Gardens, said the new service would help people reach the attraction more sustainably.
He said: “We hope that this new venture will help both the local and wider communities enjoy more sustainable access both to and from our beautiful gardens and the wonderful activities that take place here; horticultural, artistic and philosophical.”
The new shuttle will be especially useful for visitors who do not drive, or those who want to avoid taking a car to the site during weekends and summer holiday periods.
Planning your visit
| Destination | Waterperry Gardens, near Wheatley, Oxfordshire, OX33 1JZ |
| Sat nav postcode | Waterperry recommends using OX33 1LA for sat nav directions |
| Opening hours | 10am to 5.30pm between April and October |
| Garden admission | Adult garden admission is listed at £12.95 from February to October; children aged 16 and under go free |
| Dogs | Dogs are not allowed in the ornamental gardens, except registered support dogs. Dogs are allowed in the tea shop on a lead |
| Shuttle dates | Weekends and bank holidays from 13 June to 30 August 2026 |
Why it matters locally
Public transport access to rural and edge-of-village attractions can be difficult, particularly for people without a car.
The new service gives visitors a direct link from Thornhill Park & Ride to Waterperry Gardens during the main summer visitor season, while also serving Wheatley stops along the way.
For Oxfordshire families, visitors and garden lovers, it means a summer day out at Waterperry can now be planned with a clearer bus option, rather than relying on a taxi from Wheatley or travelling entirely by car.
FAQs
When does the new Waterperry Gardens shuttle bus start?
The WP1 shuttle starts on Saturday 13 June 2026.
How long will the shuttle run for?
The service is due to run on weekends and bank holidays until Sunday 30 August 2026.
Where does the shuttle bus run?
It runs between Thornhill Park & Ride, Wheatley and Waterperry Gardens, calling at local bus stops along the route.
What is the first bus to Waterperry Gardens?
The first listed outbound journey leaves Thornhill Park & Ride at 9.30am and arrives at Waterperry Gardens at 9.45am.
What is the last bus back from Waterperry Gardens?
The last listed return journey leaves Waterperry Gardens at 5.30pm and arrives at Thornhill Park & Ride at 5.45pm.
What can visitors see at Waterperry Gardens?
Visitors can explore 20 acres of ornamental gardens, a plant centre, garden shop, gift barn, gallery, museum and tea shop.
Where can people find the timetable?
The timetable is available through the Oxford Bus Company website.
