Oxford’s narrow streets, expensive city-centre car parks and changing traffic rules mean Park & Ride is often the simplest way to visit the city by car.
Oxford’s Park & Ride sites sit around the ring road and main approach roads, giving drivers a convenient way to access the city without using central Oxford car parks. Before travelling, check the official site webpage, location map, bus timetables and combined ticket webpage for the latest service details.
There are five official Park & Ride sites around Oxford: Redbridge, Seacourt, Pear Tree, Oxford Parkway and Thornhill. Together, they provide more than 5,500 listed parking spaces and connect drivers with public shuttle buses into Oxford city centre, railway stations, Oxford Brookes University, the Headington hospitals and other key destinations.
The big change for 2026 is the £3 combined Park + Bus fare ticket, available from 17 August 2026 to 31 March 2027. It covers up to 16 hours’ parking for one car and return bus travel for up to five people travelling together.
Oxford Park & Ride at a glance
| Park & Ride site | Best for drivers arriving from | Services include | Best for | Listed spaces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redbridge | South, A34, Abingdon, Didcot, Newbury | 300, 600 | City centre, hospitals via 600 | 1,154 |
| Seacourt | West, A420, Witney, Swindon, Bath | 400, 4, 200 | City centre, railway station, through services | 1,255 |
| Pear Tree | North-west, A40, A34, A4260, M40 | 300 | City centre | 1,035 |
| Oxford Parkway | North, Kidlington, A34, A40, A4260 | 700; check Stagecoach for other services | Summertown, hospitals, rail links | 758 |
| Thornhill | East, A40, M40, Thame, Aylesbury, London | 400, 600, H2 | City centre, Brookes, hospitals, coaches | 1,335 |
Bus routes and timetables can change, so treat route numbers as a guide and check the operator’s latest timetable before travelling. The table gives examples rather than every service. Use Oxford Bus Company’s current route links and the relevant operator’s journey planner for your destination and return time.
How much does Oxford Park & Ride cost in 2026?
The combined Park + Bus ticket costs £3. The councils currently advertise the offer from 17 August 2026 to 31 March 2027.
The ticket includes:
- up to 16 hours’ parking for one car
- return bus travel into Oxford and back
- travel for up to five people of any age travelling together
- travel from one of Oxford’s five Park & Ride sites
- use on participating buses that stop inside a Park & Ride site and travel towards Oxford
The offer replaced the free Park & Ride bus travel scheme, which ended on 16 August 2026.
You can buy the £3 combined ticket from a parking machine at the site or through the RingGo app. If using RingGo, choose the Parking & Bus option rather than parking-only. You must show the driver either your printed parking ticket or your active RingGo session when boarding, and you will need to show the same evidence on the return journey.
The combined ticket is valid on any Stagecoach, Oxford Bus Company or Thames Travel bus that stops inside an Oxford Park & Ride site. It is not valid on Oxford Bus Company’s Airline coaches, Stagecoach’s Oxford Tube, Bicester Park & Ride, or journeys heading away from Oxford, such as Redbridge to Abingdon or Oxford Parkway to Kidlington.
Parking-only charges
If you are not using the bus, or you need to park for longer than 16 hours, standard parking charges apply.
| Length of stay | Parking-only charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | Free, but you must still register your session |
| 1 to 16 hours | £2.50 |
| 16 to 24 hours | £4.50 |
| 2 days | £8.50 |
| 3 days | £12.50 |
| 28 days | £45 through RingGo only |
You must pay or start your parking session within 10 minutes of arrival. The usual maximum stay is 72 hours, and overnight parking is allowed if the correct charge is paid.
For comparison, the council lists four to six weekday hours at Gloucester Green car park at £22.30.
At the parking machine or in the RingGo ticket menu, select the combined Parking & Bus option. Show the printed ticket or active RingGo session to the bus driver when boarding, and keep it available as a fallback for the return journey.
Bus routes, schedules and connections can change, so use the route numbers as a guide and check current bus timetables before travelling.
How to use Oxford Park & Ride
Using Oxford Park & Ride is straightforward.
- Choose the site that matches the direction you are driving from.
- Park in a marked bay.
- Pay or register your vehicle within 10 minutes.
- Select the £3 Parking & Bus ticket if you are travelling by bus.
- Keep the printed ticket or RingGo session available.
- Check the route number and destination before boarding.
- Show the ticket or active RingGo session to the driver.
- Keep the same evidence for your return journey.
- Check that your return bus serves the Park & Ride site where you parked.
Paying through RingGo in advance does not reserve a parking space.
Which Oxford Park & Ride should you use?
Redbridge Park & Ride
Postcode: OX1 4XG
Best approach: A34 from Abingdon, Didcot and Newbury
Services include: 300 and 600
Parking spaces: 1,154
Best for: drivers arriving from the south
Redbridge is the main southern Park & Ride site. It is one of the best choices for visitors arriving from the A34, Abingdon, Didcot, Newbury and other southern approaches.
Oxford Bus Company advertises the 300 journey from Redbridge to Oxford city centre at around 10 minutes. The site also has connections towards the Headington hospitals on services such as the 600.
Facilities include toilets, a waiting room, 14 disabled bays, a 2.1-metre height restriction at the main car entrance, and more than 40 electric vehicle charging points. The council says EV charging is unavailable from 6 to 23 October 2026 because of electricity-network maintenance. Blue Badge holders can park free in any bay when displaying a valid badge and clock.
Official link: Redbridge Park and Ride
Seacourt Park & Ride
Postcode: OX2 0HP
Best approach: A420 from Witney, Swindon and Bath
Services include: 400, 4 and 200
Parking spaces: 1,255
Best for: western approaches, city centre and railway station
Seacourt is the main western Park & Ride site. It is convenient for drivers arriving from the A420, Witney, Swindon and Bath.
Following Botley Road’s reopening, service 400 runs from Seacourt through Oxford railway station and the city centre to Thornhill, with some journeys continuing to Wheatley and Thame. Services 4 and 200 also connect Seacourt with the city centre. The old Osney Island walk-and-transfer arrangement no longer applies.
Facilities include toilets, a waiting room, 10 disabled bays, 10 electric vehicle charging points, limited bicycle storage and a 2.2-metre height restriction.
Official link: Seacourt Park and Ride
Pear Tree Park & Ride
Postcode: OX2 8JZ
Best approach: A40, A34, A4260 and M40
Services include: 300
Parking spaces: 1,035
Best for: north-western approaches and the city centre
Pear Tree is a good option for drivers approaching from the north and north-west, including the A40 from Witney and Cheltenham, the A4260 from Kidlington, the A34 from Banbury, Bicester and Northampton, and the M40.
Oxford Bus Company lists the 300 from Pear Tree to the city centre at around 12 minutes.
Pear Tree has 18 disabled bays and a 2.3-metre height restriction. Oxford City Council currently lists no EV charging at this site, and the available facilities are more limited than at Redbridge, Seacourt, Oxford Parkway or Thornhill.
Official link: Pear Tree Park and Ride
Oxford Parkway Park & Ride
Postcode: OX2 8HA
Best approach: Kidlington, A34, A40, A4260 and M40
Services include: 700; check Stagecoach for other services
Parking spaces: 758
Best for: Summertown, hospitals and rail connections
Oxford Parkway is useful for northern Oxford, Summertown, the Headington hospitals and onward rail travel.
The Park & Ride site is next to Oxford Parkway railway station, but the station car park is separate. Oxford City Council warns that the car park closest to the train station is not a Park & Ride site and is for Oxford Parkway Station customers. Follow signs for the designated Park & Ride area if you want to use the £3 combined Park + Bus ticket.
The 700 links Oxford Parkway with Summertown, Oxford Brookes and the hospitals, continuing towards Cowley and Blackbird Leys. Check Stagecoach’s current journey planner for city-centre services from the site; older council listings still contain route numbers that have changed.
Facilities include toilets, a waiting room, 30 disabled bays, a 2.1-metre height restriction at the main car entrance, and a separate high-sided vehicle entrance. Oxford City Council currently lists no EV charging in the Park & Ride area.
Official link: Oxford Parkway Park and Ride
Thornhill Park & Ride
Postcode: OX3 8DP
Best approach: A40, M40, Thame, Aylesbury, High Wycombe and London
Services include: 400, 600, H2, Airline, Oxford Tube and other coach services
Parking spaces: 1,335
Best for: eastern approaches, Oxford Brookes, hospitals and London/airport coaches
Thornhill is Oxford’s largest Park & Ride site and the main eastern gateway into the city. It is the natural choice for drivers arriving from the A40, M40, Thame, Aylesbury, High Wycombe and London.
Oxford Bus Company lists the 400 from Thornhill to Oxford city centre at around 15 minutes. The site is also served by other local services and by separate coach services, including Oxford Tube and airport coaches. Those coach services require separate tickets and are not included in the £3 local Park + Bus offer.
Facilities include toilets, a waiting room, tea and coffee facilities, 37 disabled bays, designated motorcycle parking and a 2.1-metre height restriction. Oxford City Council currently lists no EV charging at Thornhill.
Official link: Thornhill Park and Ride
Best Park & Ride for popular Oxford destinations
Oxford city centre and university colleges
Redbridge, Pear Tree, Seacourt and Thornhill have direct city-centre services.
The 300 serves Redbridge and Pear Tree, while the 400 connects Seacourt, the city centre and Thornhill. Oxford Bus Company says these Park & Ride buses take passengers directly into the heart of Oxford, with key stops including central locations close to shopping areas and tourist attractions.
Westgate Oxford
Redbridge and Pear Tree are good choices for Westgate because the 300 serves the city centre. Seacourt and Thornhill are also useful via the 400; check the stop nearest your destination.
Oxford railway station
The 400 links Seacourt and Thornhill with Oxford railway station. Check the timetable for the date of your journey and allow time to transfer to your train.
John Radcliffe, Churchill and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
For the Headington hospitals, consider Oxford Parkway, Thornhill or Redbridge, depending on where you are driving from. The £3 combined ticket can be used for eligible Park & Ride journeys to key destinations such as the John Radcliffe Hospital and Oxford Brookes University.
Oxford Brookes University
Thornhill is usually the most convenient Park & Ride site for Oxford Brookes because the 400 serves the Headington Road corridor. Oxford Parkway may also be useful via routes that serve Summertown, Brookes and the hospital area.
Oxford Science Park and Cowley
The 600 links Redbridge with Oxford Science Park and Cowley before continuing towards the hospitals and Thornhill. Check the current timetable for your stop.
London and airport coaches
Use Thornhill for many London and airport coach services, but remember that the £3 combined Park + Bus ticket does not cover Oxford Tube, Airline or National Express journeys.
Accessibility and facilities
Oxford Bus Company advertises easy-access buses. Consult its wheelchair guidance if you use a larger wheelchair or mobility scooter, and contact the operator about your journey’s access requirements.
Across the five sites there are more than 100 disabled parking bays. Blue Badge holders can park free in any bay when displaying a valid badge and clock, although bus fares may still apply unless the passenger has a valid concessionary pass or uses the combined ticket.
| Site | Toilets and waiting room | EV charging | Disabled bays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redbridge | Yes | More than 40 points; unavailable 6–23 October 2026 | 14 |
| Seacourt | Yes | 10 points | 10 |
| Pear Tree | No toilets or waiting room listed | None listed | 18 |
| Oxford Parkway | Yes | None listed | 30 |
| Thornhill | Yes, plus refreshments | None listed | 37 |
Terminal buildings normally open from 8am to 8pm, but car parks are open 24 hours. Do not assume toilets, waiting rooms or staff facilities will be available early in the morning or late at night.
Oxford traffic restrictions and Park & Ride
Oxford currently has several traffic schemes that can affect drivers.
Traffic filters have replaced the £5 congestion charge
The temporary congestion charge ended on 27 September 2026. The traffic-filter trial began on 28 September: drivers can no longer pay £5 to pass through a filter during its operating hours.
The restrictions cover cars, including electric cars and motorhomes classed as M1 vehicles. Other vehicle classes and some specified vehicles are exempt; eligible drivers need an approved permit. See our traffic-filter guide and the council’s current rules before driving through a filter.
The penalty is £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. A charge certificate can increase it to £105 if neither payment nor formal representations are received within 28 days. During the trial’s first six months, the council says a first contravention receives a warning. Using Park & Ride can avoid the need to drive through the filter points.
Zero Emission Zone
Oxford also has a small city-centre Zero Emission Zone. Charges apply from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week, all year round. The published daily bands are £0, £2, £4 and £10, depending on vehicle emissions; discounts and exemptions may apply. Use the council’s vehicle checker rather than assuming an exemption.
Park & Ride buses can take passengers into the central area without visitors having to drive into the ZEZ themselves.
Frequently asked questions
How many Park & Ride sites are there in Oxford?
There are five official Park & Ride sites around Oxford: Redbridge, Seacourt, Pear Tree, Oxford Parkway and Thornhill.
How much is Oxford Park & Ride in 2026?
The combined Park + Bus ticket costs £3 under the offer advertised for 17 August 2026 to 31 March 2027. It covers up to 16 hours’ parking for one car and return bus travel for up to five people travelling together.
Can five people really park and travel for £3?
Yes. Oxfordshire County Council says the £3 ticket covers return bus travel into Oxford and back for up to five people of any age, plus up to 16 hours’ parking.
Do I need the RingGo app?
No. You can buy the combined ticket from a parking machine at the Park & Ride site. You can also use RingGo if you prefer to pay by phone.
Can I pay by cash?
Many Park & Ride sites have ticket machines that accept cash and card, although some machines may be card-only and cash machines do not give change. Check the official site page for the car park you plan to use.
Do I need a ticket for the free first hour?
Yes. Even if you are parking for less than an hour, you must still register your parking session or obtain a free ticket.
Can I leave my car overnight?
Yes. Overnight parking is allowed, but standard charges apply and the usual maximum stay is 72 hours.
Are the car parks open all night?
Yes. Oxford’s Park & Ride car parks are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Bus services and terminal buildings do not necessarily operate all night.
Is the combined ticket valid for the hospitals?
Yes, if you use an eligible local bus that stops inside a Park & Ride site and travels towards Oxford or key destinations such as the John Radcliffe Hospital. Choose your site and route carefully.
Can I use the £3 ticket to travel away from Oxford?
No. The combined ticket is not valid for journeys heading away from Oxford, such as Redbridge to Abingdon or Oxford Parkway to Kidlington.
Is Bicester Park & Ride included?
No. Oxfordshire County Council says the £3 combined ticket is not valid at Bicester Park & Ride.
Is Oxford Parkway station car park the same as Oxford Parkway Park & Ride?
No. Oxford City Council says the car park closest to the train station is not a Park & Ride site and is for Oxford Parkway Station customers. Use the designated Park & Ride area if you want the £3 combined bus ticket.
Are electric cars exempt from Oxford traffic filters?
No. Oxfordshire County Council says electric cars are not exempt from the traffic filters.
Which Oxford Park & Ride is closest to the city centre?
Oxford Bus Company advertises journeys of around 10 minutes from both Redbridge and Seacourt to the city centre. Actual journey times depend on the service, traffic and destination stop.
Which Oxford Park & Ride is best?
For a straightforward visit to central Oxford:
- From the south: use Redbridge.
- From the east or M40: use Thornhill.
- From the north-west: use Pear Tree.
- From the north: use Oxford Parkway or Pear Tree, depending on your destination.
- From the west: use Seacourt, with direct buses into the city centre.
For the Headington hospitals, Oxford Parkway, Thornhill and Redbridge are usually the most useful choices, depending on your approach direction. For London and airport coaches, Thornhill is the main Park & Ride site, but coach fares are separate.
The best value is the £3 combined Park + Bus ticket. For couples, families and small groups, it is substantially cheaper than most city-centre parking and reduces the risk of being caught out by the Zero Emission Zone or the traffic-filter restrictions.
Before setting out, check the latest Oxford Bus Company Park & Ride information, Oxford City Council Park & Ride site information and Oxfordshire County Council transport updates.
Updated 16 October 2026: this guide has been corrected following Botley Road’s reopening and the traffic-filter launch. Obsolete Seacourt directions and an infographic repeating the closure warning have been removed. The £3 offer’s end date and the council’s current Redbridge EV-charging interruption have been added.
