When visiting Oxford you can take away the stress of finding a convenient car park and find a more affordable way to see the city by using the park and ride service in Oxford which allows you to park, often for free, outside of the city centre and use the low cost bus service to travel in.
The park and ride sites across Oxford are all easily accessible from the main road links around Oxford, so you don’t need to travel into the city where traffic builds up. This offers a much more stress free experience.
There are five park and ride sites, each with its own bus service that operates seven days a week. The service is designed to reduce traffic congestion and pollution in the city center and provide an affordable and convenient alternative to driving into the city.
The cost of parking and using the bus service is typically cheaper than parking in the city center, and some of the car parks offer free parking on weekends and public holidays.
How many park and ride sites are there in Oxford
There are five park and ride sites in Oxford with direct routes into the city; Oxford Parkway, Pear Tree, Redbridge, Seacourt and Thornhill.
Oxford Parkway Park and Ride
Oxford Parkway park and ride is located in the North of Oxford and can be easily accessed from the A40 (from Witney and Cheltenham), A4260 (from Kidlington), A34 (from Banbury, Bicester and Northampton) and the M40. There are also CCTV cameras and security patrols to ensure the safety of vehicles and passengers.
Oxford Parkway Park and Ride is served by the Oxford Bus Company’s city center-bound bus service, which runs frequently to and from the city center, including St Aldate’s, the railway station, and the Westgate shopping center. The journey takes around 20-30 minutes, and tickets can be purchased from ticket machines at the site or via the Oxford Bus Company app.
The park and ride service operates every day of the week, with reduced hours on Sundays and bank holidays. The site also offers facilities such as a waiting room, toilets, and a cycle shelter.
Oxford Parkway Park and Ride is particularly convenient for those using the A40 or M40 motorway to travel to Oxford, as well as those using the Oxford Parkway train station to access the park and ride service. It provides a cost-effective and sustainable way for commuters and visitors to travel into Oxford, avoiding city center traffic and parking fees.
Address: Oxford Parkway Station, OX2 8HA
Serves: John Radcliffe Hospital, Kidlington Airport
Spaces: 758
Pear Tree Park and Ride
Pear Tree Park and Ride provides a convenient way for commuters and visitors to park their vehicles and travel into the city center via public transportation.
The park and ride site is located off the A34/A44 junction and has over 1000 parking spaces, with designated spaces for blue badge holders and motorcycles. There are also CCTV cameras and security patrols to ensure the safety of vehicles and passengers.
Pear Tree Park and Ride is served by the Oxford Bus Company’s city center-bound bus service, which runs frequently to and from the city center, including St Aldate’s, the railway station, and the Westgate shopping center. The journey takes around 10-15 minutes, and tickets can be purchased from ticket machines at the site or via the Oxford Bus Company app.
The park and ride service operates every day of the week, with reduced hours on Sundays and bank holidays. The site also offers facilities such as a waiting room, toilets, and a cycle shelter.
Pear Tree Park and Ride Oxford provides a cost-effective and sustainable way for commuters and visitors to travel into Oxford, avoiding city centre traffic and parking fees. It is particularly convenient for those traveling from the north of the city or using the M40 motorway.
Address: OX2 8JZ
Serves: City Centre
Spaces: 1,035
Redbridge Park and Ride
Redbridge Park and Ride is a park and ride facility located in Oxford, England. It provides a convenient way for commuters to park their vehicles and travel into the city center via public transportation.
The park and ride site is located on the A4144 near the A34 junction and has over 1,400 parking spaces, with designated spaces for blue badge holders and motorcycles. There are also CCTV cameras and security patrols to ensure the safety of vehicles and passengers.
Redbridge Park and Ride is served by the Oxford Bus Company’s city center-bound bus service, which runs frequently to and from the city center, including St Aldate’s, the railway station, and the Westgate shopping center. The journey takes around 10-15 minutes, and tickets can be purchased from ticket machines at the site or via the Oxford Bus Company app.
The park and ride service operates every day of the week, with reduced hours on Sundays and bank holidays. The site also offers facilities such as a waiting room, toilets, and a cycle shelter.
Redbridge Park and Ride Oxford provides a cost-effective and sustainable way for commuters to travel into Oxford, avoiding city center traffic and parking fees. It is also an excellent option for visitors to the city who are looking for a convenient and affordable way to park their cars and explore Oxford.
Address: OX1 4XG
Serves: John Radcliffe Hospital
Spaces: 1,412
Seacourt Park and Ride
Seacourt Park and Ride is a car park and bus interchange facility located in Botley, a suburb of Oxford, United Kingdom. It provides a convenient parking and transportation option for commuters and visitors to Oxford.
The park and ride site has over 1,300 parking spaces and is located just off the A34 motorway. It operates seven days a week and offers frequent bus services to and from Oxford city centre, as well as other destinations such as the Oxford Train Station, Oxford Brookes University, and the Churchill Hospital.
The park and ride is managed by Oxfordshire County Council, and parking charges apply for those using the facility. Bus fares vary depending on the destination and the time of day.
Seacourt Park and Ride has been in operation since 1995 and has undergone several improvements over the years, including the addition of electric charging points for electric vehicles. It is a popular transportation option for those traveling to and from Oxford, especially as parking in the city centre can be difficult and expensive. Additionally, Seacourt Park and Ride is the first park and ride site in the UK to have achieved carbon-neutral status.
Address: OX2 0HP
Serves: University Campus’, City Centre
Spaces: 1,389
Thornhill Park and Ride
Thornhill park and ride site has approximately 1,335 parking spaces and is located just off the A40 motorway. It operates seven days a week and offers frequent bus services to and from Oxford city centre, as well as other destinations such as the Oxford Business Park, BMW Mini Plant, and the John Radcliffe Hospital.
The park and ride is managed by Oxfordshire County Council, and parking charges apply for those using the facility. Bus fares vary depending on the destination and the time of day.
Thornhill Park and Ride has been in operation since 1972 and has undergone several expansions and improvements over the years, including the addition of electric charging points for electric vehicles in recent years. It is a popular and well-regarded transportation option for those traveling to and from Oxford, especially as parking in the city centre can be difficult and expensive.
Address: OX3 8DP
Serves: University Campus’, City Centre
Spaces: 1,335
Cost to park at park and ride sites in Oxford
Parking at Oxford park and ride sites is not free, but the charges are minimal in comparison to city centre parking.
| Park and Ride Site | Parking Charge |
| Oxford Parkway Park and Ride | 0-1 hour free: £0.00 1-11 hours: £2.00 11-24 hours: £4.00 24-48 hours: £8.00 48-72 hours: £12.00 |
| Pear Tree Park and Ride | 0-1 hour free: £0.00 1-11 hours: £2.00 11-24 hours: £4.00 24-48 hours: £8.00 48-72 hours: £12.00 |
| Redbridge Park and Ride | 0-1 hour free: £0.00 1-11 hours: £2.00 11-24 hours: £4.00 24-48 hours: £8.00 48-72 hours: £12.00 |
| Seacourt Park and Ride | 0-1 hour free: £0.00 1-11 hours: £2.00 11-24 hours: £4.00 24-48 hours: £8.00 48-72 hours: £12.00 |
| Thornhill Park and Ride | 0-1 hour free: £0.00 1-11 hours: £2.00 11-24 hours: £4.00 24-48 hours: £8.00 48-72 hours: £12.00 |
You can opt for a park + bus ticket which means you pay one fee that includes parking and your bus ticket into Oxford, so if there’s just one or two adults, it can work out much cheaper than parking in Oxford city centre.
For a car and a single occupant, the charge is £4 for a day ticket, whereas a car and two occupants is just £5 for a day of parking and travel into Oxford.
You can pay by cash, card or RingGo and even pay for a block of 28 days so if you commute in to Oxford, it might be the most affordable option.
Blue Badge holders and motorcycles (dedicated bays) can park free of charge at Oxford park and ride sites.
Park and ride vs car parking in Oxford
If you are travelling alone or as a couple, park and ride definitely works out to be the cheapest option as it will cost either £4 (for 1 traveller) or £5 (for 2 travellers) using the park and ride service in Oxford.
It also means you are closer to the main routes in and out of Oxford, rather than having to sit in traffic which can build up during popular times of the day such as early morning and early evening when commuters are on the move.
When it comes to parking in Oxford, council run car parks are considerably more expensive, with city centre car parks in Oxford coming in at some of the most expensive in the country.
Parking for 5 hours:
Gloucester Green Car Park – £18.50
Worcester Street Car Park – £14
Oxford Station Car Park – £31.50
Westgate Car Park – £9.50
Saint Clements Car Park – £15.20
Oxford park and ride ticket prices 2026
Buses generally run every 10 minutes Mondays to Saturdays and every 10-12 minutes on Sundays and bank holidays. This bus service is run by Oxford Bus Company covering the Oxford area.
2026 ticket prices for the park and ride service in Oxford is as follows:
| Ticket Type | 2026 Price |
| Adult Return | £3.00 |
| Return (72 Hour) | £3.50 |
| Single (Adult) | £2.00 |
| 2 to Go (2 Adults, Same Day) | £5.00 |
| Single (Child) | £1.00 |
| Return (Child) | £1.50 |
| Concession (national bus pass holder) | Free |
Oxford park and ride frequency
If you are planning on using the park and ride service in Oxford, you can plan your journey and decide which site to use based on the timetable. Oxford park and ride sites are open everyday and opening until the early evening so you don’t need to rush back to your car.
| Park and Ride Site | Frequency |
| Oxford Parkway | 12 minutes |
| Pear Tree | 12 minutes |
| Redbridge | 10 minutes |
| Seacourt | 10 minutes |
| Thornhill | 10 minutes |
Early in the morning and during the evening, the frequency is reduced to roughly every 30 minutes.
Oxford park and ride opening times
Each park and ride site across Oxford has its own opening and closing times, so depending on the nature of your visit, you can choose which site is best for you.
| Park and Ride Site | Opening Times |
| Oxford Parkway | 24 hours (Terminal building: Mon – Sat: 6.30am – 8pm, Sunday: 8am – 8pm) |
| Pear Tree | 24 hours |
| Redbridge | 24 hours |
| Seacourt | 24 hours |
| Thornhill | 24 hours (Terminal building: Mon – Sun: 6.30am – 11.30pm) |
Motorhomes parking at Oxford park and ride sites
Redbridge park and ride has a separate entrance for oversized vehicles including motorhomes which has no height restrictions. If you want to park in a different park and ride site in Oxford, you must request that the barriers are open by the security guard on site.
Overnight parking at Oxford park and ride
All park and ride sites in Oxford are open 24 hours a day, so you don’t need to be tied to closing times if you want to explore the city into the evening. You can leave your car overnight for a maximum of 72 hours.