Free Park & Ride travel at centre of Oxford visitor push

Oxford Bus Company is highlighting all that Oxford has to offer to mark English Tourism Week – with the help of free Park & Ride travel.

Running between 13th and 22nd March, English Tourism Week celebrates an industry which generates approximately £147 billion annually for the national economy and supports about 2.4 million jobs.

A report prepared by Oxford Economics, for Visit Britain, earlier this year noted that the value of total tourism activity in the UK is expected to reach £161 billion and create an additional 175,000 jobs by 2030.

Footfall has remained strong in Oxford so far during 2026, supported by the offer of free Park & Ride travel, which is making it easier for visitors to access the city centre.

The initiative was introduced at the end of October as part of a series of major improvements to coincide with Oxfordshire County Council’s temporary congestion charge. Drivers pay a £5 fee if travelling via six temporary congestion charge locations in Oxford.

Year-on-year bus passenger numbers are approximately eight per cent up across Go-Ahead Group’s Oxfordshire network, which includes Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel. A third of this increase is on Park & Ride services, while there has been significant growth on routes serving Oxford from across the county, including Abingdon, Didcot and Wallingford.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “The visitor economy is vital for the overall economic wellbeing of Oxford, and providing sustainable and accessible public transport is key to encouraging people to visit.

“Free travel via the Park & Ride network is making it easier for visitors to access and get around the city than before. By intercepting journeys at the Park & Ride sites, we are reducing traffic on the roads.

“English Tourism Week is an important campaign which helps highlight the excellent range of attractions we have, and the wider benefits tourism brings to the city.”

Lesley Wright, Head of Marketing and Partnership Services at Experience Oxfordshire, said: “English Tourism Week enables Experience Oxfordshire to shine a light on the many vibrant and diverse visitor economy businesses across Oxfordshire.

“From accommodation providers and attractions to hospitality and retail in the city of dreaming spires, there is greater opportunity for access by utilising the current free Park & Ride initiative.”

During the Easter school holidays, City Sightseeing Oxford will be conducting a bunny hop trail between 28th March and 12th April.

Free to anyone boarding bus tours, by collecting stamps on a trail card, a special Easter-themed reward can then be claimed from either City Sightseeing Oxford’s visitor information point on the High Street or the travel shop at Gloucester Green.

A free return ticket on the Park & Ride network can be claimed when customers with a valid parking ticket for any of the five Park & Ride sites show their ticket to their bus driver.

Oxford Park & Ride sites are located at Redbridge, Seacourt, Thornhill, Pear Tree and Oxford Parkway. Parking is just £2.50 for up to 16 hours.