Your Guide to Free Oxford Park&Ride: Eligibility and FAQs

Free Park&Ride Travel in Oxford

Oxford’s bus operators are working in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council to provide free park&ride bus journeys in Oxford from 29th October 2025 to August 2026, when the city’s temporary congestion charge scheme starts.

The offer will allow up to two adults and three children free return travel from one of Oxford’s five Park&Ride sites (Redbridge, Pear Tree, Seacourt, Thornhill and Oxford Parkway) to Oxford City Centre. 

In addition to the City Centre, customers can also benefit from free return travel to other locations within Oxford SmartZone (providing no change of bus is required*), including Oxford Rail Station, the John Radcliffe Hospital and other Oxford University Hospitals sites.

Customers will simply need to show their bus driver proof of payment for their parking, either from the car parking machines at the sites or via RingGo, and they’ll receive a free Return ticket valid for 16 hours.

This offer will be available on most buses serving Park&Ride sites, not just dedicated Park&Ride routes. For full details of exclusions, please see the Frequently Asked Questions section. Free Return tickets will be accepted for the return journey on any operator’s included services. For example, if you travel from Thornhill Park&Ride to the JR Hospital on a Thames Travel H2, you can return on a Stagecoach 600.

Further details, including what do for larger groups, are available in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

*Except where necessitated by the ongoing closure of Botley Road Bridge. For customers parking at Seacourt Park&Ride, a change of bus is allowed at Osney Island / Oxford Rail Station on to/from service 400 only for journeys to Oxford City Centre, Oxford Brookes University, or other point within Oxford SmartZone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Park&Ride free bus travel offer work? 

When you park at any Oxford Park&Ride site and pay £2.50 for up to 16 hours, you can show your parking proof (ticket or app) to the bus driver and get free return bus travel for you, another adult, and up to three children. This offer is valid for journeys into Oxford City Centre and other key destinations.

From which Park&Ride sites is the free travel offer valid?

The free travel offer is available at Redbridge, Pear Tree, Seacourt, Thornhill and Oxford Parkway Park&Ride sites. 

The offer is not valid at Bicester Park&Ride.

What counts as proof of parking? 

Proof includes a valid parking ticket from the machine or a RingGo app receipt showing payment for parking at the Park&Ride site.

What if there are more than two adults and three children in my group?

The free travel offer is only available for up to two adults and three children per valid car parking ticket. Any additional customers will need to pay for their bus travel using cash or a contactless bank card.

What if I’ve purchased a longer period bus ticket to use from the Park&Ride sites?

Customers who’ve already purchased longer duration tickets, for example, one of our 4 Week products, will be able to obtain a refund on our standard non-pro rata terms. Please get in touch with the operator you purchased your ticket from to arrange this.

For Oxford Bus Company & Thames Travel: You can reach our Customer Services Team by emailing [email protected], by calling us on 01865 785400 or writing to us at Cowley House, Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6GA.

For Stagecoach: Please see details on Stagecoach’s contact us page.

What if I have a car parking season ticket?

Holders of pre-paid car parking season tickets will be contacted by Oxford Direct Services, who will provide proof of purchase for their car parking, which can then be shown to bus drivers to obtain a free Return ticket on each day of travel.

Who can use the free bus travel offer?

Anyone who parks at a Park&Ride site and has proof of parking payment can use the offer. Each ticket covers up to two adults and three children travelling together.

Can I get free bus travel from the Park&Ride sites heading away from Oxford?

No – the free travel offer only applies to customers making journeys towards Oxford from the Park&Ride sites listed above. You can’t, for example, get free travel from Redbridge Park&Ride to Abingdon or from Oxford Parkway Park&Ride to Kidlington.

What if I want to travel from the City Centre to a Park&Ride site?

If you’ve started your journey at one of the Park&Ride sites listed above, then you’ll be issued a ticket from the bus to show to get your return journey for free too. You'll need to keep this for your journey back to the Park&Ride site; our drivers won't be able to accept your car parking ticket/RingGo for the return portion of your journey. If you’re starting your journey at a point other than a Park&Ride site, you’ll need to pay the normal bus fare. 

On which services can I get free travel?

Free travel is available on all Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and Stagecoach local bus services which operate from the Park&Ride sites. The only excluded services are Airline coach services OXF/LHR/LGW and the Oxford Tube.

What if I’m staying longer than a day?

Free Park&Ride Return tickets are valid for 16 hours from the time of issue. If you’re staying longer than this, you’ll need to pay for your return journey separately.

Are Park&Ride buses accessible? 

Yes, all Park&Ride buses are accessible and feature low-floor entry for easy boarding.

Park&Ride Free Bus Travel Offer – Terms & Conditions

1. Eligibility: 
Free bus travel tickets are available to anyone parking at an Oxford Park&Ride site (Seacourt, Redbridge, Thornhill, Pear Tree, or Oxford Parkway) and presenting proof of parking payment (ticket or RingGo app receipt) to the bus driver.

2. Ticket Types:

• Adult Free Park&Ride Return
• 2 To Go Free Park&Ride Return (for two adults traveling together) Each ticket allows up to three children to travel free with the adult(s.

3. Validity:

• Tickets are valid for a return journey from any Park&Ride site to any destination in Oxford City, including the City Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Brookes University, and more.
• Tickets cannot be issued for journeys away from the City (e.g., towards Abingdon) or at any location other than a Park&Ride site.
• Bus changes are not permitted, except where the Botley Bridge closure requires it.

4. Participating Operators: 

Free travel is valid on Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, and Stagecoach services. The Airline service is excluded.

5. Duration: 

The offer is available from 29th October 2025 until May 2026.

6. Proof of Parking: 

You must present a valid parking ticket or RingGo app receipt showing payment for parking at the Park&Ride site. Only the proof holder and their group are eligible for free travel.

7. Accessibility: 

All Park&Ride buses are accessible and feature low-floor entry.

8. General: 

The offer is subject to availability and may be amended or withdrawn at any time. For full details and updates, please visit the Oxford Bus Company website.