The key

Illustration of a red key card

A smarter way to travel

The key is a rechargeable travel smartcard that can save you time, money and hassle on Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel services.

Visit the key website

Here are a number of advantage to having a key smart card:

  • You make big savings on daily or occasional travel.
  • You can top-up online or in person at our Gloucester Green travel shop.
  • There’s no need to carry cash - just touch and go!
  • If you lose your key, we can block anyone else from using your travel and issue a replacement smartcard.

Click here to find out more about the tickets available

Bulk Orders

If you have a group wanting to use our services to travel, the most convenient way to order is in advance by e-mailing with your request to us at thekey@oxfordbus.co.uk. We will then provide a quote, take payment and prepare your passes for collection.

key orders

Most of our bulk orders are fulfilled using our key smartcard, which offers 1, 4, 13, 52 week durations which can make up any number of weeks (eg. 2, 3, 5, 6 weeks and so forth). You can ask your group to register for cards to be posted out via our online website at oxfordkey.co.uk (with either their own UK address or the company postal address you'd like them sent to) or e-mail us with the list at thekey@oxfordbus.co.uk.

Single trips and day passes

We do also offer day passes in the form of scratchcards, as well as Heathrow and Gatwick airports single, day/next day returns and period returns by way of travel vouchers. You can order these online here or by e-mailing us at thekey@oxfordbus.co.uk.

Beat the queues

Smartcards can take around ten minutes each to register and print, so we encourage groups of passengers, to apply through the aforementioned channels to avoid queuing at our travel shop.

AUTOpay

Whilst you are still welcome to sign up to AUTOpay, this service will be ending on Saturday 27th August 2022.

AUTOpay is the hassle free way of keeping your 'key' smartcard topped via monthly payments.

Visit the key website to apply

How it works

AUTOpay is set up as a recurring monthly payment from your credit or debit card via a continuous authority payment.
You can check your next payment date at any time and if you no longer need the product, cancelling is simply a button click away.

How much?

You can currently top up cityzone and park&ride monthly passes with the AUTOpay system.

  • park&ride per month with AUTOpay - £46 Adult
  • cityzone per month with AUTOpay - £54 Adult / £40.40 18 and under

AUTOpay benefits

  • Hassle free bus travel in Oxford. No need to top your key up at our travel shop or online every month.
  • Your key is always ready! AUTOpay eliminates the wait for products to activate on your card.
  • Get 29 days free every year. As you pay for a month, rather than 4 weeks, you get 29 days free over the period of a year.

Switching to AUTOpay is simple:

1) Log into your account at oxfordkey.co.uk
2) Once you have logged in, select 'Buy new travel products'.
3) On the next page select and purchase either a cityzone or park&ride 'Pay Monthly' product from the drop down menu.