Oxford Brookes Go FAQs

Our Customer Service colleagues are more than happy to answer any and all questions you might have about Oxford Brookes Go exclusive discounts. 

However, before you give us a ring, flick through our FAQs to see if your answer is already here! If you don't find the answer you're looking for, you can Contact Us via email or telephone. 

General

• What do all of the zones mean?
• Can I use my ticket at nighttime?
• How do I work out which ticket is best for me?
• Can I use my Oxford Brookes ticket on Stagecoach?
• Do I need photo ID?
• Can I take my bike on the bus?
• Can I take food and drink on the bus?
• What do I do if I feel uncomfortable?
• Can I use my Oxford Brookes account to get a discount on the airline?
• I travel into Oxford by train, which service do I catch to get to Headington?
• I'm going to be on placement at the hospital, which services can I get?
• I can't find the answer to my query, who can I contact?

Using the bus

• How do I know which bus I need?
• What tickets are available? 
• Can I take my bike on the bus?
• Can I take food and drink on the bus?
• Can I stop a bus between stops?
• I have left some property on the bus, what do I do?
• I travel into Oxford by train, which service do I catch to get to Headington?
• I'm going to be on placement at the hospital, which services can I get?

Tickets

• What tickets are available? 
• How do I know which ticket I need?
• What do all of the zones mean?
• How do I access discounted tickets on the app and web?
• How do I work out which ticket is best for me?
• I don't know which ticket I am going to need, can I pay the driver on the bus?
• Can I use my ticket at nighttime?
• Can I use my Oxford Brookes ticket on Stagecoach?
• Do I need photo ID?
• How do I check when my ticket expires?
• What do I do if I lose my ticket?
• I've bought the wrong ticket, what can I do?
• Why can't I find the Oxford Brookes discounts in the app?
• I want to upgrade my phone, what happens to my ticket?
• Can I get a refund on my ticket?
• Can I use my Oxford Brookes account to get a discount on the airline?

Accessibility 

• I have a disability, how do I get assistance to board/exit the bus?
• Can I travel with a disabled persons concessionary fares bus pass?

Lost and Stolen

• What do I do if I lose my ticket?

• I have left some property on the bus, what do I do?

   

FAQs

How do I know which bus I need?

To find out which bus you need, try our Journey Planner. Simply pop in where you are and where you’re going, and the planner will find the best bus for you! You can find the Journey Planner on our website, or in the Oxford Bus app.  

What tickets are available? 

We’ve got a huge variety of tickets available with some fantastic discounts for Oxford Brookes University staff and students. Read more about them in the table below.

Can I take my bike on the bus?

As a general rule, bicycles are not permitted to be carried on our services where they are likely to soil the bus or coach or cause a nuisance or safety risk or potential injury to our customers.

Please visit our Conditions of Carriage section 8 for more details.  

Can I take food or drink on a bus?

You are welcome to bring food and drink onto the bus, but we do ask that you refrain from eating hot food while on board. This is to ensure that everyone is comfortable and undisturbed by smells and crumbs. Remember to take any rubbish with you and take other customers into consideration.

What do I do if I feel uncomfortable?

If at any time you feel uncomfortable when travelling alone or at night, there are plenty of things you can do and services you can call.  

When travelling on the bus, be assured that all of our vehicles are fitted with CCTV and voice recording near the cab area. If you feel uneasy, move to the front of the bus. When the bus is stopped, let the driver know how you’re feeling and who or what is making you feel that way. They’ll be able to keep an eye on you through CCTV and call for assistance if needed.  

When travelling at night, students can call Oxford Nightline, who, during term time, are on the phone at night to answer calls and help you get home safely. If you need someone to talk to on your journey home, Strut will keep you company from the time you call until you walk through the door, making sure that you are safe and not alone.  

I travel into Oxford by train, which service do I catch to get to Headington?

After leaving the Railway Station head right outside to catch the 400 bus. Generally departing from Stop R6, the 400 runs until late, stopping directly outside of Oxford Brookes University and Headington Shops.  

After 19th September 2026, the 400 will depart from Frideswide Square, a 3-minute walk from the station. 

I'm going to be on placement at the hospital, which services can I get?

If you’re heading to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre or the Churchill Hospital, your best bet is the 700. The bus stops at Gipsy Lane campus before visiting each site. 

I have a disability, how do I get assistance to board/exit the bus?

Our drivers are trained to deploy ramps at stops to enable customers travelling in a wheelchair to board the bus, as well as supporting customers who request assistance when boarding.

As part of our commitment to providing accessible transport for all, we also offer a "Helping Hand" card free of charge to our passengers. The card holds a brief written instruction for your bus driver that can be shown when boarding, making them aware of any needs and requirements you may have without having to verbally communicate it. To apply for a Helping Hand card, please contact our Customer Service team.

Can I travel with a disabled person's concessionary fares bus pass?

Yes, disabled person’s concessionary passes are valid for travel on all Oxford Bus and Thames Travel buses for local bus travel.

What do all of the zones mean?

A Zone is the area that you can use a type of ticket in. For example, CityZone tickets cover the majority of Greater Oxford, while CountryZone is for the towns and villages outside of Oxford. To find out more about different zones, you can read about them here.

How do I access discounted tickets on the app and web?

It’s never been easier to access your Oxford Brookes discount! Just sign up for an account using your university email address (ending in brookes.ac.uk), clink the link in the verification email and then log in on the app or online, and you’ll find your discounts unlocked under tickets.  

Remember! You must use your Oxford Brookes email address to sign up for your account to access your discounts!  

I don't know which ticket I am going to need, can I just pay the driver on the bus?

The Oxford Brookes Go discounted tickets can only be accessed online or through the app with an account made with a university email address. If you’re not sure what ticket you need, try using our Journey Planner! Just put in where you are and where you’re going, and the planner will not only tell you which bus to take, but also what tickets are available on that route.  

If you’re travelling in the CityZone, you can show your bus driver your Oxford Brookes University ID card for a £2 Brookes Single ticket. Outside of the CityZone, fares are capped at £3 until December 2026.  

If you forget your University ID, why not try Freeflow? Though Oxford Brookes Go discounts will not apply, by tapping on when you join the bus, and tapping off when you leave, you’ll never pay more than the daily cap for the area you’re travelling in.

Can I use my ticket at nighttime?

Yes, you can use your tickets at night! Tickets are valid at any time of day or night, making sure that you get to where you’re going as easily as possible.

Can I use my Oxford Brookes ticket on Stagecoach services?

Tickets purchased with the Oxford Brookes Go ticket discounts are only valid on Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel services and will not be accepted on services run by other companies. You can check which company runs the bus when using the Journey Planner by clicking on your chosen journey.

Do I need photo ID?

No, you don’t need your photo ID. To access your Oxford Brookes discounts, all you need to do is sign up for an account with your Brookes.ac.uk email address. So long as you have the email address, you’ll have the discounts. 

If you want to make use of the £2 flat fare for Oxford Brookes students or staff travelling within our CityZone you will need to show you Oxford Brookes University Photo ID card. 

How do I check when my ticket expires?

To check when your ticket expires, take a look in the app. When you open your ticket, you’ll be able to see when you purchased it and how long you have left to use it.  

I've bought the wrong ticket, what can I do?

If you’ve bought the wrong ticket, contact our Customer Service team. They’ll be able to advise you on what you can do, next steps and help you find the ticket that you were looking for.  

Why can't I find the Oxford Brookes discounts in the app?

You should be able to see the Oxford Brookes discounts applied when you get to the checkout, make sure that you’re logged in with an account created with your university email address (ending in brookes.ac.uk). So long as you’re using the right email address, you’ll be able to access your discounts.  

Be sure to verify your account. If you’re not seeing a verification email in your university inbox, make sure to check your Junk folder. If you’re still having issues, contact our Customer Service team, who will be able to help you resolve any issues.  

I want to upgrade my phone, what happens to my ticket?

Your ticket is saved in the app, not directly to your phone. When you upgrade, remember to redownload the app and log into the account you made with your Oxford Brookes email address, and you’ll be able to find all of your tickets and discounts again.  

Can I use my Oxford Brookes account to get a discount on the airline?

Yes! When you log in to the website or the app with an account created with your Oxford Brookes email address, you’ll automatically receive discounts on airline coach tickets, applied at checkout. 

How do I know which ticket I need?

To know which ticket you’ll need, you need to know which Zone you’re travelling in. To check, take a look at the Times & maps page on our website to find all of our Zone maps. 

How do I work out which ticket is best for me?

To work out which ticket is best for you, you’ll need to work out where you’re travelling and how often you’ll be going there. If it’s a one-way trip, then all you need is a Brookes Single, but if you’re travelling here, there and everywhere on a daily basis, then you’ll likely want the Brookes CityZone Annual ticket.

For a more in-depth list of the different discounted tickets you can get, check out our website here.  

Can I stop a bus between stops?

No, you cannot stop a bus between stops. Bus stops are laid out to be as convenient as possible for the local community and bus users. If we stopped the bus in between stops, we would never meet our timetabled schedules, and everyone would be running late! Thankfully, your closest bus stop is never too far away, and you can find them all here.  

Can I get a refund on my ticket?

Refunds on tickets and passes are made at our discretion and are subject to an administration fee. We do not, however, offer refunds on single or day tickets purchased on local or park&ride services. If you need to request a refund, please contact our Customer Service team.  

What do I do if I lose my ticket?

Tickets purchased online are saved on your account online or in the app. If you lose your ticket, or your phone, all you need to do is log back into your account to find it again. 

I've left some property on a bus, what do I do?

Left something behind on the bus? We work with our lost property partner, NotLost, to help reunite you with your stuff. Just fill out the form here, and they’ll handle the rest.  

I can't find the answer to my query, who can I contact?

If you haven't found the answer you're looking for, you can Contact Us via email at [email protected] or by telephone on 01865 785400.