Travel choices

There are lots of ways to travel in and around Oxford.

Starting Wednesday 29 October there will be a temporary congestion charge on six roads in Oxford.

Cars with permits and all other vehicles can pass through the charge locations for free. If you don’t have a permit, you must pay £5 per day to drive a car through the six congestion charge locations.

Make a difference one journey at a time

While there are times when using a car is necessary, have you ever considered trying a different way to travel?

The roads in and around Oxford are becoming increasingly congested. We all need to be part of the solution. By making small changes, we can all contribute to a more sustainable and less congested city.

There are lots of ways to travel in and around the city without using a car. Parking in the city is limited and expensive, too, making taking the bus, train, or park-and-ride a great alternative. Swapping to an alternative mode of transport for just one or two days a week could make a big difference in reducing congestion on our roads.

Taking the bus instead of driving can help decrease the number of cars on the road. Plus, you can sit back, relax, and maybe even catch up on your reading during your commute.

If you are travelling from nearby towns or villages, why not explore the train services? It's a great way to avoid the traffic and enjoy a more relaxing journey, watching the scenery roll by.

There are five park and ride sites around the city, and from 29 October, a valid park-and-ride parking ticket allows free bus travel from and to these sites. With the MyBus single bus ticket, you can get almost unlimited bus travel across Oxfordshire.

By walking, cycling or catching the bus or train you can earn points to convert into rewards. Find out more about Better Points and download the free app.

Planning your journey

Google Maps – for public transport and car journey planning
Traveline – for public transport journey planning

By park and ride

There are five park and ride sites on the outskirts of Oxford. From Wednesday, 29 October (initially for three months), up to two adults and three children with a valid park and ride parking ticket will be able to claim free travel to and from park-and-ride sites in the city.

The tickets will be valid on any Stagecoach or Oxford Bus Company bus that visits an Oxford park and ride site, not just named park and ride services.

By bus

The main bus companies in Oxfordshire are:

Visit their websites for a list of their bus services, up-to-date timetables and fare information. Or download their app to get real time updates showing when the next bus is due.

Plan your bus journey or explore Oxfordshire by routes:

Oxfordshire public transport maps – for bus journey planning
Discover Oxfordshire’s bus routes – Bus routes in Oxfordshire from the Oxfordshire Bus Partnership

MyBus is a flexible and convenient bus ticket that gives almost unlimited bus travel across Oxfordshire.

If you travel outside the county, visit the National Express website for more information on nationwide coach travel.

By train

Take the train from your local train station to Oxford station.

Visit the National Rail Enquiries website to plan your train journey and look at train times and fares.

Mix your modes

Whether you cycle, walk, or use public transport, finding a mix that suits your lifestyle can make your journey more enjoyable, and could improve your physical and mental well-being.

Lift-sharing

Not only will you have some company on your journey, but you will also be reducing the number of vehicles on the road. If you are lift-sharing with Oxfordshire residents it could also help to make your day passes go further.

Use the Liftshare app if you need to find someone who wants to share their journey. You can use the app for one-off trips or regular rides.

Check if your employer participates in Liftshare For Work, or if parents at your child's school use the HomeRun App to coordinate lift shares for school runs

Take a look at Oxford Travel Options to find out more about the benefits of liftsharing. Find out how much you could save if your share your trips to work with Liftshare’s savings calculator.

By car club

Car clubs are short-term rentals, usually by the hour. Car clubs accredited by CoMoUK can apply for a permit for unlimited free travel through the congestion charge locations.

By car

The majority of Oxford will still be accessible by car. The exception is the central permit area (in pink on the map). To access this area, you have to drive through a congestion charge location.

You may need to take an alternative route or mode of transport if you do not want to pay the congestion charge.

You can use one of your day passes to drive through a congestion charge location if you are an Oxfordshire resident.

Additional permits are available for certain groups including:

Blue Badge holders
Unpaid carers
Community health and care workers
Mobile traders
Patients who attend frequent hospital appointments in Oxford.