Travel and Parking

Oxford is well served by road and rail networks that give fast and direct access locally, nationally and from Europe.

Oxford is connected to London, the M25 and the Midlands by the M40 motorway. Junctions 8 and 9 link directly to the city. The Oxford ring road provides direct access to the south and west coast ports of Southampton, Portsmouth and Bristol via the A34.

Easy by Road

- parking in Oxford is limited, so day visitors take advantage of the Park & Ride system, which was pioneered here. All five Park & Ride sites are clearly signposted from the Oxford ring road. They operate frequent bus services to the city centre 7 days a week (excluding Sunday at Water Eaton). The Pear Tree site serves evening visitors, with buses running until 11.15pm. There is a pay and display parking fee at Pear Tree, Redbridge and Seacourt. Parking at Thornhill and Water Eaton is free. The standard adult return fare to the city centre is £2.00. All Park & Ride buses are equipped to take wheelchairs. Contact: 01865 785400 for travel information Monday – Friday 08.00 – 18.00, Saturday 08.00 – 15.30 or visit www.oxfordbus.co.uk.

Parking –

If you need to park in Oxford, view the car park map of Oxford, for details of the locations of the following car parks:

• Westgate (1210 spaces) - City Centre Car Park
• Worcester Street (180 spaces)
• Abbey Place (120 spaces) - Opposite the ice-rink
• Gloucester green (104 spaces) - Underground close to the centre
• Oxpens (75 spaces) - Next to the ice-rink
• St Clements (120 spaces) - Near Magdalen Bridge
• Railway Station (400 spaces) - Daily rates for rail users
• South Parks Road (200 spaces) - Saturdays only in the University Science area
• Other on-street pay-and-display parking mainly in Broad Street and St Giles (386 spaces)

Park and Phone - new way of paying for parking

The city has launched a scheme that allows drivers to choose to pay with credit/debit card for their parking by phone or text. Customers can also choose to receive a text message advising them that their parking time is almost up - allowing them to pay to extend their time without returning to their car. The system is available in Worcester Street car park, Gloucester Green Underground car park, Oxpens car park, Oxpens Coach Park, Abbey Place car park and St. Clements car park.

High-Sided Vehicle or Overnight Parking

Parking for high vehicles is available at Worcester Street and Westgate Surface car parks, and near the exit at Redbridge Park and Ride. 

Easy By Air

– London Heathrow and Gatwick airports: all terminals are linked to Oxford by The Airline coach service which operates a direct frequent service twenty-four hours a day. London Stansted airport is linked to Oxford by the National Express 757 coach. Details of all airport coach services are also available on the Airport Travel Line: 08705747777. Pre-booked airport transfers are also available through taxi firms for details contact Oxford Tourist Information Centre +44 (0)1865 252200

Easy by Train

- First Great Western operate frequent direct train service operates between Oxford and London Paddington (approximately every 30 minutes) along with services from the South via Reading; from the west via Didcot or Reading and from the North via Bicester and Banbury. Virgin Trains operate other services via Birmingham New Street to the North. For details call National Rail enquiries: 08457 484950.

Easy by Bus

- fast and frequent coach services provide a direct link between the centre of Oxford and Central London 24-hours a day. Services range from every ten minutes at peak times to every hour during the night. The Oxford Express serves Victoria Coach Station, Grosvenor Gardens, Marble Arch, Baker Street/Gloucester Place and Hillingdon (tel: 01865 785410). The Oxford Tube service includes Grosvenor Gardens, Marble Arch, Notting Hill Gate, Shepherd's Bush, and Hillingdon (tel: 01865 772250). For details call National Express (tel: 08705 808080).

If you have a disability and would like information or advice on any aspects of local or national transport telephone 0845 7585641

Local Buses

The majority of local buses are operated by the Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach.  The Oxford Tourist Information Centre have details of smaller firms operating services to and from Oxford.

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