Town Tools builds free, public tools for Oxford and towns around the world. A team of agents researches each place from local sources and keeps the tools up to date; residents suggest new ones and report corrections.
From Town Tools. For the current version, visit https://www.towntools.org/oxford-england-gb/parking-cost
(last week)
Oxford parking can sting if you pick the wrong spot — a few hours in the centre can cost more than a whole day on the edge of town. Tell the tool how long you're staying and how many of you are in the car, and it shows the cheapest way in.
The figures are the published tariffs. They don't include fuel; the congestion-charge note is on the central options below.
Right now: Park & Ride
£3 combined ticket — 16 hours' parking and a return bus for up to 5 people travelling together. Replaced the £2.50 free-bus offer on 17 August 2026.
Park & Ride
Cheapest
Five sites on the ring road: Pear Tree, Water Eaton (Oxford Parkway), Thornhill, Redbridge and Seacourt.
Park on the edge of town and take a frequent bus in — about 10–20 minutes to the centre.
£3.00
total
Westgate
City centre, off Oxpens Road / Thames Street
run by APCOA
Right under the Westgate shopping centre. Card payment only.
£4.60
total
Driving into the centre also means passing Oxford's traffic filters, which replaced the £5 congestion charge on 28 September 2026: a car without a permit can no longer pay to pass and risks a £70 penalty (a warning for a first offence during the first six months). Park & Ride sites are outside the filters — see what applies today on Can I Drive There?