What Your Commute Costs
Compare the yearly cost of the 400 bus, driving in and parking, or the Thornhill park-and-ride to Oxford — set your own days and car, see the cheapest.
Wheatley has no railway, so getting to Oxford means the 400 bus, driving in and parking, or the park-and-ride. Here's what each really costs over a year — set your own days and your own car to see which is cheapest for you.
Your ways to Oxford
| Way | You drive | Cost a day |
|---|---|---|
| The 400 bus | — | £6.00 |
| Park & Ride (Thornhill) | 8 mi | £3.59 |
| Drive in and park | 12 mi | from £26.64 |
- The 400 bus: Stops along the London Road and the High Street — a regular daytime service to Oxford city centre and the rail station.
- Park & Ride (Thornhill): Drive to Thornhill on the A40 at the edge of Oxford, park, and take the frequent bus the last few minutes into the centre.
- Drive in and park: Drive the roughly 6 miles into Oxford and use a city-centre car park (Worcester Street, Oxpens) or on-street parking.
What each way costs over a year
- Park & Ride (Thornhill)Cheapest£826 a year
£3.59 a day · Drive to Thornhill on the A40 at the edge of Oxford, park, and take the frequent bus the last few minutes into the centre.
Cheapest if you need to drive part of the way — you skip the city-centre parking and the worst of the traffic.
£2.50 to park (up to 16 hours) with the bus ride free — a promotion running to 15 August 2026. After that, parking is about £2 (up to 11 hours) or £5 for longer, and the bus fare returns.
- The 400 bus£1,380 a year
£6.00 a day · Stops along the London Road and the High Street — a regular daytime service to Oxford city centre and the rail station.
No car needed and no parking to find. Best if you live near a stop and don't need the car once you're in Oxford.
Two £3 single fares — England's £3 single-fare cap runs to 31 December 2026. A weekly or monthly SmartZone ticket is cheaper if you ride most days (see the links below).
- Drive in and parkfrom £6,126 a year
from £26.64 a day · Drive the roughly 6 miles into Oxford and use a city-centre car park (Worcester Street, Oxpens) or on-street parking.
Door-to-door, but the dearest by far — and central parking is limited.
A representative working-day rate; central car parks run higher (Worcester Street is about £46 for 24 hours), and a temporary congestion levy applies until Botley Road reopens, expected August 2026.
Fuel worked out at 45 mpg and £1.35 a litre, over 46 commuting weeks a year. Change the days — or your own car — above.
“From” figures are a representative estimate, not a fixed fare — city-centre car parks vary and can run higher.
These are running costs only — fuel, parking and fares. They leave out the fixed cost of keeping a car (insurance, tax, servicing, wear), which you pay whether you drive in or not.