NEWS ABOUT LOCAL BUSES
Big changes to the bus services between Cowley and the JR via Headington shops came into effect on 29 May 2026. There is now a No. 10 clockwise express route from the JR to Cowley and a No. 9 clockwise express route from Cowley to the JR. The No. 13 now serves Wood Farm:
The Oxford Bus Company took over the 600 service and since 3 May 2026 there has been a new route connecting the Redbridge Park & Ride, Oxford Science Park, Headington Hospitals, and Thornhill Park & Ride.
Changes affecting the 100, 700, and H2 buses in the Headington area came into effect on 18 May 2025.
Comprehensive bus maps for Oxfordshire
Six bus stops at Headington Shops (HS1–HS6) |
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HS1 |
Eastbound |
Outside the former Starbucks |
ST2 and 10 |
HS2 |
Westbound |
Outside Iceland |
8, N8, 9, 10, N10, 275, 280. |
HS3 |
Southbound |
Windmill Road, opposite Helen & Douglas House Charity shop |
No. 10 bus Cowley-bound |
HS4 |
Westbound |
Just west of Holyoake Road |
Buses from London and airports only, but they also provide a local service to Oxford |
HS6 |
Eastbound |
Outside Bury Knowle Park |
8, 9, 275, X7, X8, 800, 280, |
HS5 |
London, Airports, and National Express |
||
There are also other stops in Headington outside the centre, including:
- J3 bus stop at the John Radcliffe Hospital for the Stagecoach H3 service, the Oxford Bus Company 700 service, and the Science Transit ST2
- B7 bus stop at Oxford Brookes University for the Stagecoach 700 and H2, and the City 100 services
- N5 bus stop near Margaret Road for the No. 10, 15, 700, and X39 services
- N6 bus stop at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Windmill Road for the Stagecoach 700 and Thames Travel OX7 and ST2 services.
Buses running between central Headington and Oxford
During the day buses are so frequent and there is such a choice of services that you do not need to check the times. You can catch any of the following from the centre of Headington to the centre:
- No. 8 from Barton (Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach Oxfordshire)
- Park & Ride 400 (run by the Oxford Bus Company). The Oxford Bus Company Brookes bus ceased to exist on 30 June 2025 following the closure of the Oxford Brookes Wheatley and Harcourt Hill campuses. Since 1 July 2024 this is now a Wheatley and Thame one. (During the closure of the Botley Road a new service 4B has operated every 30 minutes from Osney Island to Harcourt Hill.)
- The Redline X20 bus between Aylesbury and Oxford stops in Headington and is fast and frequent
If you want to go to Summertown, you have to change in the city centre and take a second bus going north to Kidlington from Magdalen Street. It is also possible to catch the 700 bus from the Churchill stops on Old Road and from the JR Hospital to Summertown
The Oxford Bus Company City15 bus serves Morrell Avenue, Old Road, and Wood Farm. (Their City 4 bus now terminates in Oxford.)
Where to get the bus in central Oxford
Every bus to Headington stops at the Queen's Lane bus stop, but not all stop at Turl Street.
No. 8 picks up at both the following stops:
- E2: This is the fourth bus stop down as you go down Castle Street, and technically at Norfolk Street as it is south of Paradise Street junction
- T2: This is the second stop in the High Street to the east of Turl Street
No. 4 (via Old Road):
- G2: just to the south of Pembroke Street in St Aldate's as before
- T2: same stop in the High to the east of Turl street as No. 8 above.
Park & Ride 400
- This stops in St Aldate's and at Queen's Lane, but not at Turl Street.
Buses to the railway station in central Oxford
The Park & Ride 400 runs every ten minutes to and from the railway station, but does not pick up at minor stops in Headington.
Science Transit Shuttle ST2: from JR Hospital and Old Road Campus
to University Science area, Seacourt Park & Ride, and Wytham
Buses from Headington to nearby towns and villages
Stagecoach H5: Headington to Bicester via Islip
Oxford Bus Company 108: Headington to Bicester via seven villages
Via Stanton St John, Beckley, Horton-cum-Studley, Boarstall, Piddington, Blackthorn, and Langford
Only two or four buses per day, Mon–Sat
Timetable from 27 November 2023
Oxford Bus Company X2/X3: John Radcliffe Hospital to Abingdon
Carousel 275 for villages between Oxford and High Wycombe
(Waterstock, Tetsworth, Postcombe, Chinnor, etc):
It is possible to catch the Oxford Tube to Lewknor and the Airport bus to High Wycombe from Oxford (with travel being free for those who have bus passes)
Free bus passes for older people
These are supplied by Oxfordshire County Council. You can apply online here (make sure you have a scan of a passport-type photograph available before you start).
Older people without computers can get help on the top floor of the Central Library in the Westgate.
