Oxford Congestion Charge

Fri 3 Apr, 19:51

Thank you, Julia and Christine.

My appointment is at 9.15 am.

I haven't tried the Northern Bypass, but I have Google Maps on my iPhone.  

Frankly, if the "hit" is £5, I'll take my chances.  I have a dental appointment in Charlbury in the afternoon, so Tuesday will be a fun day!

I might make a phone call on Wednesday, 8th - if I'm spared!

Fri 3 Apr, 19:16 (last edited on Fri 3 Apr, 19:33)

As Julia says, the Marston Ferry Rd congestion charge is only during the hours 7am–9am and 3pm–6pm Mondays to Saturdays.

One needs to pay by midnight the day after travelling, so you could try phoning Tuesday 7th or Wednesday 8th. I phoned 01865 519800 to get my problems sorted out. They were very efficient. Online it says phone lines are normally open weekdays from 8.45am - 5pm, 4.00 on Fridays, but not on bank holidays.

However, as Julia also says, there is no charge at any time of day if you travel to the hospital via the northern ring road (A40) and accessing and also exiting the hospital via Marsh Lane and Headley Way. It's well signed from the ring road. If you access the A40 by turning left at the Cutteslowe junction from the Banbury Rd, it's the first main exit -- the 2nd main exit if you access the A40 by turning left from the Woodstock Rd roundabout. 

Fri 3 Apr, 18:44

Hannan, the charge on Marston Ferry Road is between the hours 7am and 9am and 3pm and 6pm (I believe). You can get to the JR using the Northern Bypass. Be a use it is Easter Holidays the schools are off and the roads much quieter. Don't forget to scan your blue badge and enter the vehicle registration number at the JR when you leave because of the new ANPR system. 

Fri 3 Apr, 18:22 (last edited on Fri 3 Apr, 18:23)

This is not user-friendly.

Yesterday I received a letter from the NHS summoning me to an appointment next Tuesday (7th April) at the JR.  As such invitations are like gold dust. I grabbed it with both hands, and I have made arrangements for someone to take me there in their car, as I don't own one.

We will, I think, be travelling to and from the JR along the Marston Ferry Road, and there is a congestion charge point there according to the map.

I am a Blue Badge Holder, so I dutifully spent most of Good Friday afternoon applying for an exemption, (one has to fill in a form and send scans of both sides of the Blue Badge), only to receive an email (automated, I suspect) informing me that it may take up to 10 working days to process my application, and the exemption will not apply until it has been.  

So it seems that, however I play this one, I will have to pay the congestion charge.

This doesn't seem fair.

Fri 19 Dec 2025, 09:50 (last edited on Fri 19 Dec 2025, 09:54)

I suggest phoning to get the system set up manually. I had to do so when I was told that my application for congestion charges hadn't gone through. I tried to follow their online advice to finish my application, but it kept treating me as a trader. Once I was through to their in-person helper, it took them only a few minutes to get it set up properly. 

The phone number is 01865 519800. I would do it today before the seasonal opening times kick in.

Fri 19 Dec 2025, 08:52

Does anyone have problems? We have received charges even though we registered for 25 complimentary as Oxfordshire residents. Even the email address to challenge comes back as non deliverable!