Oxford Street goes traffic-free in first phase of London pedestrianisation

A kilometre closed to traffic

On Monday, 26 October 2026, almost a kilometre of Oxford Street in central London stopped carrying general traffic. The closed stretch runs from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street, and vehicles are now sent onto nearby roads. Buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, private cars, cycles, scooters and pedicabs can no longer enter the section. Deliveries are allowed from midnight to 7am, and emergency services can reach the street at all times. Before the change, a daytime ban from 7am to 7pm already applied from Monday to Saturday, with exceptions for buses and taxis, according to Spiegel Online.

Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the opening in strong terms:

“I'm hugely excited to see my bold vision for Oxford Street coming to life from today. It is a truly momentous occasion for the capital.”

Khan described the street as a new vibrant destination and said the scheme would revitalise the site, boost economic growth and attract visitors. The Evening Standard notes that the area has become increasingly popular as an office location, thanks to the Elizabeth line.

A plan years in the making

Plans to pedestrianise the street date back to 2016, when Sadiq Khan included the idea in his mayoral programme. Detailed proposals were consulted on in 2017 but abandoned after Westminster City Council withdrew its support. Westminster also blocked an earlier attempt in 2018. The idea returned in September 2024, when Khan announced a much wider transformation built around a Mayoral Development Area and the Oxford Street Development Corporation. A public consultation in early 2025 found that 66% of respondents answering the pedestrianisation question supported making the street traffic-free. The mayor formally approved the traffic and highway changes for the first section on 26 February 2026.

Doubts over congestion

Critics say the scheme was rushed, and worries about diverted traffic and congestion remain. Residents of Fitzrovia, Mayfair and Marylebone opposed the plan over the risk of displaced noise and pollution. Tim Barnes, deputy leader of Westminster City Council, said in September 2026 that he was worried about the direction of the project:

“I'm worried we're heading for an unmanaged mess”

Barnes has also said that Khan is rushing preparations. New bus stops on Wigmore Street, Henrietta Place and Cavendish Place sit about 200 metres from the traffic-free area, and buses are now being routed down Wigmore Street in Marylebone.

What changes first

The road layout stays unchanged at the start, and the first phase is described as a "test and review" stage that will shape final designs. The Oxford Street Development Corporation, which works with Transport for London, expects temporary improvements to be finished by spring 2027. These include raising the road to pavement level between Orchard Street and Duke Street, and between Old Cavendish Street and Holles Street. By spring, more than 50 new trees and more than 100 seats, including chairs and benches, are due in the pedestrianised area. Bollards are being installed, bus stops removed and benches replaced. Nabeel Khan, the corporation's chief executive, admits the outcome is hard to predict, and he expects a rough start:

“There will be a period of shock, but people will adjust.”

Stakes for the West End

The Evening Standard puts Oxford Street's annual spend at around £3.1 billion, with about half a million visitors each day. Spiegel Online gives a higher daily figure of around one million passers-by, and says the street has lost some of its shine, with vacant units and cheap shops and souvenir stalls replacing premium retailers. Spiegel Online puts the redevelopment at about 178 million euros, while newsORF cites 150 million pounds, which it converts to about 178 million euros. Khan hopes the changes will bring new experiences to the street, from sport to fashion and cultural events, in time for the run-up to Christmas.