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Oxford Street is hectic at the best of times. But as Christmas approaches, it’s a whole other beast. Hundreds of thousands of shoppers pack the narrow pavements while the road is chocked full of buses, cabs, bikes and cars. But this festive season, there’s going to be much more room for pedestrians. Oxford Street is going car-free.
The street has been pedestrianised for brief periods before, but this time around will be the start of it becoming pedestrianised permanently. Sadiq Khan envisages it becoming a ‘pedestrian plaza’ and wants it to be a space that can ‘host world-class events, from sport to culture and fashion, as well as exciting new retail and leisure experiences’.
From what it’ll look like to what will happen to the buses, here’s everything you need to know about Oxford Street becoming car-free.
Will Oxford Street be pedestrianised?
Yes, work is officially underway for a large section of the street to become permanently car-free. The Mayor of London established an organisation called the Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC) in August to make it happen.
When will Oxford Street be pedestrianised?
At the moment, the plan is for nearly 1km of the street to be traffic-free from the second half of October when temporary seating, planters, areas of raised carriageway and security bollards have been installed. It’ll be a ‘live testing phase’ (also known as the ‘transition scheme’).
Further testing and review of the scheme will take place through spring 2027 and work will start on making it permanent later on in the year. No specific dates have been laid out yet.
Which parts of Oxford Street will be pedestrianised?
To begin with, the 0.9km stretch between Orchard Street (by Selfridges) and Great Portland Street will be the only part where vehicles are banned. That includes the busy Oxford Circus junction where Oxford Street and Regent Street cross.
Vehicles will still be able to cross at Duke Street (northbound only), Davies Street, Stratford place, Vere Street and New Bond Street (southbound only) and Holles Street and Harewood Place (northbound only).
There will still be access for emergency vehicles, and for street cleaning and refuse collection at specified times of the day.
What will happen to buses?
Buses won’t be allowed to drive down the pedestrianised area and will have to be diverted. The bus routes that’ll be affected by the closure will be the 7, 94, 98, 139 and 390 and the N7, N98, N113, N137 and N207. Below are maps of the proposed reroutes.
Will bikes be banned?
Yes. Cycling won’t be allowed on the pedestrianised section of Oxford Street. Bikes will be rerouted down neighbouring streets like Wigmore Street, Henrietta Place or Margaret Street.
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