Oxford Street Goes Pedestrian: Major Transformation Approved
London’s iconic Oxford Street is set for a significant transformation, with final approval granted for permanent pedestrianisation of a key section between IKEA and Selfridges. Mayor Sadiq Khan has greenlit proposals to close off the stretch between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street to all private motorised vehicles, buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, cycles, scooters, and pedicabs. This initiative, which garnered ‘general support’ from 2,716 respondents in a second public consultation, is slated for implementation starting this September, with further works, including wider pedestrian crossings, to follow.
The primary objective is to create a “world-leading urban space for shopping, leisure and outdoor events,” making Oxford Street “safer, greener and generally more pleasant.” Mayor Khan envisions this as a crucial step in building “a better more prosperous London for everyone,” potentially becoming a landmark legacy of his mayoralty, fulfilling a promise first made by Ken Livingstone over two decades ago. While the pedestrianisation aims for a car-free environment, emergency services will retain access, and traffic will still cross Oxford Street at five specific points: Duke Street, Davies Street/Stratford Place, Vere Street/New Bond Street, Holles Street/Harewood Place, and Regent Street.
However, the scheme introduces some notable changes. Buses currently serving Oxford Street will be rerouted along Wigmore Street and Henrietta Place, with new bus stops, taxi ranks, and drop-off points established as close as possible to the pedestrianised zone. A minor, yet sentimental, drawback noted is the likely end of enjoying London’s famous Christmas lights from the upper deck of a bus, a “small price to pay” for the broader benefits. This move builds upon existing restrictions, which already limit general traffic on Oxford Street between 7 am and 7 pm, Monday to Saturday, hinting at potential future phases for full pedestrianisation.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/transport/oxford-street-pedestrianisation-2026)
