Full Breakdown
Oxford Street to Become Pedestrian Plaza on 26 October
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Partial Pedestrianisation Begins
On 26 October, a roughly one-kilometre stretch of Oxford Street—from Selfridges near Marble Arch to Great Portland Street—will be closed to cars, buses, taxis, bicycles and other motorised traffic. Announced by Mayor Sadiq Khan, it will be in place for the Christmas shopping period.
Background & Context
The proposal follows years of intermittent trials and promises from successive mayors. After disagreement between the mayor’s office and Westminster Council, control passed to the newly created Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC), a board of political figures and business leaders that now oversees planning and implementation.
Data & Statistics
- Length of vehicle-free zone: about 1 km.
- Ten bus routes (7, 94, 98, 139, 390 and night routes N7, N98, N113, N137, N207) will be rerouted via Wigmore Street and Henrietta Place, with new stops 100–200 m farther apart.
- Delivery vehicles may operate between midnight and 07:00; emergency services retain full access.
- The Greater London Authority estimates up to £40 million in VAT receipts and an additional £20 million in business-rate revenue.
- Temporary seating and planters will replace former traffic lanes, with two new public squares planned for later phases.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Khan’s office said the transformation will create a “world-class space” that blends flagship retail with next-generation workplaces and cultural events. Transport for London (TfL) will work with the OSDC to install safety measures, re-align traffic flows and develop new cycleways alongside the pedestrian zone. The mayor and central government argue the project does not require a full environmental impact assessment, a position contested by Westminster Council.
Verbatim Quotes
- “ Lord Khan said: "I'm delighted that on 26 October the transformation of the nation's high street into a pedestrian plaza will begin in earnest – a world-class space where flagship retail will sit alongside next-generation workplaces, designed to host exciting retail and leisure experiences from sport to fashion and cultural events in the future.” — Sadiq Khan, mayor
- “After years of promises from different mayors, and years of disagreement with both Labour and Conservative administrations at Westminster Council, it appears the traffic will soon be banished from one end of Oxford Street.” — Karl Mercer, political editor
What's Next
The OSDC will collect data and public feedback throughout the “transition phase” to inform permanent design changes slated for 2027. TfL’s bus-route revisions will be monitored for passenger impact, and the temporary seating and landscaping will be evaluated before any long-term installations are confirmed.