Oxford Street bans vehicles from 1.2 miles of roadway

Oxford Street in London is now car-free for nearly its entire length as of Monday, October 26, 2026. The change removes buses, bikes, taxis, e-scooters, and private vehicles from a stretch of the street that runs from Oxford Circus to Marble Arch. This section measures roughly 1.2 miles, or 1.9 kilometers, and represents about half of the total street.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan called the day "momentous" while speaking at John Lewis. He noted that the street has been in decline for two decades. Khan argued that pedestrianizing the area, combined with public transport links, greenery, and seating, would improve the experience for everyone. He stated that he wants the project to serve as a proof of concept, showing that investing in people rather than traffic leads to better footfall and spending.

The permanent transformation is a £150 million project. It will include trees, seating, and level plazas for events. Construction on this larger phase is scheduled to begin in spring 2027. For now, the area uses temporary bollards and green banners to mark the vehicle-free zone. Transport for London Chief Operating Officer Claire Mann said that doubledecker buses would be diverted to neighboring roads. She assured passengers that there would be plenty of capacity and that reliability should not be affected.

Shoppers on the street expressed positive reactions to the new layout. Daniel Te, who moved to London from the United States in July, sketched the crowd on a wet Monday morning. He said the street feels like an entirely new place. Te noted that he previously avoided the street because it was too busy, but now the extra space makes him more inclined to visit. He called the pedestrianization a big achievement and suggested that neighboring streets should follow suit.

Raquel Cox, who is on holiday from Ireland, visited after seeing news coverage. She said she and her companion could not believe the change and wanted to experience it first-hand. While acknowledging that surrounding streets might get busier, Cox said it is a better experience for shoppers. Abbas Shigival, who runs a souvenir kiosk at the start of the pedestrianized section, said the morning was a little busier than usual. He described the environment as more pleasant and noted that people seemed happier walking around.

Not everyone welcomed the change. Ben McMullan, a taxi driver, said traffic on surrounding streets was definitely worse. He pointed to accessibility issues, noting that he had to drop off a mother with a pram and a woman with walking difficulties short of their destinations. McMullan feared the change would hurt his business because customers might hesitate to book a cab if they cannot get close to their stores. He said he got stuck in areas where he would not have been stuck before.

Cyclists also faced restrictions. Jack, a cyclist who works in construction, was stopped by security guards while riding down the street on his way home. He said an alternative route would make his commute longer. Jack disagreed with the pedestrianization on principle, noting that low traffic neighborhoods already make it harder for people with vehicles. He vowed to ride down the road regardless of the rules.

The closure is in effect for the busy Christmas shopping period. Khan said London would closely monitor the changes to ensure they work for everyone. The first phase will rely on feedback and testing before permanent plans are finalized.