London's Oxford Street closes to traffic in major pedestrianisation project

On Monday, October 26, 2026, a one-kilometre section of London’s Oxford Street was permanently closed to all vehicular traffic, including buses, cars, taxis, and micromobility options like e-scooters. The restriction covers the area between Orchard Street, near Selfridges, and Great Portland Street, east of Oxford Circus. This transformation is led by the Oxford Street Development Corporation and Transport for London (TfL) as the first phase of a long-term regeneration effort.

The initiative aims to restore the status of Oxford Street as a premier global shopping destination by creating a pedestrian-friendly public space. To accommodate the change, TfL has rerouted bus services to nearby streets such as Wigmore Street and Cavendish Place, with new stops positioned approximately 200 metres from the zone. TfL modelling suggests that these diversions will increase travel times by less than one minute for most routes. This project, supported by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, follows two decades of planning to address the decline of the area, which has faced significant challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic and the proliferation of low-quality retail outlets. The pedestrianisation serves as a key pillar in broader efforts to boost economic growth and local job creation in the capital.