Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has officially approved plans to pedestrianise a stretch of Oxford Street by Summer 2026.
According to documents published today by the Mayor’s Office, Khan has approved the proposal for the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street between Great Portland Street and Orchard Street.
He has now directed Transport for London (TfL) to implement these proposals and enable the removal of traffic from this stretch of the street, which is the busiest in London.
According to the Mayor’s Office, the removal of traffic from this stretch of Oxford Street is expected to be completed by Summer 2026, subject to approvals.
This work will involve the installation of new bus stops as buses are re-routed, as well as the provision of infrastructure to prevent vehicles from accessing Oxford Street.
The city may also deliver an ‘interim public realm scheme’ after the road is closed to cars, which could include adding seating, raising the carriageway for easier navigation on foot, and other changes to make the street more attractive.
A permanent redesign of the street following its pedestrianisation will progress in November 2027.
General approval for car ban
Proposals to remove car traffic from Oxford Street have been widely supported by the public, with 66% in favour of pedestrianisation.
Khan previously held a traffic-free ‘This is Oxford Street’ event on Sunday 21 September 2025, where Oxford Street was closed to traffic from 12pm until 8pm.
Data from that event showed that footfall on Oxford Street was 45% higher than the week before, and 67% of stores on the street reported similar or higher sales than a typical Sunday.
75% of people surveyed said the event improved their experience visiting Oxford Street, and more than half specifically enjoyed the additional walking space provided by the pedestrianised street.
The mayor has also previously noted the economic importance of Oxford Street, citing its estimated annual contribution of £25 billion to London’s economy.
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