Oxford Street closes to vehicles for Christmas shopping season

London Mayor Sadiq Khan declared the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street a momentous day on Monday morning. The closure to traffic now covers almost one kilometre of the street, stretching from Oxford Circus station to Marble Arch. Buses, bikes, taxis, e-scooters, pedicabs, and private cars are banned from this section. The temporary bollards and green welcome banner marked the start of the vehicle-free zone, just in time for the busy Christmas shopping period.

The street had been a focal point for discussion for decades before this first phase was implemented. A larger transformation project, valued at 150 million pounds, will begin taking shape in spring 2027. That permanent plan includes adding trees, seating, and level plazas for events. Khan, who started his career in retail stores on this street, stated that investing in people rather than traffic should lead to better footfall and spend. He described the current closure as a proof of concept that London will closely monitor.

Shoppers who visited the street on Monday expressed enthusiasm for the extra space. Daniel Te, who moved to London from the United States in July, used a sketchpad to capture the scene. He noted that he previously avoided the street because it was too busy. Now, the additional room made him more inclined to visit. Te, a former city planner, called the change a big achievement and suggested neighbouring streets should also become car-free. He acknowledged that bus rerouting might make some journeys more inconvenient but viewed it as a small price to pay.

Raquel Cox, who was on holiday from Ireland, came to the street after watching news coverage of the opening. She said the change offered a better shopping experience, though she acknowledged that surrounding streets would become busier. Abbas Shigival, who runs a souvenir kiosk at the start of the pedestrianised section, observed that the morning was slightly busier than usual. He described the environment as more pleasant, noting that people were happier because they could walk around freely.

Transport for London chief operating officer Claire Mann said there would still be plenty of capacity for passengers on the diverted bus routes. She stated that the changes should not affect reliability and that the Elizabeth Line provides an alternative way to arrive. However, not everyone welcomed the change. Ben McMullan, a taxi driver, reported that traffic on surrounding streets was worse and accessibility was a problem. He said he had dropped off customers who struggled with the lack of direct car access, including a mother with a pram and a woman with walking difficulties. McMullan feared the change would negatively impact his business.

Cyclists also faced restrictions. Jack, a cyclist who works in construction, was stopped by security guards while riding down the street. He said he would continue to ride the road despite the ban, noting that an alternative route would make his commute longer. He disagreed with pedestrianisation on principle, citing low traffic neighbourhoods as making it harder for people with vehicles to move around the city.