Oxford Street in London at Christmas 2025. Photo: Shutterstock London is changing one of its most recognizable shopping icons: Starting Monday, October 26, Oxford Street will be closed to vehicle traffic for almost a kilometer, between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street.
The move, designed to make the area a pedestrian-friendly space, is underway ahead of the busy Christmas shopping period.
As part of the first phase, the section in question will be closed to private motorized vehicles, buses, taxis, bicycles, scooters and motorized rickshaws. The goal is to create a more spacious and safer space for shoppers and visitors, while minimizing disruption to the entertainment and shopping experience in the area.
The move is part of a wider plan promoted by the Mayor of London to make Oxford Street a more accessible, greener and more inviting public space. By the end of spring 2027, hundreds of seats and dining tables, two public squares, improved signage and more than 50 new trees are planned to be added to the area.
Alongside the changes, emergency services will continue to have access to the street at all times. Deliveries of goods to businesses in the area will be allowed between 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM.
The public transportation system has also been adapted to the change: new bus stops have been built on Wigmore, Henrietta and Cavendish Streets, about 200 meters from the area that will become a pedestrian street. This will allow visitors to continue to reach the area by bus, even after the street is closed to traffic.
In the first phase, the changes to the space will be temporary. Transport for London, TfL, and Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC) will collect real-time data and feedback from residents, visitors, business owners, workers, accessibility organizations and the police. The information will be used to review the changes and formulate the permanent design of the street.
The plan is designed to strengthen Oxford Street's status as a destination for shopping, entertainment and hospitality, while improving accessibility and making its stay more comfortable for a variety of visitors.
The public is invited to provide feedback via the email address [email protected], and meetings are also expected to be held in the future where comments and suggestions can be presented in person.