Oxford Street Half Pedestrianised; Buses Rerouted, £150m Plan Set for 2027
About half of London's 1.2-mile Oxford Street became vehicle-free on Monday as a first phase, with buses rerouted; a £150m permanent redesign starts in spring 2027.
The story in focus
The Guardian reports that roughly half of London's 1.2-mile Oxford Street, from Oxford Circus to Marble Arch, became vehicle-free on Monday as a first-phase pedestrianisation, with buses rerouted onto neighbouring roads.
- About half of the 1.2-mile (1.9km) street is now vehicle-free, roughly from Oxford Circus station to Marble Arch.
- Many double-decker buses are diverted onto neighbouring roads.
- A £150m permanent transformation including trees, seating and plazas is due to take shape from spring 2027.
- Transport for London chief operating officer Claire Mann said there would still be plenty of passenger capacity and reliability should not be affected.
- The mayor described the scheme as a proof of concept to test whether investing in people rather than traffic lifts footfall and spend.
What changed
The Guardian reports that about half of London's 1.2-mile (1.9km) Oxford Street, roughly from Oxford Circus station to Marble Arch, became vehicle-free on Monday. The closure bans buses, bikes, taxis, e-scooters, pedicabs and private cars from that section, and many of London's double-decker buses are now diverted onto neighbouring roads.
The change is the first phase of a pedestrianisation that has been discussed for decades and arrives ahead of the Christmas shopping period. A £150m permanent transformation, including trees, seating and level plazas for events, is due to take shape from spring 2027.
Transit and business impact
Claire Mann, chief operating officer at Transport for London, said there would still be plenty of capacity for passengers and the change should not affect reliability. She said TfL would monitor ridership, noting that Bond Street and the Elizabeth Line offer alternative access.
The mayor said the street had been in decline over recent decades and described the scheme as a proof of concept to test whether investing in people rather than traffic leads to better footfall and spend. He said London would closely monitor the changes.
A souvenir kiosk operator said it would take time to gauge the business impact, though the morning seemed slightly busier. A taxi driver said traffic was worse on surrounding streets and accessibility was a problem, citing passengers with a pram and walking difficulties. A cyclist stopped by security said an alternative route would lengthen his commute.
How much of Oxford Street is now vehicle-free?
About half of the 1.2-mile (1.9km) street, roughly from Oxford Circus station to Marble Arch, is now vehicle-free, according to The Guardian.
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