London Bans Oxford Street Traffic
London's Oxford Street will ban all non-essential traffic by end of summer, transforming the iconic shopping street into a pedestrian plaza. The city expects this to make Oxford Street "the safest in London" with increased green space, public art, and walkability. This follows a growing global trend of rethinking city centers for people over cars.
This iteration of the plan, driven by Mayor Sadiq Khan, succeeds a failed 2018 attempt that was blocked by the then-Conservative-run Westminster City Council. To overcome previous hurdles, the Mayor established a new Mayoral Development Corporation and Transport for London (TfL) has taken control of the road from the council. The ban will apply to a 0.7-mile stretch between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, prohibiting private cars, buses, taxis, and even bicycles and scooters. Emergency services will retain access at all times, and businesses can receive deliveries between midnight and 7 a.m. A key driver for the project is tackling the street's notoriously poor air quality. In previous years, Oxford Street has registered levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that were among the highest in the world, at times spiking to more than 11 times the EU's legal limit. The economic renewal of the "nation's high street" is another major goal, as it competes with online retailers and other global destinations. A one-day traffic-free trial in September 2025 saw over two-thirds of stores report higher sales and a 25% increase in passenger use at local tube stations. While the initial traffic ban is expected by the end of summer, further construction to enhance the pedestrian experience with features like wider crossings, trees, and public art will continue until late 2027. The project's estimated cost is at least £150 million, with hopes for partial funding from private investors. This move aligns London with other major cities that have long-established pedestrianized commercial hubs. Examples include Strøget in Copenhagen, which banned traffic in 1962, and Buchanan Street in Glasgow, which has been car-free since 1978.
