London mayor inaugurates pedestrian-only stretch of Oxford Street amid mixed reactions
Mayor Sadiq Khan opened a nearly kilometre pedestrian zone on Oxford Street, drawing praise from shoppers and some businesses while transport operators and cyclists reported inconvenience.
London’s most famous shopping thoroughfare has been partially closed to traffic as part of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s pedestrianisation scheme. The new vehicle-free stretch runs from Oxford Circus to Marble Arch and was opened on a rainy Monday morning, just before the peak Christmas shopping period.
Shoppers interviewed described the extra walking space as a welcome change. One visitor, Daniel Te, said he was “trying to capture the sheer mass of people going down the street” and noted that the wider pavement made the area “more exciting” and “a better experience”. A tourist from Ireland, Raquel Cox, said she came after seeing a news report and felt the pedestrian zone offered “a better experience” despite possible congestion on nearby streets.
Local vendor Abbas Shigival observed a slightly busier morning and said the environment felt “more pleasant” and that “people are happier because they can walk around”. The mayor, who previously worked in retail on Oxford Street, said the project aims to reverse a long-term decline, adding that “investing in people rather than traffic leads to better footfall and spend”. He said the city will monitor the changes and use the first phase as a proof of concept.
Transport for London’s chief operating officer Claire Mann said the diversion of double-decker buses to surrounding roads would still provide “plenty of capacity for passengers” and that the city would watch for any impact on ridership. However, not all stakeholders welcomed the change. Taxi driver Ben McMullan reported “definitely worse” traffic on adjacent streets and said the new layout created “a huge problem” for customers with prams or mobility issues. A cyclist, identified only as Jack, said he would continue to ride the street despite security checks, arguing that alternative routes would lengthen his commute.
The pedestrianisation is the first phase of a £150 million plan that includes trees, seating and event plazas, with further work scheduled to begin in spring 2027.