London Mayor Opens 1.2-Mile Car-Free Zone on Oxford Street

Sadiq Khan declared Monday a "momentous day" as he opened the first phase of a car-free zone on Oxford Street. The closure removes buses, taxis, private cars, and e-scooters from roughly half the 1.2-mile stretch, extending from Oxford Circus station to Marble Arch.

The change comes ahead of the Christmas shopping period. Khan described the pedestrianization as a "proof of concept" intended to show that investing in people rather than traffic increases footfall and spending. He noted that the street had been in decline for decades and that the new layout would feature more greenery and seating.

A permanent transformation is scheduled to begin in spring 2027. That project will cost 150 million pounds and will include trees, seating, and level plazas for events. For now, the area is defined by temporary bollards and a green welcome banner.

Daniel Te, a former city planner who moved from the US in July, sketched the scene on his first visit. He said he previously avoided the street because it was "too busy," but now feels "more inclined to come." He called the pedestrianization "a really big achievement" and suggested that neighboring streets should follow suit.

Raquel Cox, a tourist from Ireland, visited after seeing news reports of the change. She said, "It’s a better experience," acknowledging that surrounding streets would become busier. Abbas Shigival, who runs a souvenir kiosk at the start of the zone, observed that the morning was busier than usual and that the environment felt more pleasant for customers.

Not all users of the street were pleased. Ben McMullan, a taxi driver, said traffic was "definitely worse on the surrounding streets" and that accessibility was a major problem. He reported dropping off customers, including a mother with a pram and a woman with walking difficulties, in areas where he could not provide direct access. He feared the changes would reduce his customer base.

Cyclist Jack, who was stopped by security guards while commuting home from a construction job, said the closure would make his route longer. He argued that the change made it harder for people to use vehicles. Claire Mann, chief operating officer at Transport for London, said there would still be plenty of capacity for bus passengers and that the Elizabeth Line offers an alternative for arrivals. Khan said London would closely monitor the changes to ensure they work for everyone.