London’s Famous Oxford Street Getting Major Pedestrian-Only Makeover

London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced plans to ban all traffic from a key section of Oxford Street, one of the world's most famous shopping areas. Construction on the pedestrian-only zone will begin this summer, with the first car-free section opening by year's end.

London’s renowned Oxford Street, a global shopping landmark in the city’s West End, is set for a major transformation as officials move forward with plans to create a pedestrian-only zone aimed at breathing new life into the struggling retail corridor.

Mayor Sadiq Khan announced Thursday that all vehicles, including bicycles, will be prohibited from a crucial 0.7-mile section of the famous street, spanning from Oxford Circus to Marble Arch on the western end.

Construction on the pedestrian conversion of this portion of the 1.2-mile shopping district is scheduled to begin during summer months, with officials targeting the end of 2024 for the first car-free area to open to the public.

“I am delighted to be moving forward with my bold vision to transform Oxford Street into a world-leading urban space for shopping, leisure and outdoor events,” Khan stated.

The bustling commercial strip welcomes approximately 500,000 daily visitors and houses major retail anchors including Marks & Spencer and John Lewis flagship locations, plus iconic destinations like Selfridge’s department store.

However, the district that once ranked as a mandatory tourist stop comparable to Paris’s Champs-Élysées has seen its appeal diminish in recent years due to the growth of e-commerce and competing large-scale shopping centers throughout the metropolitan area. Escalating operational expenses, especially rent and business taxes, have added to the challenges.

According to the mayor’s office, the pedestrianization proposal garnered “extensive support from the business community” through consultations conducted by Transport for London, the agency responsible for the capital’s transit systems.

The modifications will create logistical hurdles for transportation officials who must redirect bus routes and taxi services that currently use Oxford Street as a thoroughfare.

“In densely developed and historic cities like London there will always be keen competition for the limited road space available, resulting in contentious political decisions as to who gets priority,” explained Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity at the RAC Foundation.

This represents a long-awaited victory for Labour mayor Khan, who previously attempted to pedestrianize portions of Oxford Street in 2018 but was blocked by Conservative local government officials.

To ensure success this time, Khan secured authorization from the Labour national government to create a new Mayoral Development Corporation with planning authority, while Transport for London assumed control of the roadway from local council oversight.