Plans to ban cars on one of London's busiest streets is set to press ahead after a trial was branded a huge success by officials. Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to “move forward with bold proposals” to pedestrianise London’s Oxford Street, with petrol, diesel and electric vehicles set to be completely banned.
Mr Kahn gained the support of the London Assembly back in July with plans to press ahead with pedestrianisation plans in the coming months. The road could be completely cut off to vehicles from January 2026, prioritising pedestrians and shoppers in one of the capital’s most popular tourist destinations. Mr Khan held a test event on Sunday, September 21, with a 0.7-mile stretch of road closed to vehicles for just one day.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London told the Daily Express that Oxford Street was “transformed” in the traffic-free event earlier this month. Officials stress the event gave Londoners and visitors to the capital a “glimpse” of what a pedestrianised street could look like in the future without vehicles.
The spokesperson added: “Hosted by the Mayor, the free and exciting one-day only event was attended by thousands, with footfall up 45% on Sunday compared with the previous week.
“We worked closely with Westminster City Council and partners on the development of the event, as well as Transport for London, to ensure that those travelling to the event and around London were able to plan their journey in advance and use a number of Tube lines, the Elizabeth line and local bus services.
“TfL data showed the event had minimal impact on traffic, with no traffic queuing and no noticeable inconvenience to road users.”
More importantly, data shows that footfall enjoyed a 45% uplift compared to the Sunday the week before or 38% compared to a typical Sunday in 2024. Officials confirmed there were no other live traffic incidents between Oxford Street and Notting Hill during the trial.
Earlier this year, a consultation revealed that pedestrianisation could be supported, with the plan impressing locals. The report showed that around seven in 10 respondents back plans to regenerate Oxford Street, with two-thirds supporting the idea of pedestrianisation.
A Mayor of London spokesperson added: “The GLA remains in frequent communication with Westminster City Council with regards to the Mayor’s proposals to pedestrianise the road and unlock Oxford Street’s true potential to deliver a world-class, accessible, clean street for everyone, as we continue to build a better London for everyone.”
