London’s Oxford Street bans traffic as city tries to revitalize once grand shopping district

Oxford Street, London's premier shopping boulevard, will become permanently pedestrianized today, in a bid to rejuvenate the area and stimulate economic growth. The 1km stretch between Selfridges and IKEA will be off-limits to buses, cars, taxis, bicycles, scooters, and pedicabs, according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan's office. This long-awaited change, more than two decades in the making, aims to restore Oxford Street among top global shopping destinations like New York's Times Square and Paris' Champs-Élysées.

Mayor Khan expressed pride in unlocking a new era for the street, noting that revitalizing Oxford Street will create jobs and drive economic growth in the capital. The pedestrianization comes after the area suffered during the Covid pandemic, with the arrival of US candy stores deterring many shoppers. Oxford Street, connected to Bond Street and Regent Street and home to high-end retailers like John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, and Tiffany & Co, has been struggling since the pandemic.

This inaugural stage of a transformation will see minimal construction before Christmas, a busy shopping season. Plans for 2027 include adding over 50 new trees, 100 new seats, two public squares, rest areas, and improved signage and lighting. Oxford Street attracts around half a million visitors daily, but many flagship stores, including House of Fraser and Topshop, have closed in recent years, leading to neglect.

British Housing, Communities, and Local Government Minister Angela Rayner hailed this as an exciting new chapter, promising a greener, more vibrant Oxford Street that will attract visitors, investment, support businesses, and create jobs in the heart of the capital.