Oxford Street has become a pedestrian-only road, with Sadiq Khan describing the change as marking the end of the famous shopping street's decline, according to the BBC. The switch took effect on Monday, 26 October 2026, with the last buses running along the road as pedestrianisation began, ianVisits reported. The Times covered the final journeys made on four wheels before vehicles were removed.
Why it matters
Oxford Street is one of London's most recognisable retail addresses, and the decision to remove traffic from it has been debated for years. Supporters, including the mayor, frame the change as a turning point for a street that had lost ground. The Guardian, in a piece attributed to the mayor's side of the argument, said the traffic-free road is "just the start," with green spaces for arts and music planned in future. The Financial Times called the move a long-awaited revolution for the street.
The change also carries practical consequences for how people move through central London. Buses and taxis that once used the road must now take other routes, and the BBC reports that replacement bus stops sit roughly 100 metres away from Oxford Street.
Westminster raises unresolved concerns
Not everyone is treating the change as settled. Tim Barnes, deputy leader of Westminster City Council, told BBC Radio London that local residents have repeatedly objected whenever pedestrianisation has been proposed in the past. He said previous attempts could not be made to work in practice, and that many questions about the current scheme had still not been answered as the traffic-free era began.
Barnes highlighted accessibility as a particular worry. He said reaching the street will be hard for people with mobility issues, pointing out that Oxford Circus Tube station has no step-free access. He also noted that passengers who previously relied on buses and taxis along the road now face diverted routes and stops set back from the street.
The council, he said, will keep pressing the issues and will watch for knock-on effects, including traffic congestion, noise and pollution. Barnes said any problems traced back to the changes would be raised with Transport for London and the mayor, who he said should be responsible for fixing them.
What to watch
Westminster's monitoring of traffic, noise and air quality — and how Transport for London and the mayor respond to any problems it identifies — will be the measure of whether the scheme delivers on its promise.
