Oxford Street to Go Car-Free Next Week: Everything You Need to Know

Oxford Street will become car-free from Monday 26 October 2026, when the Mayor of London's long-awaited pedestrianisation scheme goes live. The initial phase covers 0.9 km of the world-famous shopping street, from Orchard Street near Selfridges to Great Portland Street, and includes the busy Oxford Circus junction where Oxford Street crosses Regent Street. The move follows final approval of the scheme in February 2026, after earlier plans to launch in September 2026 were pushed back slightly. For the first few months, the pedestrianisation will operate as a 'live testing phase' or 'transition scheme,' during which businesses and visitors will be invited to provide real-time feedback before permanent infrastructure changes — including new paving and street furniture — are installed towards the end of 2027. Six bus routes will be diverted away from the pedestrianised stretch: the 7, 94, 98, 139 and 390, along with night routes N7, N98, N113, N137 and N207. Cycling will also be prohibited on the car-free section, with bikes directed via alternative routes including Wigmore Street, Henrietta Place and Margaret Street. A separate Oxford Street Development Corporation has been established to oversee the wider regeneration of the area, which is intended to restore Oxford Street's standing as one of the world's leading retail destinations following a rise in vacant units over recent years.