Oxford Street, one of the UK’s most iconic and busiest shopping destinations, will soon be transformed into a traffic-free zone, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced on Tuesday.

The pedestrianisation aims to revitalise the central London area, making it a more attractive and accessible space for visitors and businesses alike.

The plan—over two decades in the making—gained momentum after a public consultation launched in September revealed strong support from both Londoners and local businesses.

Advocates of the change point to the success of similar initiatives in global cities like New York’s Times Square and Barcelona’s La Rambla, where traffic-free zones have helped rejuvenate key urban areas.

“We want to breathe new life into Oxford Street, turning it into a world-class destination for shopping, leisure, and outdoor events,” said Khan. “A pedestrianised Oxford Street will be a symbol of London’s future—vibrant, accessible, and sustainable.”

Currently, the street sees around 500,000 visitors daily. But despite its footfall, the area has struggled in recent years, with several major retailers—such as House of Fraser and Topshop—closing their flagship stores. Khan pointed to this decline as a sign the street has been overlooked for too long.

Next steps will involve working with the national government on legislation to officially ban traffic, including rerouting the many buses that currently run along Oxford Street. The mayor emphasised that the transformation will happen "as quickly as possible."

Government officials have expressed support for the project, describing it as a “beautiful public space” initiative that will boost tourism, attract investment, and create new jobs in the heart of the capital. Photo by DiscoA340, Wikimedia commons.