Key Notes
- Oxford Street is traffic-free between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, with north-south crossings still open.
- Buses and taxis use nearby roads, while mobility scooters retain access and deliveries are permitted overnight.
- Planting, seating and public-space improvements will follow, with initial raised sections scheduled for spring 2027.
London has opened a traffic-free shopping zone on Oxford Street, giving visitors more space to walk along one of the capital’s best-known retail destinations ahead of Christmas. The change took effect on October 26 across the almost one-kilometre section between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street.
Transport for London confirmed that private vehicles, buses, taxis, cycles, scooters and pedicabs are no longer permitted along that stretch. It is the first major step in a wider regeneration programme, with further street improvements still to come.
Which Part of Oxford Street Is Traffic-Free?
The new zone runs from Orchard Street, beside Selfridges, to Great Portland Street, east of Oxford Circus. The rest of Oxford Street is outside this initial traffic-free section. Visitors should also expect vehicles at some junctions: north-south crossings, including Duke Street and Regent Street, remain open.
The restrictions operate around the clock under TfL’s access rules. Emergency vehicles retain access at any time, while delivery and servicing vehicles can enter by approved routes between midnight and 7am. Mobility scooters are still allowed; the cycling and scooter ban does not remove that access.
For shoppers, the immediate change is the removal of through traffic from the central shopping stretch. It does not mean that every crossing has disappeared or that the finished pedestrian plaza is already in place.
How Buses, Taxis and Visitor Journeys Change
Several familiar bus journeys now end or continue elsewhere. Routes 7, N7, 94, N113 and N137 terminate at Marble Arch. Routes 98, 139 and 390, plus night services N98 and N207, have moved off the traffic-free section onto nearby roads, with alternative stops approximately 200 metres away.
TfL’s travel advice includes updated stop maps and warns that some older bus spider maps are being corrected. Check the current route rather than relying on a stop used on a previous London visit. Taxi ranks remain within about 100 metres of the zone, but taxis and private-hire cars cannot drive into it.
Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Marble Arch are nearby rail options for different parts of the shopping area. Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road offer step-free access. Travelers with mobility requirements should check the nearest suitable station exit and pickup point before setting off.
More Trees, Seating and Public Spaces Are Still to Come
The Oxford Street Development Corporation describes the opening as the start of a phased transformation. Initial arrangements will help the project team gather feedback from visitors, businesses, residents and accessibility groups before permanent improvements are finalised.
Further changes include planting, seating, rest areas and clearer signage. TfL also plans to raise sections of the road to pavement level and create two temporary public squares, with the first two raised sections scheduled for spring 2027. Construction will continue, although work is being limited during the Christmas period.
The street’s changing visitor offer extends beyond its road layout. We previously covered plans for a major Harry Potter shop on Oxford Street, another addition to the wider area’s retail plans.
For a shopping trip now, choose a suitable station exit, check the relocated bus stops and taxi ranks, and follow signs at crossings and work areas. Allow extra time while routes settle. The traffic-free section is open, while the broader redesign remains a work in progress.
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