Oxford Street to go traffic-free for a day ahead of pedestrianisation plans

Oxford Street is set to go traffic-free between Orchard Street and Oxford Circus on Sunday 21 September as part of a one-day event showcasing proposals to pedestrianise London’s most famous shopping street.

The “This is Oxford Street” event will run from 12pm to 8pm and feature themed zones spanning fashion, food, sport, music, heritage and community activities. 

Partners include Major League Baseball, Holland and Barrett, which will curate a wellness zone, and non-profit organisation Choose Love.

The closure follows a consultation published in June that showed almost seven in 10 Londoners supported the mayor’s proposals to regenerate Oxford Street, with two-thirds specifically backing pedestrianisation. 

The Greater London Authority has said the street contributes about £25bn annually to the capital’s economy but has faced long-term pressures from the pandemic, online shopping and retail parks.

Plans to establish a Mayoral Development Corporation to lead regeneration of the area were supported by the London Assembly in July. The Mayor is now working with the government to legislate for its creation by January 2026.

The 21 September event will showcase themed areas, including This is Style – fashion and retail pop-ups, This is Play – sporting activities with global partners, This is Flavour – food and drink stalls, This is Sound – live music and DJ sets, This is Love – community and charity activities, This is History – photography and heritage displays, and This is Future – plans for a greener, pedestrian-friendly Oxford Street.

Additionally, Choose Love will run a pop-up shop raising funds for refugees and displaced people, while other Oxford Street stores will offer discounts and promotions on the day.

Some bus services in the area will be diverted from the evening of Saturday 20 September until the early hours of Monday 22 September. 

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to see Oxford Street in a whole new light, traffic-free, full of music, great food, pop-ups and entertainment for everyone. As Mayor, I’m determined to unlock Oxford Street’s true potential and deliver a world-class, accessible, clean avenue.”

Emma Strain, director of customer service at Transport for London, added: “Oxford Street is an iconic location and this event will be like nothing the West End has ever seen.”