Oxford Street will begin its transition to a pedestrianised street on 26 October, with vehicles banned from almost one kilometre of the shopping street ahead of the crucial Christmas trading period.
The first phase will run between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, with buses, taxis, bikes and other vehicles diverted onto surrounding roads.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced the start date as part of plans to pedestrianise the street and revitalise the area, which have faced opposition from Westminster City Council over their potential impact on surrounding roads.
Khan said the changes would begin “just in time for the busy Christmas shopping period”, describing the plans as a step towards creating a “world-class space” where retail sits alongside workplaces, leisure, fashion and cultural events.
The changes are being delivered by Transport for London (TfL) in partnership with the Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC), with new safety measures and work to clean and declutter the street also planned.
The initial changes will be temporary, allowing data and feedback to be collected on how people use the space before permanent improvements are designed.
Plans for the area include more than 100 new seats, dining tables and more than 50 new trees, with two new public squares expected to be in place by the end of spring 2027.
The pedestrianisation follows years of debate over the future of Oxford Street. In September, the Government rejected Westminster City Council’s request for a full environmental impact assessment before the scheme went ahead, allowing work on the plans to continue.
Westminster City Council has raised concerns over traffic being displaced onto surrounding roads, as well as the potential impact on air quality, noise, access and public safety.
Councillor Tim Barnes, deputy leader of Westminster City Council, said there remained “a long list of unanswered questions” around how the scheme would operate.
The plans were previously backed by major retailers including Selfridges and John Lewis, while a consultation in 2025 found support for the proposed pedestrianisation.
The first phase will now be introduced ahead of the Christmas trading period, with a permanent design for the new layout expected to be published by November 2027.