Magical London: Iconic Oxford Street Goes Vehicle-Free, but Residents Raise Concerns

A major shopping street changes

For generations, shoppers shared Oxford Street with bikes, cars, black cabs and red double-decker buses. On Monday, the section from Great Portland Street to Orchard Street became pedestrian-only.

The 1km stretch accounts for about 1 percent of the UK’s annual gross domestic product. Yet consumer spending, rents and footfall have declined in recent decades; footfall is now 57 percent of its 2006 level, according to retail trade body New West End Company.

Retail hopes and cleaner air

City Hall analysis forecasts that partial pedestrianisation could generate more than $109m per year and support 700 additional jobs. After a weekend trial in October 2025, two-thirds of businesses in the area reported sales that were higher or similar during pedestrianisation.

Biology teacher Muneera Alfadhel called the change “magical.” Campaigner Barbara Stoll said the air already felt cleaner. One shopper told Al Jazeera that moving buses could help people with disabilities who cannot walk far, provided bus services are not discontinued.

Review before wider changes

The Oxford Street Development Corporation will test and review the pedestrianisation in the coming months, with findings due to be reviewed early next year. Making the rest of Oxford Street a permanent traffic-free public space is expected to proceed by the end of next year. Supporters point to examples elsewhere, while opponents remain concerned about the effects on local residents.