By Charlotte Ambrose
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London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has announced part of Oxford Street will be traffic-free for one day later this month.
Named “This is Oxford Street”, the event will aim to show the benefits of pedestrianising the street, which the mayor hopes to introduce permanently by 2027.
One day closures of Regent Street have previously been trialled by Ken Livingstone during his time as mayor between 2000 and 2008, while Sir Sadiq hopes his event will pave the way for a more permanent arrangement.
Sir Sadiq plans to establish a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) by 1 January 2026 to manage the project, which will be similar to the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) which was set up to monitor the lasting impact of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Oxford Street will be part-pedestrianised on Sunday September 21 from 12pm until 8pm.
Sir Sadiq wants to pedestrianise Oxford Street to make it more attractive to visitors and boost the economy, including the area’s retail and hospitality offerings.
City Hall has dubbed the event a “landmark” moment for mayor Sir Sadiq, which he anticipates will “unlock” the street’s “true potential”.
Sir Sadiq 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.”
The mayor argues Oxford Street is a critical area of national economic importance, which provides an estimated annual contribution of £25bn to London’s economy.
The street will go traffic-free – from Orchard Street to Oxford Circus, about half a mile between Selfridges and the junction with Regent Street – between midday and 8pm
On the day of the event, a number of Oxford Street stores will be offering special deals.
Themed outdoor areas will be established, catering to fashion, sport, music, food and heritage.
These include areas branded as “This is Style”, promoting fashion, “This is Play” promoting sport, “This is Flavour” featuring dining, and “This is Me”, which will include interactive “selfie spots”.
Other events include a children’s literary festival, three stages and artistic workshops.
Holland & Barrett will curate a “wellness zone” and a pop-up “This is Love” installation will be hosted by the charity Choose Love, which helps refugees and displaced people.
More than 30 retailers on Oxford Street will also be providing bespoke offers, deals and vouchers during the event.
Many bus routes will be diverted or part-axed from 9pm on Saturday September 20 until early on Monday morning.
The following routes will be impacted:
2, 13, 74, 94, 113, 139, 189, 274, N2, N74, N113
According to a public consultation conducted by the Greater London Authority, Londoners and businesses back the mayor’s proposals for the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street.
The report, published in June, revealed almost seven in 10 expressed support for Sadiq’s proposed interventions to regenerate Oxford Street, while two-thirds were supportive of the pedestrianisation idea specifically.
Major retailers with stores on the street, including Selfridges, John Lewis and Ikea, have also welcomed the plans.
However, many opponents of the scheme raised concerns about potential increases in congestion and pollution in surrounding areas near Oxford Street if traffic is filtered away from the busy high street.
A representative from Berwick Street Market, which is located near Oxford Street in the Soho area, took to X to warn of the damage pedestrianisation could impose upon small businesses.
They said: “This is the biggest single issue in Soho facing small businesses and sole traders. No access, no business. Kaput.”
While residents and business owners remain divided over the impact of the pedestrianisation project, Sir Sadiq plans to push on with his vision to re-vitalise Oxford Street, one traffic-free day at a time.
