Oxford Street pedestrianisation praised by shoppers as better experience

London's Oxford Street has been partially pedestrianised by Mayor Sadiq Khan, sparking praise from shoppers and concerns from some businesses ahead of the busy Christmas shopping period. Almost 1.2 miles (1.9km) of the capital's most famous shopping street has now been closed to vehicles, with about half of the street now car-free. The temporary pedestrianisation, which began on Monday morning, bans buses, bikes, taxis, e-scooters and private cars from the area between Oxford Circus station and Marble Arch.

Shoppers who spoke to The Guardian shared their enthusiasm for the project. Daniel Te, a former US resident now living in London, was so moved by the scene that he used his sketchpad to capture the sheer mass of people walking the street. "It's an entirely new place now," he said, noting that the extra space makes it easier to browse shops without jostling each other. "Now to see the whole street become kind of like the scramble crossing is really exciting."

Mayor Sadiq Khan hailed the initiative as a "momentous day," calling the project a step toward better footfall and spend. He said the permanent transformation, which includes trees, seating and level "plazas" for events, will begin in spring 2027 after the initial phase is tested. Khan, whose first jobs were in retail in the street, emphasized that investing in people rather than traffic leads to better experiences.

However, not everyone supports the change. Taxi driver Ben McMullan said traffic on surrounding streets has worsened and accessibility is a major problem, noting that he had dropped off customers who struggled to reach the street by car. Cyclist Jack also expressed frustration, stating he would continue riding despite being stopped by security guards. "I'm not going to listen to no one. I'm going to ride down this road, whether they like it or not."

The pedestrianisation coincides with the Christmas shopping period, and the mayor believes it will create a better overall experience for visitors and locals alike.