Oxford Street footfall up 16% in pedestrianisation's first week

Figures released by City Hall show a 16% rise in footfall on Oxford Street during the first week of its new traffic-free status. The pedestrianisation, which began on 26 October, saw visitor numbers in the affected section increase by the same percentage when compared with the equivalent half-term week in October 2025. This data covers the stretch between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, which is now closed to private motor vehicles, buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, cycles, scooters, and pedicabs.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan welcomed the initial results, stating that more people are visiting Oxford Street, including in the evenings, and that shops are reporting higher sales. He described the early figures as exceeding expectations and a significant boost for the high street. Across the wider Oxford Street area, daily visitor numbers averaged 292,835 during the first week, a 9% increase on the same period last year. Visits after 6pm were up 19%.

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Increased Spending and Tube Usage

Retail data from payments company Adyen indicates a 28% year-on-year increase in spending at Oxford Street businesses included in its analysis. This saw spending rise from approximately £2.9 million to £3.7 million in the first week. The number of in-store transactions also increased by 19%, with the average spend per transaction rising from £100 to £107.

Transport for London (TfL) reported an increase in entries and exits at nearby Tube stations. Between 28 and 30 October, Oxford Circus and Bond Street stations recorded nearly 200,000 entries and exits daily. At Bond Street station specifically, entries and exits were reported to be more than 10% higher than during the comparable period last year. TfL street-level sensors also recorded footfall outside Bond Street station up to 46% above recent weekday averages.

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City Hall stated that early monitoring found no significant overall change to traffic speeds on surrounding roads, with bus operators reporting that services continued to run smoothly. The first phase of the project involved limited construction work, with more extensive improvements planned as part of the wider regeneration of Oxford Street. City Hall will continue to monitor visitor numbers, transport performance, and economic activity as travel patterns adjust and the Christmas shopping period approaches.