Oxford Street traffic ban begins 2 September 2026 between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street
Work to create a traffic-free zone will finish by late October, with bus diversions and business access changes in place
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Headline overstates certainty of works start date.
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Oxford Street will begin its transformation into a traffic-free zone on 2 September 2026, when construction starts between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street. Transport for London (TfL) confirmed the works will remove vehicles from the stretch, which runs from Selfridges to just past Oxford Circus, by mid to late October.
The project marks the first major physical change under TfL’s pedestrianisation plans. While tube and rail services will operate normally, some bus routes will face temporary diversions as the road layout is altered. Taxis and private hire vehicles will still access the area, though pick-up and drop-off points may shift.
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Hundreds of shops, restaurants and other businesses along Oxford Street rely on regular deliveries and waste collections. TfL has held online and in-person sessions to explain how servicing will work once the street becomes traffic-free. The changes aim to maintain access while removing through traffic.
The current works are an initial step. Longer-term plans include a full redesign of Oxford Street as a pedestrian-focused public space, but the immediate priority is the stretch between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street. If the schedule holds, the traffic ban will take effect in time for the Christmas lights switch-on.
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Questions this report answers
+When will Oxford Street become traffic-free?
Construction starts on 2 September 2026, with vehicles banned between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street by late October. The works are part of a longer-term pedestrianisation plan, but this stretch will be the first to change.
+Will buses and tubes still run during the works?
Tube and rail services will operate normally, but some bus routes will be temporarily diverted. TfL has not yet published a full list of affected services, so passengers should check updates before travelling.
+How will businesses receive deliveries after the ban?
TfL is holding sessions with businesses to explain new delivery and servicing arrangements. While through traffic will be banned, access for deliveries and waste collections will continue under revised rules.
+What happens after October 2026?
The current works are the first phase of a wider redesign to prioritise pedestrians. Further changes to Oxford Street’s layout and public spaces are planned, but no timeline has been confirmed for later stages.
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