Oxford Street pedestrianisation brings ‘staggering’ shopping boost

The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has delivered a “staggering’ boost in footfall, data compiled by the London mayor’s office has shown, as Christmas shopping could usher in a larger surge in the number of shoppers. 

Datasets gathered by City Hall suggest that spending and footfall soared in the first week of a traffic-free Oxford Street, even as the mayor’s decision to close it to buses and cyclists divided Londoners. 

According to City Hall, footfall between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street rose by 16 per cent compared to the October 2025 half-term while international visitor numbers were up by about 42 per cent. 

Visits after 6pm also rose, with researchers arguing that data has far surpassed expectations. Data by the payments company Adyen also suggested that spending at stores down the traffic-free area of Oxford Street grew from £2.9m to £3.7m year-on-year, it was revealed last week. 

Sir Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said the results were a “real boost for the nation’s high street”. 

“These are staggering early results that show the transformational impact that the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street will have,” Khan said. 

“With Christmas around the corner, I’d encourage Londoners and visitors to come and see what a traffic-free Oxford Street has to offer, whether you’re here to shop, meet friends or make an evening of it. The new Oxford Street is going to be one of the world’s most exciting public spaces, so come and be a part of this truly momentous project.”

Oxford Street change divides London

The decision to shut off Oxford Street has split Londoners, with cyclists and residents protesting against the mayor’s intervention. 

The Marylebone Association, which is made up of locals living around the area, used public information to argue that bus journeys are taking up to 11 minutes longer following the pedestrianisation. 

Hundreds of cyclists also staged a protest near Oxford Circus over a week ago.  

Khan had pushed for a boost in shopping levels across Oxford Street for years, even as critics have complained about candy shops and other Harry Potter-style gift stores opening over the years. The mayor has argued that the pedestrianisation of the street would encourage “quality shops” to move in, adding that “decline is not inevitable”.