London officials close part of Oxford Street to vehicles to create a pedestrian zone

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, opened a new pedestrian zone on a nearly one kilometer stretch of Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street.

The move removes all motorized vehicles, including private cars, buses, taxis, scooters, and electric scooters, from this section of the famous shopping street. Emergency vehicles and store deliveries between midnight and 7 am remain permitted.

Khan stated that the change aims to revitalize the area and drive economic growth for a street that generates 3.1 billion pounds in annual turnover. The city plans to complete the transformation by late spring next year. Workers will plant more than 50 new trees and install new signs, benches, and lighting. They also plan to create two new public squares. This project covers a portion of the nearly two kilometer street, which currently sees 500,000 visitors every day.