Oxford Street Now Traffic Free: The Bus Routes That Changed

Oxford Street closed to all traffic between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street on Monday 26 October. Transport for London’s Oxford Street area works page now says the street “is now completely traffic free” on that stretch.

Updated 27 October: the change has happened. TfL’s road disruption feed lists Oxford Street closed in both directions between Portman Street and Great Portland Street, “permanently to facilitate pedestrianisation works”. James Street, Binney Street and Gilbert Street are permanently closed to and from Oxford Street. The rest of this story was written before the switch, on 29 September and 17 October; the bus changes below are now in place.

The preparation works are already closing roads. Great Portland Street was shut at its Oxford Street end on Monday night, and a daily closure of Oxford Street itself began this morning.

Four weeks ago the Mayor’s promise of a traffic-free street by the end of summer had slipped past its deadline with no new date. Days later the council said ministers had rejected its demand for a full environmental assessment. The date is the first fixed point since.

What is closed now

Two closures went into TfL’s live road disruption feed this week. Both are described as works “related to the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street”.

• Great Portland Street is closed in both directions between Oxford Street and Great Castle Street. The closure began at 10.45pm on Monday 28 September and is listed until Friday 16 October.
• Oxford Street eastbound is closed at the Great Portland Street junction from 6am to 6pm each day, from today until 16 October.

Both records say no work will take place between 7am on Saturday 3 October and 7am on Monday 5 October. On Tuesday morning TfL reported traffic flowing well and no delays on the diversion.

TfL says most of the preparation will happen overnight where it can. Its list of what is coming on the surrounding streets includes:

• new two-way traffic routes and changes to one-way systems, to keep local access and move the buses
• a permanent closure of James Street to through traffic
• changes to parking, taxi ranks and Blue Badge bays
• new bus stands, junction changes and new traffic signal timings

Road markings around Binney Street and Weighhouse Street, behind Selfridges, have already been changed. TfL says the rest is “subject to the necessary consents and approvals”.

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What changes on 26 October

The traffic-free section runs from Orchard Street, at the Selfridges end, to Great Portland Street. It takes in the Oxford Circus junction.

On that stretch, according to TfL:

Seven north-south roads stay open as crossings of Oxford Street:

• Orchard Street and North Audley Street
• Duke Street
• Stratford Place and Davies Street
• Vere Street and New Bond Street
• Holles Street and Harewood Place
• Regent Street
• Great Portland Street

TfL warns that some of those crossings may close for short periods while construction goes on.

The buses

TfL has now published the route changes on its Oxford Street area works page. They come in two steps.

From 1am on Saturday 24 October:

• routes 7, N7, 94, N113 and N137 finish at Marble Arch
• routes 2, 13, 73, 74, 113, 159, 189, 274, N2, N8, N15, N25, N73, N74, N109 and N136 have minor route changes, including some stop changes

From 8pm on Sunday 25 October:

• routes 98, 139, 390, N98 and N207 are rerouted off Oxford Street onto other roads
• traffic is diverted away from Oxford Street between Portman Street and Winsley Street

Diverted routes will use new stops on Wigmore Street, Henrietta Place and Cavendish Place. TfL says the alternative stops will be about 200 metres from the traffic-free area.

Overnight, 8pm Sunday 25 October to 6am Monday 26 October, more routes are changed while the switch is made:

Some routes, such as the 73, 94 and 159, appear in more than one of TfL’s lists. TfL does not say which change applies when, so check TfL Go or Journey Planner for those routes on the night.

Taxis and deliveries

Taxi ranks will be within 100 metres of the traffic-free area. TfL names Oxford Street outside the closed section, Orchard Street, Duke Street and Great Portland Street as places they will go.

Shops and offices on the street still need deliveries and bin collections. TfL has published a deliveries and servicing guide and is running workshops for businesses. Street cleaning and refuse collection remain Westminster City Council’s job, even though TfL has been the highway authority for Oxford Street since September 2025.

Construction does not stop on 26 October

The date marks the end of traffic, not the end of works. TfL says there “will be some construction work activity as improvements to Oxford Street begin”. It says disruption will be kept to a minimum, with limited works over Christmas.

What it means for you

• If you drive through Fitzrovia or Marylebone: traffic is diverted away from Oxford Street between Portman Street and Winsley Street from 8pm on Sunday 25 October. Our roadworks and travel page tracks the closures around it.
• If you catch the 7 or 94: from Saturday 24 October it ends at Marble Arch, so you will need to change or walk for the rest of Oxford Street.
• If you catch the 98, 139 or 390: from Sunday evening, 25 October, your stop moves to Wigmore Street, Henrietta Place or Cavendish Place, about 200 metres away. Check TfL Go or Journey Planner that weekend.
• If you cycle or ride an e-scooter: from 26 October you cannot ride the stretch at all. Use the crossings or the parallel streets.
• If you use a Blue Badge bay near Oxford Street: some bays are being moved. TfL has not published the new locations, so check the signs.
• The Tube is unaffected. Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Marble Arch stay open throughout.

Sources

• TfL: Oxford Street area works, checked 29 September and 17 October 2026, for the route-by-route bus changes, the 26 October date, the bus changes from 24 and 25 October, the new stop streets, the 200 metre and 100 metre distances, the vehicle rules, the seven crossings and the Christmas works.
• TfL: Oxford Street project page, checked 29 September 2026, for the works on surrounding streets, James Street, Binney Street and Weighhouse Street, and the highway authority transfer.
• TfL road disruption feed, checked 29 September 2026, for the Great Portland Street and Oxford Street closures, their times and the 3 to 5 October pause.
• TfL: Oxford Street proposals for transport and highway changes for the day and night bus routes on the stretch.