Oxford Street shuts to all traffic from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street on Monday 26 October. Buses go from 25 October, and roads are already closing.
Oxford Street will close to all traffic between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street on Monday 26 October. Transport for London has now put the date in writing on its Oxford Street area works page.
The last buses along that stretch run on the evening of Sunday 25 October.
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”.
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:
| Who | From 26 October |
|---|---|
| Buses | No longer run along it. Changes start on Saturday 24 October |
| Taxis and private hire | Not allowed |
| Cycles, e-bikes, pedicabs, e-scooters | Not allowed |
| Mobility scooters | Still allowed |
| Other traffic | Diverted away from the evening of 25 October |
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
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.
It has not yet said which route goes where. Its page says: “We will publish more details of bus changes as soon as they are available.”
The routes that run along this stretch today are the ones to watch. TfL’s consultation listed five daytime services, the 7, 94, 98, 139 and 390. At night it listed the N7, 94, N98, N113, N137, 139, N207 and 390.
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: Great Portland Street is shut at the Oxford Street end until 16 October, and Oxford Street eastbound closes at that junction every day from 6am to 6pm. Our roadworks and travel page tracks both.
- If you catch a bus along Oxford Street: plan for Saturday 24 October onwards. Expect your stop to move 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 2026, for 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.
Have your say