Summary

  • Cars, buses, taxis and bicycles can no longer travel along much of Oxford Street with almost a kilometre of the road now pedestrianised

  • The famous London shopping street has been made traffic free between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street

  • Vehicles will still be able to flow north and south across the street at certain points, while buses are being diverted on to other roads

  • The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been tried for years but is controversial, with local residents among those worried about the change

  • The traffic may have been stopped but the initial works scheme is not expected to be completed until spring next year

Live Reporting

Edited by Tim Stokes, with James W Kelly, Gem O’Reilly and Tom Edwards reporting from Oxford Street

  1. Where will the traffic go?

    A computer generated image of people sat at tables on the newly pedestrianised routeOxford Street Development Corporation

    Traffic noise is expected to reduce and air quality to improve on Oxford Street, TfL says

    Shutting a large part of Oxford Street to all traffic is of course going to mean vehicles will need to go elsewhere.

    An increase in traffic is expected on Wigmore Street, Cavendish Place, Henrietta Place, Marylebone Lane and Welbeck Street as buses will use these streets and they provide an east-to-west alternative to Oxford Street, TfL says.

    Margaret Street, Upper Brook Street, Marylebone Lane, Dunraven Street and Stratford Place are expected to see an increase in traffic noise between 3.2dB and 7.8dB because of the changes.

    The largest reductions in traffic noise are expected on Oxford Street, Bryanston Street and James Street.

    Improvements in air quality are expected in several locations in the Oxford Street west area, with other locations showing "no material effect", TfL adds.

    However, some locals tell BBC London they worry about the impact the changes will have on the surrounding area. We'll be hearing from them during the morning.

  2. Staff help guide visitors through changes

    Jess Warren
    London

    A road closure sign seen on Oxford Street at the junction with Regent StreetPress Association

    TfL is placing staff near bus stops and on Oxford Street to help people find their way in the early stages of the street changes.

    The newly pedestrianised route means that some crossing points have changed, and traffic can move in different patterns and flows in the surrounding area.

    Signs with route-finding information have also been installed in the area.

  3. Barriers placed across Oxford Street

    Tim Stokes
    London

    Two workers carrying a signPA Media

    Work took place over the weekend in preparation for today

    Crossing over Oxford Street on Regent's Street a moment ago on the way into work, the road was a hub of activity.

    Work was ongoing over the weekend in preparation for today and now barriers are being placed across the street.

  4. First phase of the project

    Jess Warren
    London

    A computer generated image of the pedestrianised area of Oxford StreetOxford Street Development Corporation

    The development corporation has issued images of what the scheme could look like in 2027

    Today marks only the start of the first phase of the pedestrianisation scheme, which is expected to be finished by spring 2027.

    The Oxford Street Development Corporation, which is working on the project with Transport for London, says it estimates that temporary improvements to the area will be completed by this time.

    These improvements include raising the road height to meet the pavement level between Orchard Street and Duke Street, and between Old Cavendish Street and Holles Street.

    To begin with, the road layout will be unchanged.

    And by spring, more than 50 new trees and more than 100 new seats, including chairs and benches, will be installed in the pedestrianised area, the corporation says.

    The corporation adds that the first stage of pedestrianisation is a "test and review" phase that will inform final designs for the area.

  5. Oxford Street pedestrianisation begins

    Jess Warren
    London

    A major overhaul of Oxford Street in central London has begun, with a large part of the popular shopping destination pedestrianised.

    Almost a kilometre of the road between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street was closed to cars, buses, taxis and bicycles on Monday morning.

    The change is the first phase of a plan to transform and redesign how the street is used.

    We will be bringing the latest updates from the street, so stay with us.