Back
What Oxford Street will look like if it’s pedestrianised – but locals are not all on board
Mar 1, 2025
The plan to ban traffic on London’s Oxford Street ‘to become more like Paris’ is one step closer to becoming a reality – but not every Londoner welcomes the move.
London’s iconic Oxford Street, which attracts around 500,000 shoppers a day, could soon look more like a European promenade without the fumes and sounds of snarling traffic if plans to pedestrianise it go ahead.
The £150,000,000 project is designed to transform Oxford Street into a pedestrian-only area to restore it to its ‘former glory,’ London Mayor Sadiq Khan said.
But shoppers and residents on the famous street this morning told Metro they were not convinced about the vision of Oxford Street without cars and buses – or that the plan will ever happen.
Billy Drew, owner of Golden Union fish and chip shop off Oxford Street, said he would love to be able to use tables and chairs outside but doubts the plan will be successful.
He told Metro: ‘I have lived and worked in the West End for 35 years and this conversation comes up every five minutes.
‘I think it’s a really good idea, you go places like Paris and the atmosphere is amazing – but it’s whether they can logistically do it.
‘I would love to be able to do outdoor dining, but what’s the point? I used to own a pub down the road in SoHo which I had to shut down after I received a noise complaint, who’s to say that won’t happen here.’
8Shares
0Comments
14Favorites
5Likes
No content at this moment.