Oxford Street Traffic Changes: Latest Update

Oxford Street is preparing to become traffic free between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street from 26 October 2026.

As part of the enabling works, there will be a number of changes to vehicle and pedestrian access in the surrounding streets. 

Permanent road closures from 19 October

From 10pm on Monday, 19 October 2026, access to Oxford Street will be permanently closed from:

• James Street
• Binney Street
• Gilbert Street 

The following arrangements will apply:

• Vehicles will be able to leave James Street via Barrett Street.
• Gilbert Street will operate as a two way street between Oxford Street and Brook Street.
• Binney Street will operate as a two way street between Oxford Street and Weighhouse Street.
• Safety bollards will also be installed on James Street, just south of its junction with Barrett Street.

Current and upcoming works

A number of works are taking place across the area ahead of Oxford Street becoming traffic free.

Great Portland Street and Oxford Street

Works at the junction with Great Portland Street are nearing completion. Part of the central island on Oxford Street has been removed to allow for new bus movements and a future pedestrian crossing.

The small section of Oxford Street previously closed at the junction has now reopened. A no right turn from Oxford Street into Great Portland Street remains in place while the remaining works are completed.

Great Portland Street remains northbound only for vehicles and cycles between Great Castle Street and Oxford Street.

The following buses have returned to their eastbound routes and stops on Oxford Street:

• 55, 73, 98 and 390 N8, N25, N55, N73, N98 and N207

Balderton Street, Bird Street and Woodstock Street

Safety bollards are being installed, with works expected to be completed by 13 October.

During the works:

• Vehicle access to Balderton Street from North Row is closed.
• Access is via Brown Hart Gardens. Pedestrian access to Bird Street from Oxford Street is closed, with access maintained from Barrett Street.
• Pedestrian access to Oxford Street from Woodstock Street is closed.
• Access to properties will be maintained.

Lumley Street, Dering Street and Marylebone Lane East

Safety bollards are also being installed in these locations:

• Lumley Street: pedestrian access to Oxford Street is closed, with works expected to finish by 16 October.
• Dering Street: pedestrian access to Oxford Street will be closed, with works expected to start on 12 October.
• Marylebone Lane East: pedestrian access to Oxford Street will be closed. Access will be provided via Marylebone Lane West and the Bond Street station exit. Works are expected to start on 13 October.

Marylebone Lane West and Old Cavendish Place

Works are taking place between 8 and 13 October, including the installation of safety bollards.

During these works:

• Pedestrian access to Oxford Street from Marylebone Lane West will be closed.
• The Bond Street station exit will remain open, with pedestrians directed to Marylebone Lane East.
• Pedestrian access to Oxford Street from Old Cavendish Place will be closed.

Further works to be scheduled

The following works are still being planned, with dates and times to be confirmed:

• Great Portland Street: installation of bus stands and removal of a taxi bay between Great Castle Street and Market Place.
• Wigmore Street, Portman Square and Orchard Street: changes to road markings and traffic signals to allow right turns from Orchard Street into Wigmore Street ahead of Oxford Street becoming traffic free.
• Oxford Street: temporary public realm measures.

Works completed

Since the previous update, works have also been completed at:

• Great Portland Street, with only smaller works continuing at the Oxford Street junction.
• Duke Street, where the existing taxi bay at the Oxford Street junction has been extended to 39.8 metres and an additional disabled parking bay has been provided south of Oxford Street. Some additional marking is still required.
• Great Castle Street East and Regent Street, where the kerb has been realigned.

What happens next?

The enabling works will continue throughout October, ahead of Oxford Street becoming traffic free between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street on 26 October 2026.

We will continue to share updates as the works progress.