London prepares for landmark car-free day on Oxford Street amid mixed reactions

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to transform Oxford Street into a pedestrian-friendly hub with a car-free event, drawing both support and criticism over the ambitious plan to overhaul one of the city’s busiest shopping streets.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a landmark car-free event on Oxford Street, set to take place on Sunday, September 21, from midday to 8pm. Dubbed “This is Oxford Street,” the event aims to offer Londoners and visitors a glimpse of what the future could hold for the iconic shopping thoroughfare, showcasing it as a pedestrian-friendly, vibrant public space. The occasion will feature a wide array of attractions, including art installations, a children’s literary festival, an ‘urban forest,’ sports pitches, live performances, and food and drink stalls. Major retailers such as Schuh, Holland & Barrett, Topshop, John Lewis, and The Body Shop are backing the initiative with interactive activities, while over 30 shops along Oxford Street will offer special deals and vouchers during the event. The NBA, Major League Baseball, and the charitable organisation Choose Love are also supporting the event. Mayor Khan described it as “a landmark, free event open for everyone” and an opportunity to “showcase the nation’s high street as you have never seen it before” (The Standard).

This car-free day is part of a broader vision to pedestrianise Oxford Street permanently, transforming it into a world-class, accessible hub that combines shopping, leisure, and outdoor events. The idea of pedestrianisation has been in development for over 20 years and recently gained majority support from Londoners and local businesses in a public consultation. Inspired by successful urban transformations such as Times Square in New York and La Rambla in Barcelona, the project seeks to rejuvenate the mile-long stretch of Oxford Street, which attracts approximately 500,000 visitors daily but has faced economic challenges, including store closures. The mayor envisions that pedestrianisation will spur tourism, attract investment, and create employment opportunities. To realise the plan, Khan intends to work with the government on necessary legislation and devise alternative routes for the numerous buses that currently run through Oxford Street (Reuters).

However, the plans have faced criticism from various quarters. Some residents’ groups have labelled the pedestrianisation as a ‘senseless vanity project’, questioning the necessity of such a radical overhaul and expressing frustration over insufficient details, particularly regarding bus rerouting. The London Assembly has launched an investigation to evaluate the potential impact on the local community. Westminster Council has raised concerns about increased safety risks, warning that removing traffic flow could make Oxford Street a target for terrorist attacks, especially hostile vehicle incidents, and has hinted at possible legal action to block the plan. Meanwhile, under the proposed pedestrianisation, cyclists would be banned from riding through the restricted section, a move supported by some cycling campaigners for safety reasons but criticised for the lack of protected alternative cycling routes (The Standard).

Mayor Khan has sought to address financial concerns by assuring that the project’s estimated £150 million cost will not fall on the shoulders of Londoners. He is confident in securing private sector funding to cover expenses, aiming to create a pedestrian-friendly space without impacting the public purse. Support from major retailers and high-profile organisations during the upcoming car-free event illustrates the significant commercial interest in Oxford Street’s transformation and the ambition to position it as a clean, inclusive, and world-renowned destination for all (The Standard).

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative presents recent developments regarding Oxford Street’s pedestrianisation plans, with the earliest known publication date being 16 June 2025. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/londons-oxford-street-go-traffic-free-shopping-area-makeover-says-mayor-2025-06-16/?utm_source=openai)) The event is scheduled for 21 September 2025, indicating timely reporting. However, the narrative includes information from 5 months ago, which may affect its freshness. ([ft.com](https://www.ft.com/content/307cf024-1f21-4386-b0e4-757ce597f4f0?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Mayor Sadiq Khan, such as describing the event as ‘a landmark, free event open for everyone.’ These quotes appear to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. However, variations in wording across different sources suggest potential paraphrasing or selective quoting.

Source reliability

Score:
9

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Standard, a reputable UK news outlet. The information aligns with reports from other reputable sources, such as Reuters and the Financial Times, indicating consistency and reliability. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/londons-oxford-street-go-traffic-free-shopping-area-makeover-says-mayor-2025-06-16/?utm_source=openai))

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative’s claims about the car-free event on 21 September 2025 are corroborated by multiple reputable sources. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/londons-oxford-street-go-traffic-free-shopping-area-makeover-says-mayor-2025-06-16/?utm_source=openai)) The details about the event’s schedule and activities are plausible and consistent with the reported plans. However, the inclusion of information from 5 months ago may raise questions about the narrative’s timeliness.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative provides timely and consistent information about the upcoming car-free event on Oxford Street, supported by reputable sources. While the inclusion of older information may affect freshness, the overall content is reliable and plausible.