Visitor numbers on Oxford Street’s newly pedestrianised stretch rose by 16% in its first week compared with the equivalent October half-term week in 2025, figures released by City Hall and the Oxford Street Development Corporation show.

The increase was greater than the 9% rise recorded across the wider Oxford Street area, where daily visitor numbers averaged 292,835. That distinction matters: the strongest growth was recorded within the traffic-free section, although a single week’s comparison cannot establish how much of the increase was caused by pedestrianisation.

The section between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street closed on 26 October to private motor vehicles, buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, cycles, scooters and pedicabs. The change forms part of a phased regeneration programme.

International visitor numbers in the pedestrianised stretch increased by 42% year on year, while domestic visitor numbers rose by 14%. Visits after 6pm were up by 19%, and visitors spent an average of 5% longer in the traffic-free section than during the equivalent week in 2025.

For businesses, the potential benefit is not simply more people passing through, but more time in which they might shop or spend an evening in the area. City Hall also reported increases in visitor spending and Tube station usage, though no numerical breakdown for either was supplied.

Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: “More people are coming to Oxford Street, more are visiting in the evening and shops are seeing more sales.”

He described the initial results as better than anticipated and a boost for the high street and its businesses.

The figures provide an early measure of activity after the closure. Whether those gains persist beyond the opening week, and translate into sustained additional sales, remains unresolved.