Oxford Street is going traffic-free from October 2026: where a taxi can actually drop you off this Christmas
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Christmas 2026 is the first festive season with Oxford Street closed to traffic. The 0.9 km stretch from Orchard Street by Selfridges to Great Portland Street — Oxford Circus included — goes traffic-free in the second half of October 2026 under the Mayor's transition scheme, with buses diverted and taxis, private hire and delivery vehicles kept out. Shopping, the lights and the Boxing Day sales all get easier on foot; the question is where the car drops you. Here are the points we use, and the fixed fare to reach them.
What is changing, and when
Transport for London and the Mayor are pedestrianising the central section of Oxford Street between Orchard Street (Selfridges) and Great Portland Street. Seating, planters and bollards are installed first; the traffic ban itself begins in the second half of October 2026, is reviewed through spring 2027, and permanent works follow later in 2027. Bus routes 7, 94, 98, 139 and 390 (and the night routes N7, N98, N113, N137 and N207) are diverted around the zone, mostly via Wigmore Street to the north. Cycling is banned on the closed section too. The western end from Marble Arch to Orchard Street and the eastern end from Great Portland Street to Tottenham Court Road stay open to traffic for now.
Cross-streets stay open so the area does not become an island: vehicles can still cross Oxford Street at Duke Street (northbound), Davies Street, Stratford Place, Vere Street, New Bond Street (southbound), Holles Street and Harewood Place (northbound). Those crossings are the key to drop-offs.
Drop-off and pickup points that work
| Where you're going | Drop-off / pickup point | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Selfridges | Orchard Street or Duke Street (north side); Edwards Mews for pickups | 1–2 min |
| Bond Street station / west Oxford Street | Stratford Place or Vere Street off the north side; Davies Street south side | 2 min |
| John Lewis, House of Fraser area | Holles Street (north, by Cavendish Square) or Old Cavendish Street | 1–2 min |
| Oxford Circus, Regent Street north, Liberty | Harewood Place / Cavendish Square; Great Marlborough Street south side; Margaret Street north | 2–4 min |
| Great Portland Street to Tottenham Court Road (Primark, Uniqlo east) | Oxford Street itself is still open here; Great Titchfield Street or Rathbone Place | 0–2 min |
| Marble Arch end (Primark west, Cumberland Hotel) | Oxford Street west of Orchard Street stays open; Cumberland Gate or Great Cumberland Place | 0–2 min |
| Carnaby Street / Soho | Great Marlborough Street or Poland Street | 2–3 min |
Points confirmed on your booking. On December weekends expect the cross-streets to be slow; we tell you the realistic time when you book.
Christmas 2026 on a traffic-free Oxford Street
The upside is real. The Christmas lights route becomes a walk rather than a crawl, the switch-on crowds have the whole road, and Boxing Day sales queues spill onto the carriageway instead of the pavement. The practical change is that nobody — black cab, app or pre-booked car — can stop you at the door of Selfridges' Oxford Street entrance or outside John Lewis any more. Plan the drop-off on a cross-street, book the pickup at a point the driver can reach, and the car does the heavy bags home. See Boxing Day taxi in London for the sales and Christmas and New Year travel in London for the wider picture.
Hotels and offices inside the zone
Hotels on or just off the closed section (the Cumberland is west of it and unaffected; hotels around Cavendish Square and Hanover Square are reached from the north and south) keep vehicle access via the cross-streets. For hotel guests we agree a standing pickup point with the concierge — see hotel and concierge accounts. Office Christmas parties in Soho and Fitzrovia are collected from Great Marlborough Street, Poland Street or Margaret Street — see office party transport.
Fixed fares to the West End
| To an Oxford Street drop-off point from | Saloon (fixed) | MPV (fixed) |
|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | from £110 | from £110 |
| Gatwick | from £146 | from £161 |
| Luton | from £113 | from £128 |
| Stansted | from £124 | from £139 |
| Canary Wharf / the City | from £75 | from £90 |
| Clapham / Islington / Hampstead | from £75 | from £90 |
From-prices; your exact fare is fixed before you confirm. Airport pickups are flight-tracked.
- Quote and book online at any hour — the fare is fixed at the moment you confirm.
- Driver details (name, vehicle, registration, direct mobile) arrive the day before.
- Flight tracking on every airport pickup: if your flight is early or late, the pickup moves with it at no charge, with 60 minutes' free waiting after landing.
- Pay by card when you book. No cash, no meter, no surge.
Frequently asked questions
- When does Oxford Street become pedestrianised?
- The traffic ban on the section between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street starts in the second half of October 2026, after seating, planters and bollards are installed. It is reviewed through spring 2027 with permanent works to follow.
- Can a taxi drop me on Oxford Street?
- Only on the two ends that stay open (Marble Arch to Orchard Street, and Great Portland Street to Tottenham Court Road). For the central section, drop-off is on a cross-street a minute or two away — Duke Street, Davies Street, Stratford Place, Vere Street, New Bond Street, Holles Street or Harewood Place.
- Are buses still running on Oxford Street?
- Not on the closed section. Routes 7, 94, 98, 139, 390 and the night buses are diverted around it.
- Is Bond Street station affected?
- The station is open; its Oxford Street entrances are inside the pedestrian zone, which makes them easier on foot. Vehicle pickups are from Davies Street, Stratford Place or Vere Street.
Essentials for international visitors
Flying in from abroad? The six things that catch people out, in one place. Full detail, with official links, in our UK visitor essentials guide.
Entry
Most visitors from Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia need a UK ETA (£20, apply in the UK ETA app, valid two years) — airlines have enforced it since 25 February 2026. eGates from age 8 for EU, US, Canadian, Australian and most other visa-free passports. More ›
Money
Pounds sterling; cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere, contactless taps up to £100. Choose to pay in pounds when a terminal offers your home currency. Prices include VAT and there is no tourist tax refund. More ›
Phone
Free Wi-Fi at all London airports; UK SIMs and eSIMs from £75 in every arrivals hall; EU roaming depends on your operator. WhatsApp +44 20 8888 9988 works from any country. More ›
Christmas & New Year
Bank holidays on 25 and 28 December 2026 and 1 January 2027. No public transport at all on Christmas Day, reduced service and engineering works on Boxing Day; shops shut on 25 December. Pre-booked cars run every day at the fixed fare. More ›
Children & luggage
Child seats on request when you book. In a licensed private hire car children may travel without one if none is available (under-3s on the rear seat). Tell us the bag count and the right size of car turns up. More ›
Emergencies
999 or 112 for police, fire or ambulance; NHS 111 for urgent advice; A&E is free at the point of use, but bring travel insurance. Plugs are Type G, 230 V; traffic drives on the left — look right. More ›
Book your fixed-fare car
Price confirmed at booking, driver details the day before, flight tracked where relevant. Pay by card online — nothing to settle in the car.
