Traffic will be banned from part of Oxford Street on Sunday to showcase mayor Sir Sadiq Khan’s pedestrianisation plan.
Vehicles will be prohibited from accessing a half-mile stretch of the road from Oxford Circus to Orchard Street between noon and 8pm for the event called This Is Oxford Street.
The road space will be used to accommodate activities and entertainment such as live music performances, art installations, food and drink stands and a literary festival.
Oxford Street is one of the world’s busiest shopping areas, with around half a million visitors each day.
Sir Sadiq wants to ban vehicles from a 0.7-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, with the potential for further changes towards Tottenham Court Road.
He said: “This Is Oxford Street is going to be a landmark, free event open for everyone and will showcase the nation’s high street as you have never seen it before, offering a glimpse of what it could look like in the future.
“As mayor, I have pledged to pedestrianise Oxford Street and I am determined to unlock its true potential to deliver a world-class, accessible, clean street for everyone as we build a better, greener and safer London for all.”
Detailed proposals for traffic under the pedestrianisation plan will be consulted on later this year.
A previous attempt by Sir Sadiq to pedestrianise part of Oxford Street was blocked by then-Conservative-run Westminster City Council in 2018.
His latest proposals depend on him obtaining permission from the Government to establish a new Mayoral Development Corporation, which would provide planning powers.
The aim is for this to be created by the start of next year.
