| Tourism number down? Posted by grahame at 22:00, 9th April 2026 |     |
Listening to friends at lunch today, they were telling of a recent visit to London and how quiet Oxford Street was - not the usual hustle and bustle [of tourists]. Is this something others have noticed? I could guess / speculate as to what / how / why but before I do, is this a pattern others have seen too?
| Re: Tourism number down? Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:32, 9th April 2026 | |
I have no personal recent experience of Oxford Street to enable me to offer my own suggestions, but Sir Sadiq Khan's scheme may resolve that apparent issue. From The Standard:
Oxford Street pedestrianisation gets go-ahead from Sadiq Khan with traffic ban this summer
Buses, taxis and cyclists will be banned from western section of Oxford Street from summer 2026
The part-pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been formally approved by Sir Sadiq Khan – with traffic due to be banned from this summer.
The London mayor authorised the changes on Thursday morning, paving the way for Transport for London to make the nation’s most famous high street traffic-free between Selfridges and Ikea.
Sir Sadiq decided not to make any changes to the draft plans that went out to public consultation last November, despite hundreds of respondents opposing the changes, which will increase congestion on side roads and require 15 bus routes to be curtailed or diverted.
The mayor believes the pedestrianisation scheme – which will include a ban on cyclists – will boost Oxford Street’s attractiveness to shoppers, visitors and tourists.
(The Standard article continues)
Buses, taxis and cyclists will be banned from western section of Oxford Street from summer 2026
The part-pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been formally approved by Sir Sadiq Khan – with traffic due to be banned from this summer.
The London mayor authorised the changes on Thursday morning, paving the way for Transport for London to make the nation’s most famous high street traffic-free between Selfridges and Ikea.
Sir Sadiq decided not to make any changes to the draft plans that went out to public consultation last November, despite hundreds of respondents opposing the changes, which will increase congestion on side roads and require 15 bus routes to be curtailed or diverted.
The mayor believes the pedestrianisation scheme – which will include a ban on cyclists – will boost Oxford Street’s attractiveness to shoppers, visitors and tourists.
(The Standard article continues)
