Customer spending on Oxford Street up since pedestrianisation, data shows

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has hailed early figures showing the “transformational impact” pedestrianisation has had on Oxford Street, as retail spending jumped by 28 per cent during the scheme’s opening week.

Data released by payments company Adyen revealed that retail spending rose from around £2.9m in the equivalent period last year to £3.7m, while in-store transaction volumes climbed by 19 per cent.

The shopping surge coincided with a 16 per cent rise in footfall across the newly pedestrianised stretch, compared with the October 2025 half-term, according to City Hall and the Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC).

International visitor numbers were up by 42 per cent year-on-year, while evening visits to the wider area after 6pm grew by 19 per cent.

Mr Khan described the initial results as “better than we had anticipated and a real boost for the nation’s high street and the businesses that make it such a special place to visit”.

“These are staggering early results that show the transformational impact that the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street will have,” Mr Khan said.

“Our early work has been very warmly received by Londoners and visitors, with a surge in footfall and spend. More people are coming to Oxford Street, more are visiting in the evening and shops are seeing more sales.”

Oxford Street generates around £3.1 billion in annual spend, welcoming roughly half a million visitors each day.

The street was officially pedestrianised on Monday 26 October, when half of the 1.2 miles of the high street was declared vehicle-free.

City Hall confirmed this marks the start of a phased rollout, with minimal construction scheduled in the coming weeks to prevent disruption during the peak Christmas trading period.

Transport for London (TfL) recorded higher entry and exit counts at Oxford Circus and Bond Street Tube stations during the traffic-free week, while street sensors outside Bond Street station logged footfall up to 46 per cent above recent weekday averages.

Early monitoring found no significant change in traffic speeds on surrounding roads, and bus operators reported that services continued to run well.

However, critics have highlighted that City Hall chose to publish figures only from the opening week – which coincided with school half-term – rather than the second week, when standard business traffic and school runs resumed.

Accessibility campaigners have also raised alarms over the distance disabled shoppers must now travel to reach shops, with rerouted bus stops positioned around 200 metres from the pedestrian zone and taxi ranks placed 100 metres away.

But in spite of such concerns, West End businesses have reported immediate commercial gains.

Dan Hills, chief executive of Market Halls on Oxford Street, said footfall has risen by 29 per cent, with sales up 25 per cent. Paul Crossey, managing director of the Jane Austen Experience, echoed experiencing similar increases, with visitor numbers up 27 per cent.

Nabeel Khan, chief executive of the OSDC, said the initial data proved “the additional space to roam is proving attractive to visitors,” setting a positive tone as retailers head into the Christmas period.