What: Card transactions across London's West End rose 13% in the first six days after Oxford Street banned cars and buses, compared with the same period last year, according to Barclays data.

Why it is important: The early figures give the £150mn regeneration plan its first commercial evidence, as it faces opposition from Westminster city council, residents and transport groups over congestion and access for elderly and disabled visitors.

Barclays debit and credit card transactions in the wider West End rose between October 26 and October 31, the first six days after cars and buses were banned from Oxford Street. Steve Fergus, Barclays' head of retail, said an easier, more pleasant street gives shoppers another reason to visit town centres, which matters in the run-up to Christmas.

Separate Adyen figures show in-store transactions across 40 Oxford Street businesses up 19% on both the previous week and the same week last year. Regent Street, which has attracted higher calibre brands in recent years, grew by only 1%.

The scheme follows a difficult decade marked by the collapse of Debenhams and House of Fraser and the pandemic. Vacancies reached 13.7% in 2022, and western rents fell from an average £1,100 per sq ft in 2016 to £600 in 2021, according to Savills. The mayor's office said it was excited to see the plans become reality, while Westminster city council, some residents and transport groups fear diverted buses and taxis will worsen congestion on neighbouring streets.

IADS Notes: Oxford Street's pedestrianisation was expected to lift foot traffic and attract new flagships, and it already had the backing of major retailers when the mayor advanced the plan (Financial Times, February 2026). By the time the street closed to traffic, vacancies had dropped below 1% and western rents, at £850 per sq ft, remained more than 20% below their 2016 peak, while footfall was still under pre-pandemic levels (Financial Times, October 2026). The wider UK backdrop is weak: footfall fell 10.7% year on year in April on subdued consumer confidence, although London held up better than the other UK nations (Retail Insight Network, May 2026). Selfridges, at one end of the pedestrianised stretch, saw sales stay flat over three years while international tourists stayed away from its London flagship (Glitz, October 2026).

West End spending rises after Oxford Street bans cars and buses