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It’s set to be a good week for London’s pedestrians. Hear us out – Tuesday (September 17) brought news that Sadiq Khan has resurrected plans to make Oxford Street car-free, and this Sunday (September 22), the capital is celebrating World Car Free Day. Over 200 streets across London will close to road traffic, allowing people to gather, socialise, walk and cycle safely.
Only certain roads will close – specifically those where residents have applied to go car-free for the day. It’ll be a great excuse to venture out and make the most of the city’s street spaces. The Hackney Carnival is returning for the first time in five years, and there’s plenty going on no matter where in London you find yourself on Sunday. See our guide of things to do this weekend for the full array of art, entertainment and more.
Here’s what you should know about this year’s World Car Free Day.
RECOMMENDED: All the travel disruption and tube closures in London this weekend.
World Car Free Day 2024 dates in London
The official date for this year’s Car Free Day is Sunday September 22, though some neighbourhoods will celebrate with road closures on Saturday September 21.
What’s the purpose of the car free day?
Car Free Day encourages cities to close roads to vehicle traffic, so that streets can be safer and more sociable. The event is a partnership between TfL, the Mayor of London and local non-profits like Play Streets and London Play, which promote public play spaces for children.
The initiative supports neighbours getting to know each other and safer conditions for children to play outside. Besides making roads more pedestrian-friendly, the event has a wider objective of making London greener, with less reliance on cars and reduced air pollution.
Will Norman, the Mayor’s walking and cycling commissioner said the day was a chance for Londoners to ‘reclaim our streets’.
Major streets closed
Saturday, September 21
Lewisham
Deptford High Street will be partially closed to traffic from 11am to 2pm.
Sunday, September 22
City of London
Roads in the City of London will be closed from 7am to 7pm. There will be an outdoor festival space at Bank Junction and street market on Cheapside.
Southwark
London Bridge, Tower Bridge and Tooley Street will close to all traffic from 7am to 7pm, but buses will be running across London Bridge to help people reach the Central London Reimagine Event.
Other streets affected include:
- Southwark Bridge northbound
- Southwark Bridge Road northbound between Southwark Street and Southwark Bridge
- Southwark Street eastbound
- Borough High Street between Duke Street Hill and London Bridge
- Borough High Street northbound between Southwark Street and Duke Street Hill
- Bermondsey Street northbound between Crucifix Lane and Tooley Street
- Duke Street Hill
- Fair Street between Tower Bridge Road and Tooley Street
- Barnham Street
- Shand Street
- Holyrood Street
- Magdalen Street
- Gibbon’s Rent
- Bursar Street
- Montague Close
- Bridge Yard
- Hay’s Lane
- Counter Street
- Battle Bridge Lane
- English Grounds
- Morgan’s Lane
- Braidwood Street
- Vine Lane
- Weaver’s Lane
- Potters Fields
Islington
Fieldway Crescent will close to traffic from 10am-12pm. Highbury Terrace and Offord Road will be closed between 2pm and 5pm.
Other London boroughs
Brent, Croydon, Ealing, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, Kingston, Merton, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Westminster are running their own events. Check your local authority's website for further details on the roads affected in your neighbourhood.
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