Trains from Bromley South still reach Oxford Circus in about 33 minutes, though rail works hit the weekend of 14 November. Checked November 2026.
Oxford Street is about 33 minutes by train and Tube from Bromley South, and the closure of its central stretch to traffic does not change that trip. The bigger risk for Christmas shoppers from the borough is the railway: no trains run to or from Charing Cross or Cannon Street on the weekend of 14 and 15 November.
Almost a kilometre of Oxford Street, about ten miles north-west of Bromley, has been closed to traffic since 26 October. The Mayor of London’s office says the closure is permanent. It runs from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street, which takes in Selfridges and John Lewis.
How long it takes from Bromley borough
We asked TfL’s journey planner for trips to Oxford Circus, leaving about 11am on Saturday 21 November. The closed section runs through Oxford Circus, and TfL’s list of nearby stations also names Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Marble Arch.
| From | Time to Oxford Circus | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Bromley South | 32 to 33 minutes | Southeastern to Victoria, then the Victoria line |
| Penge East | 34 to 35 minutes | Southeastern to Victoria, then the Victoria line |
| Beckenham Junction | 39 to 40 minutes | Southeastern to Victoria, then the Victoria line |
| Orpington | 39 minutes | Southeastern to Charing Cross, then the Bakerloo line |
| Bromley North | 45 to 46 minutes | Walk 13 minutes to Bromley South, then as above |
| Chislehurst | 49 minutes | Southeastern to Charing Cross, then the Bakerloo line |
| West Wickham | 54 to 57 minutes | Southeastern to Charing Cross, then the Bakerloo line |
The Bromley South train takes 18 minutes of that. Bromley North has a train too, by changing at Grove Park and Charing Cross, but the planner put it at 51 minutes.
For fares and the fastest trains, see our Bromley trains to London page.
The weekends to watch
Southeastern’s planned engineering work list has one difficult weekend this month.
Saturday 14 November. Charing Cross, Waterloo East and Cannon Street have no trains. Hayes line trains run to Blackfriars instead, every 30 minutes. Trains between Victoria and Orpington through Bromley South keep running, at different times from usual.
The planner shows what that does to the same 11am trip that Saturday:
- Bromley South: 32 to 33 minutes, unchanged
- Orpington: 39 minutes on the 11.29 to Victoria, but 59 minutes on the 11.04 and the 11.34
- Chislehurst: 54 minutes or more, changing at Lewisham
- West Wickham: 63 to 65 minutes, changing at Lewisham
Sunday 15 November. The same three stations stay shut. Buses replace trains between Lewisham and Orpington, and between Lewisham and Sidcup, because of work at Hither Green. Hayes line trains run to Victoria.
Further on, Southeastern’s list shows no planned work on Saturdays 28 November, 5 December or 12 December. These Sundays are affected:
- 29 November: Victoria to Herne Hill
- 6 December: Bromley South to Orpington, Lewisham to Hayes, and Chislehurst to Sevenoaks
- 13 December: Charing Cross to London Bridge, Lewisham to Orpington via Grove Park, and Grove Park to Bromley North
Our Bromley Christmas trains page covers the holiday period itself.
Coming home on the night bus
No daytime bus in TfL’s where to catch your bus guide reaches the borough. Two night buses do, and both leave from Oxford Circus:
- N3: to Penge, Beckenham Road, Park Langley, Bromley South and Bromley North
- N136: to Chislehurst
TfL’s guide says to catch either one at stops RF or RG. It places RG on Regent Street.
The N136 is on TfL’s list of routes with minor changes, including changes to bus stops. The N3 is not on that list. Heading into town, TfL’s route data shows the N136 finishing at Conduit Street, by Hamleys. Our Night Tube piece has more on getting home late to Bromley.
TfL warns that “some bus spider maps are incorrect” while it updates them. Its Oxford Street night map is one it says is accurate.
What the closure covers
Buses, cars, taxis, private hire vehicles, cycles, scooters and pedicabs are all out. There are three exceptions:
- emergency services, at all times
- deliveries, from midnight to 7am
- mobility scooters, which TfL says are still allowed
Cycling is banned on the closed section, and that includes e-bikes. TfL says taxi ranks are within 100 metres. Its advice is that public transport is the easiest way to visit, and that you should allow extra time.
Seven roads stay open as crossings. They include Regent Street, Duke Street and Great Portland Street.
What changes next
The current layout is temporary. It is there to gather data and comments on how people use the space before the permanent design is settled. Construction will be kept to a minimum in the weeks before Christmas.
By the end of spring 2027, the Mayor’s office says visitors should see:
- more than 50 new trees
- two new public squares
- better signage
- more than 100 new seats and dining tables
- new lighting
What people are saying
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called it “a truly momentous occasion for the capital”.
“There has been talk of pedestrianising Oxford Street for decades,” Khan said. “After so many false dawns, and now working with a Government who share the scale of my ambition, I’m proud that we’re finally unlocking a new era for the street.”
London’s Transport Commissioner, Andy Lord, said: “A huge amount of work has gone into delivering this change, and as we continue to deliver further improvements to this new pedestrian space in the coming months, we will be closely monitoring these changes to make sure they are working for everyone.”
Nabeel Khan, chief executive of the Oxford Street Development Corporation, called it “a once-in-a-generation transformation”. The transition phase would let the corporation “test ideas, learn from people’s experiences and work closely with local communities, businesses and accessibility groups”, Nabeel Khan said.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said the change would create “a greener, more vibrant place that will attract visitors and investment”.
The retailers are pleased too. Naomi Simcock, chief operating officer of John Lewis, said the store has served the street for over 160 years and “we’ve seen plenty of change”. Simcock called the pedestrian plans “one of the most exciting”.
Meave Wall, chief retail and digital officer of Selfridges, said visitors “travel from near and far to shop, explore and enjoy the festive atmosphere”. Wall added: “With more space to roam and discover everything the area has to offer, we hope even more people will be inspired to visit not only this Christmas, but all year round.”
Dee Corsi, chief executive of New West End Company, sounded more cautious about the weeks ahead. “As businesses enter the crucial Christmas trading period, the focus must now be on getting the delivery right,” Corsi said.
Who backed it
The Mayor’s office says consultation showed around seven in 10 Londoners and businesses backed the plans, from 6,642 responses between February and May 2025. Two-thirds specifically supported pedestrianisation. YouGov polling of 1,081 people in October 2024 found 63% of Londoners in favour, the office says.
It puts annual spending on the street at around £3.1bn. It wants the scheme to help return Oxford Street to the ranks of Times Square, the Champs-Élysées and La Rambla.
What it means for you
- Going by train: Bromley South to Victoria and the Victoria line is the quickest route on an ordinary Saturday, and the closure does not touch it.
- Going on 14 or 15 November: check your train first, especially from Orpington, Chislehurst, Hayes line stations and Bromley North. Saturdays 28 November, 5 December and 12 December have no planned work on Southeastern’s list.
- Need step-free access: TfL names Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road as the step-free stations nearby.
- Staying closer to home: our Christmas shopping in Bromley page lists independent shops in the borough.
- Have a view on the layout: send comments to info@oxfordstreet.org.uk. The Mayor’s office says there will be events next year where you can give feedback in person.
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