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Oxford Street Goes Car-Free: Conference Venues Near Oxford Circus
Europe's busiest shopping street has just got better. Since Monday 26 October 2026, Oxford Street has been car-free from Orchard Street, beside Selfridges, to Great Portland Street, with Oxford Circus right in the middle. Our two West End conference venues, 44 Hallam Street (W1W 6JJ) and 22 Duchess Mews (W1G 9DT), are a five-minute walk away.
Oxford Street pedestrianisation: what's changed
About 0.9 km of the street is now closed to cars, buses, taxis and bikes. Seating and planters are already in, with more than 50 new trees and 100 new seats planned by the end of spring 2027. The Mayor's vision is a pedestrian plaza that can host events, from sport to culture and fashion.
When the plans were announced, City Hall said a traffic-free Oxford Street could compete with Las Ramblas in Barcelona, the Champs-Élysées in Paris and Times Square in New York. Barcelona's mayor welcomed it: "Like our own transformation of Las Ramblas, this project will enrich the city's cultural life."
What car-free Oxford Street means for your delegates
Delegates now step off the Tube at Oxford Circus into a plaza rather than a four-lane road. Arrivals are quieter, pavements are wider, and the five-minute walk to Hallam Street or Duchess Mews is traffic-free until the final turn. For event organisers, that means fewer late arrivals from stressed commuters, easier accessibility for guests with mobility needs, and a far better first impression for international delegates. It also makes evening receptions feel safer and more sociable, with guests spilling out into a lit, pedestrianised street rather than queueing for a cab on a dual carriageway.
New flagship stores on Oxford Street
The shops are raising their game too.
- Harry Potter. The UK's largest official Harry Potter shop opens on 4 November 2026 at The Ribbon, 134–140 Oxford Street: 21,000 sq ft over two floors, with its own Leaky Cauldron serving Butterbeer.
- M&S Pantheon. M&S reopened its Pantheon store this summer as its first full-line flagship, with almost 100,000 sq ft over four floors.
- Liverpool FC. The club opened a new store on Oxford Street this year.
For delegates with an hour to spare before the train home, it's all five minutes from our door.
See the Oxford Street Christmas lights 2026 after your event
This year more than 5,000 white stars hang over Oxford Street, joined by illuminated designs celebrating the world of Harry Potter. For the first time, guests can stroll beneath them without dodging a single bus. Book your Christmas party or evening drinks reception at Hallam Street or Duchess Mews, then walk your guests five minutes down to the lights.
Why now is the time to book a conference near Oxford Circus
A calmer arrival. Delegates step out of Oxford Circus or Great Portland Street and walk to us in about five minutes, without the buses and taxis.
Somewhere to go afterwards. London's newest pedestrian street, its flagship stores and the Christmas lights are on the doorstep.
An easy low-carbon choice. Three Tube stations are a few minutes away, and Cavendish Venues is the only specialist conference and meeting venue operator in London to hold B Corp certification.
Free canapés with your drinks reception
Book now for an evening drinks reception taking place between 1 January and 30 April 2027 and we'll add a complimentary canapé package from City Canapé Company, worth up to £1,000. The offer applies to bookings worth more than £2,500 excluding VAT at any of our five London venues.
<u>Mention the offer when you book. It's for new bookings only, one per client, and can't be combined with other offers. Standard evening room hire applies.</u> Read the full terms.
Getting to our Oxford Circus venues
From Oxford Circus, take Exit 4 onto the north side of Oxford Street. For Duchess Mews, walk north up Regent Street past the Langham and turn left into Duchess Street. For Hallam Street, head north past the BBC's main entrance, then turn right and left up to number 44.
From Great Portland Street, walk south, turn right into Devonshire Street and left into Hallam Street at The Masons Arms.
Arriving by taxi or coach? Both venues are north of the closed stretch, so ask your driver to avoid Oxford Street.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Oxford Street is pedestrianised? About 0.9 km between Orchard Street, beside Selfridges, and Great Portland Street, including Oxford Circus. It has been closed to traffic since 26 October 2026.
Which conference venues are near Oxford Circus? Cavendish Venues has two: 44 Hallam Street and 22 Duchess Mews, both about a five-minute walk from Oxford Circus and closer still to Great Portland Street.
Can I see the Oxford Street Christmas lights after my event? Yes. Both venues are a five-minute walk from Oxford Street, so guests can head straight from a drinks reception to the lights.
Does the free canapé offer cover Christmas parties? No. It covers evening drinks receptions taking place between 1 January and 30 April 2027.
Book a conference or drinks reception near Oxford Circus
Send us your date, numbers and format and we'll come back with a quote within one business hour. Request a quote.
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