Cars were first restricted on London's Oxford Street in June 1972 as part of an experimental scheme that banned private cars, allowing only buses and taxis between 7 am and 7 pm. As of 2025, further plans are in place to fully pedestrianize a "near mile-long" section, with a full ban on all traffic—including buses and taxis—proposed to revitalise the area.
Currently, between 7 am and 7 pm on Monday to Saturday, Oxford Street is only permitted for buses, taxis, and cyclists. Private cars are banned during these hours, and restrictions also apply to turning from Orchard Street into Oxford Street, with the exception of these permitted vehicles.
The ban on new petrol and diesel cars was originally introduced in 2017 under former Prime Minister Theresa May's government, with an initial target date of 2040. This was brought forwards to 2030 during Boris Johnson's tenure in November 2020, then delayed to 2035 due to cost-of-living concerns by Rishi Sunak.
Two categories of historic vehicles are exempt from ULEZ: All vehicles built before 1 January 1973. Vehicles over 40 years old that have been successfully registered with the DVLA for a historic vehicle tax class.
The twentieth century saw the gradual decline of horsepower, with horse traffic banned on many streets in London in the 1920s and 1930s, and the motor vehicle replacing horsepower especially following the Second World War. However, horses continue to work in London.
“No Longer What It Once Was” | Cars COULD Be Banned From Driving On London’s Oxford Street
Can you touch the King's Guard horses?
No, you are not allowed to touch the King's Guard horses, even if they seem calm or if you're just outside the marked lines; they are active military horses, not tourist attractions, and touching them is forbidden to ensure safety and respect for the guards and animals. White lines clearly mark the safe distance, and the guards are serving soldiers, so interfering with them or their horses is a serious breach of protocol, though rarely a guard might make a personal exception at their discretion.
For the LGOC, the horse bus era ended in October 1911. Their old competitors the Tilling company operated the last London horse bus service in London on 4 August 1914, the day Britain declared war on Germany and became embroiled in the First World War.
Yes, you can still drive your petrol car after 2035; the ban applies only to the sale of new petrol/diesel cars, not existing ones, so you can continue to own, drive, buy, or sell used petrol cars, but you'll need to switch to electric or hydrogen when buying a brand-new vehicle from 2035 onwards.
Any vehicle that does not meet the ULEZ standards are not allowed in the zone. This includes most petrol cars and vans registered before 2006 and diesel cars and vans registered before 2015.
Yes, cars over 40 years old are generally exempt from London's ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) charges, provided they are registered with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) in the historic vehicle tax class and meet specific conditions, including having no substantial changes made in the last 30 years; this is a rolling exemption, so each year, cars from the previous year become eligible.
Will I be able to buy a second-hand petrol or diesel car after 2035? Yes. The ban solely applies to the sale of new vehicles, so you will still be able to purchase and sell used petrol and diesel engine cars after 2035.
But the end is in sight, as the government has declared that sales of petrol and diesel cars will end in 2030. Some car industry observers think this is ambitious, but either way, in a few years, there won't be many diesel cars on sale. They will survive beyond that, but by 2050, they could well be a rarity.
Cars are already banned from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday. Some locals worry that diverting traffic away from Oxford Street will make the surrounding streets noisier and more chaotic. You can take a look at the plans below and then share your two pence in the consultation (which closes January 16) here.
On Sundays and public holidays, The Mall and Constitution Hill are closed to traffic. For more information, visit the Royal Parks website or call 0300 061 2350.
Cars that are free to drive in the ULEZ must be Euro 6 (diesel) or Euro 4 (petrol) compliant. That means low emission and zero-emission vehicles such as electric cars will not be charged.
You can usually use a vehicle with foreign number plates without registering or taxing it in the UK if all of the following apply: you're visiting and do not plan to live here. the vehicle is registered and taxed in its home country.
ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) is London's clean air zone where drivers of vehicles that don't meet strict emissions standards must pay a daily charge to drive, aiming to reduce air pollution by targeting more polluting cars, vans, and motorcycles, and now covers all London boroughs, operating 24/7 except Christmas Day. Vehicles typically need to meet specific Euro emission standards (e.g., Euro 4 for petrol, Euro 6 for diesel) to be compliant and avoid the £12.50 daily fee.
Despite the recent push towards electric vehicles, petrol engines remain the most popular choice for UK car buyers in 2025. The petrol vs diesel vs hybrid comparison often favours petrol for its combination of initial affordability, widespread availability, and straightforward ownership experience.
The UK Ban on Diesel and Petrol HGVs. The UK Government has confirmed its diesel HGV ban with the pledge to ban the sale of new non-zero-emission heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) by 2040, as part of its wider plan to decarbonise domestic transport by 2050.
Unsurprisingly, the car of 2035 is predicted to be an electric SUV. After all, by 2035, the only new cars you'll be able to buy will be ones powered solely by electricity, and the growth of the SUV market shows no sign of slowing.
A cultural taboo against consuming horse meat exists in the UK, although it was eaten when other meats were scarce, such as during times of war, as was whale meat, which similarly failed to achieve popularity.
Most Thoroughbreds can be traced back to Darley Arabian. In 95% of modern Thoroughbred racehorses, the Y chromosome can be traced back to this single stallion. This is mainly through his descendant, Eclipse, who is the direct male ancestor of 95% of all thoroughbreds and in the pedigree of many of the rest.
The last horse-drawn bus operated by the London General Omnibus Company in central London ran on October 25th, 1911, between London Bridge and Moorgate Street. In August 1914, the last horse-drawn bus that ran anywhere in London ceased operation, and many of the horses were subsequently used for war service.
