The 13, 113, 139 and 189 from Barnet now use stops off Oxford Street's closed stretch, and the Northern line still gets you there. Checked November 2026.
The four daytime buses that link Oxford Street with Barnet, the 13, 113, 139 and 189, can no longer run along the middle of it. Almost a kilometre of the street, about ten miles south of High Barnet, has been closed to traffic since 26 October.
The closure runs from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street, which takes in Selfridges and John Lewis. The Mayor of London’s office says it is permanent.
The Tube is the simple answer for Christmas shopping from Barnet. Transport for London’s notice lists changes to buses, not to Tube lines, and calls public transport the easiest way to visit.
The four buses from Barnet
TfL’s Oxford Street bus map shows where to catch each route home. Stop letters are on the top of each stop.
| Route | Runs to | Home from stops | What TfL says has changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Golders Green, Finchley Central, North Finchley | W, K, BA | Minor changes, including bus stops |
| 113 | Hendon Central, Mill Hill Circus, Edgware | K, BA | Minor changes, including bus stops |
| 139 | Golders Green | RC, RE, HB, WB | Rerouted, with new stops off Oxford Street |
| 189 | Cricklewood, Brent Cross West, Brent Cross Shopping Centre | K, BA | Minor changes, including bus stops |
The 139 has the biggest change. TfL’s stop-by-stop guide sends passengers from the old Selfridges and John Lewis stops to two new ones:
- Wigmore Street / Duke Street, stops WA and WB, instead of Selfridges BC and BX
- Henrietta Place, stop HB, instead of John Lewis OR
The guide has maps, written directions and walking videos for each move. TfL says the new stops are about 200 metres from the traffic-free area.
TfL’s route data now shows the 113 and the 189 running to and from Marble Arch. The 13 carries on past Marble Arch to Victoria. All three use the Orchard Street stops beside Selfridges, at the western end of the closure.
We asked TfL’s journey planner about the same trips by bus, leaving about 11am on Saturday 14 November. It gave these times:
- 13: 65 minutes from North Finchley to Orchard Street
- 113: 71 minutes on board from Edgware to Orchard Street
- 139: 37 minutes from Golders Green to Wigmore Street
The 13 also goes through Henlys Corner. TfL says journeys through Brent Cross, Staples Corner and Henlys Corner will take longer during the A41 flyover works, which it expects to last until 2028.
How long it takes by Tube and train
The planner’s Tube and rail times for the same Saturday morning are much shorter than the bus.
| From | Time to Oxford Circus | Route |
|---|---|---|
| East Finchley | 21 to 22 minutes | Northern line to Euston, then Victoria line |
| Finchley Central | 24 to 25 minutes | Northern line to Euston, then Victoria line |
| Golders Green | 25 to 26 minutes | Northern line to Euston, then Victoria line |
| Mill Hill East | 29 minutes | Northern line, changing at Finchley Central and Euston |
| Hendon Central | 30 to 31 minutes | Northern line to Euston, then Victoria line |
| Hendon (Thameslink) | 31 minutes | Thameslink to West Hampstead, walk, Jubilee then Bakerloo line |
| Mill Hill Broadway | 31 to 35 minutes | Thameslink to West Hampstead, walk, Jubilee then Bakerloo line |
| Totteridge & Whetstone | 31 to 32 minutes | Northern line to Euston, then Victoria line |
| Colindale | 33 to 34 minutes | Northern line to Euston, then Victoria line |
| New Barnet | 34 minutes | Great Northern to Highbury & Islington, then Victoria line |
| High Barnet | 35 to 36 minutes | Northern line to Euston, then Victoria line |
| Edgware | 38 to 39 minutes | Northern line to Euston, then Victoria line |
Oxford Circus is not the only stop for the shops. TfL also names Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Marble Arch as nearby stations.
No change at all from the High Barnet branch. A Northern line train on the Charing Cross branch goes straight to Tottenham Court Road, east of the closed section. The planner gave 18 minutes from East Finchley, 21 from Finchley Central, 28 from Totteridge & Whetstone and 32 from High Barnet.
Quicker to Bond Street from west Barnet. Thameslink to West Hampstead and the Jubilee line reaches Bond Street in 25 minutes from Hendon and 26 to 29 minutes from Mill Hill Broadway. The trip includes an eight-minute walk between the two West Hampstead stations.
Fares and normal timetables are on our Barnet trains to London page.
Coming home late
Three of the four routes are marked as 24-hour on TfL’s night bus map: the 13, 139 and 189. Two night routes also serve the borough:
- N113: to Hendon Central, Mill Hill Circus and Edgware, from stops K and BA. TfL says it now finishes at Marble Arch.
- N32: to Cricklewood Broadway and Edgware Bus Station, from stops W and E.
TfL warns that “some bus spider maps are incorrect” while it updates them. It says the Oxford Street maps linked above are accurate. On Friday and Saturday nights, our Night Tube piece has the Northern line details for Barnet.
What the closure covers
Private vehicles, buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, cycles, scooters and pedicabs are all out. The Mayor’s office lists two exceptions:
- emergency services, at all times
- deliveries, from midnight to 7am
TfL adds that mobility scooters are still allowed. E-bikes and e-scooters are banned, and it says there are taxi ranks within 100 metres of the traffic-free area.
Drivers from Barnet can still cross the street on these roads, TfL says:
- Orchard Street and North Audley Street
- Duke Street
- Stratford Place and Davies Street
- Vere Street and New Bond Street
- Holles Street and Harewood Place
- Regent Street
- Great Portland Street
What changes next
The current layout is temporary. The Mayor’s office says it is there to collect data and comments on how people use the space, before the permanent design is settled. Building work will be kept to a minimum in the weeks before Christmas.
By the end of spring 2027, the 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
TfL will maintain the street. Westminster City Council will keep cleaning it.
What people are saying
“I’m hugely excited to see my bold vision for Oxford Street coming to life from today,” said the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. “It is a truly momentous occasion for the capital.”
“There has been talk of pedestrianising Oxford Street for decades,” he 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.”
Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, 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, said: “Our ambition is to create an Oxford Street that works for everyone, whether they live, work, visit or run a business here.”
Angela Rayner, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, said the change would create “a greener, more vibrant place that will attract visitors and investment”.
The shops are pleased. “Having served Oxford Street for over 160 years, we’ve seen plenty of change, and the move to make the area more pedestrian-friendly is one of the most exciting,” said Naomi Simcock, chief operating officer of John Lewis.
Meave Wall, chief retail and digital officer of Selfridges, said: “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.”
Campaigners for disabled people and pedestrians also welcomed it. Eleanor Briggs, of Guide Dogs, said it would help make the street “more inclusive for the approximately 214,000 Londoners living with sight loss”.
Catherine Woodhead, chief executive of Living Streets, said: “For too long, vehicles have been prioritised over people, making the street unsafe and polluted. By making it easier for people to walk, we can create a healthier environment while attracting business and economic growth.”
Dee Corsi, chief executive of New West End Company, was more cautious about the coming weeks. “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 its consultation drew 6,642 submissions. Almost seven in 10 supported the plans, and 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.
What it means for you
- Going by Tube: TfL lists no Tube changes. High Barnet branch trains on the Charing Cross branch still run direct to Tottenham Court Road.
- Going by bus: check your stop before you leave. The TfL Go app and journey planner have the current routes, and TfL’s advice is to allow extra time.
- Need step-free access: TfL names Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road as the step-free stations nearby.
- Going by bike or car: you cannot go through the closed section. Taxi and private hire pick-up points may also change, TfL says.
- Have a view on the layout: email info@oxfordstreet.org.uk. The Mayor’s office says there will be events next year where you can comment in person.
For the rest of the season, see our Barnet Christmas travel page and our Christmas shopping guide to Barnet’s independent shops.
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