New Oxford Street in Central London has been closed in both directions this afternoon following a serious road traffic collision, with a large Met Police presence at the scene and multiple bus routes disrupted.
The closure spans from the junction with Tottenham Court Road to Bloomsbury Street and Shaftesbury Avenue, with accident investigation work currently underway. A police cordon is in place, and officers are diverting members of the public away from the scene.
What We Know So Far
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Met Police vehicles and officers are blocking New Oxford Street at key junctions.
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The road is closed between Earnshaw Street and Bloomsbury Street, according to traffic monitoring service Inrix.
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The London Ambulance Service is believed to be in attendance, but no official statement has yet been released regarding injuries or casualties.
The cause and severity of the incident remain unconfirmed at this time.
Impact on Public Transport
A significant number of London bus routes are being diverted or cut short as a result of the incident. According to Transport for London (TfL), affected routes include:
8, 14, 19, 24, 29, 38, 55, 73, 98, 176, 188, and 390.
TfL has issued the following diversion updates:
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Route 14: Cut short to Tottenham Court Road
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Routes 8 & 55: Terminating at St Giles High Street
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Route 98: Now ending at Oxford Circus
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Route 176: Diverted to Trafalgar Square
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Route 188: Terminating at Aldwych
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Routes 19 & 38 (westbound): Skipping Bloomsbury Square ‘B’ and Museum Street ‘C’
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Routes 19 & 38 (eastbound): Diverted via Charing Cross Road, Strand, Aldwych, and Kingsway
Police and Ambulance Response
Metropolitan Police have not yet issued an official statement, but officers on the ground are redirecting foot traffic and managing vehicle congestion. London Ambulance Service has been contacted for details regarding potential injuries or casualties, though their response is still awaited.
What Commuters Should Do
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Avoid the area around Tottenham Court Road and New Oxford Street this afternoon if possible.
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Check live TfL updates for the latest bus diversions and alternative routes.
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Allow extra travel time due to congestion in surrounding streets, including Charing Cross Road, High Holborn, and Shaftesbury Avenue.
This is a developing story, and further updates will follow as emergency services release more information.
