How pedestrianisation could unlock a new era for the West End’s retail, leisure and culture

This isn’t only about removing cars. It’s about thinking differently about the role public space plays in cities, as a stage for culture, a catalyst for retail and hospitality, and a canvas for community life. The real value comes from how these spaces are animated, curated and looked after over time. 

From space to place

Pedestrianisation creates the opportunity, but place is built through purpose and programming. Numerous examples are available across London.

Chelsea’s Pavilion Road is a good example of what’s possible when public realm and tenant mix are planned in tandem. While it’s always been a characterful mews of local amenities, it’s undergone a quiet transformation as the neighbourhood’s 'village heart', anchored by high quality independent retailers and a design that invites dwelling time. It didn’t happen overnight, long-term thinking and local insight were key.

In King’s Cross, the ambition was even larger, and the outcome equally telling. With year-round events, a cultural anchor in Central Saint Martins and a deliberately mixed-use masterplan, it’s become a benchmark for modern urban placemaking. It’s not just good design; it’s that it continues to evolve, thanks to active management and thoughtful curation.

Getting the mix right: why food, fashion and anchors matter

In retail-led districts, food and drink often trailblaze the way in driving footfall and setting tone and identity.

At St James’s Market, standout restaurants like Milos and Fallow bring people into quieter corners and support a longer, more layered visit. It’s a reminder that hospitality, when done well, adds value to surrounding uses, especially when combined with well-designed public realm that encourages people to dwell.

Main streets will continue to carry fashion and flagships, but surrounding areas offer space for experimentation for hospitality clusters, pop-up culture, and curated independents. Getting the right anchors in the right places creates flow across entire estates, not just within zones. We’ve seen this work in Nova and Broadgate, where clustering complementary uses designed to welcome both daytime office communities, as well as the nighttime economy, helps establish energy and identity.

Designing for diversity: avoiding single-use

Mono-functionality, whether retail, office or tourism, is to be avoided. Vibrancy comes from a genuine mix of uses, especially at ground level. That includes culture, green space, retail, civic, leisure, and even wellness elements that attract people for reasons beyond shopping. It also includes designing the public realm to invite spontaneity: seating, planting, permeability and room for informal events.

At Coal Drops Yard, design came first: the architecture drew people in before a single tenant opened, but the mix of fashion, food and culture gives the area its staying power. In Norton Folgate, a heritage-led approach has created something equally rich: a blend of old and new that feels rooted, not manufactured.

A shared opportunity for the West End

The West End’s pedestrianisation presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve movement and reimagine experience. But given the area’s scale, complexity and history, it’s not about copying other models, it’s about building a version that’s right for central London.

Crucially, this isn’t a solo project. Its future success relies on collaboration between landowners, local authorities, cultural partners and communities. The foundations are already being laid, but the real impact will come through active, long-term stewardship. That goes beyond maintenance; it means curation, activation, and the flexibility to respond to changing needs. Taking a holistic approach to streetscaping, where art and culture meets commercial needs, is becoming increasingly essential in shaping resilient, future-facing urban environments.

Further information

Contact Andrew Bond or Adam Bray