Londoners heading out over the next few days face a testing time on the roads, with Transport for London warning that an events-packed weekend will bring widespread closures and knock bus routes off course across the capital.
The disruption runs from Thursday, September 24 to Sunday, September 27. TfL says a number of services will run late, follow diversions or finish short of their usual destination while the events are on – and the warning lands as TfL continues to reshape how the capital’s buses are run.
Behind the disruption is a remarkable pile-up of fixtures and shows. Exhibitions are on at the ExCeL Centre and TfL’s Acton Town Depot, rugby takes over the Gtech Community Stadium and Twickenham, and gigs fill the Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Arena, Alexandra Palace, British Airways ARC, Drumsheds and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Add in events at The O2, an England football international at Wembley, England cricket at the Oval and Chelsea Women at Stamford Bridge, and footfall will surge in every corner of the city. Rail passengers are not spared either, with major Overground closures hitting the same weekend.
Road closures in central London
Roads in and around the royal parks shut on Friday and Saturday. Streets by St James’s Park close from the early hours of Friday – restrictions bite from 4am and 6am – and stay shut for the rest of the day. On Saturday, roads around Green Park close between 8am and 4pm.
Sunday brings the biggest central shutdown: a 10k run and other sporting events close routes from The Mall to Spur Road via Trafalgar Square, plus roads through Holborn, the City of London and Westminster, from 7am to 1.30pm.
Two marches on Saturday
September 26 also brings two marches expected to draw big crowds and slow traffic. One heads from Marble Arch to Wellington Arch along Park Lane; the other goes from Embankment to Trafalgar Square via Whitehall, Bridge Street, Victoria Embankment and Northumberland Avenue.
West London half-marathon
West London faces extensive closures on Sunday, September 27 for a half-marathon starting at 9am, with roads shut from 6am to 1pm. The capital’s running calendar has been a busy one – 12,000 runners turned out for the first-ever Saucony Run Shoreditch Half.
Brixton Hill and the A23
From Monday, September 28, temporary traffic signals go in on Brixton Hill and TfL is warning of delays. Lane restrictions on the A23 between Holmewood Road and Tierney Road stay in place until late 2026 while work continues on a new road layout for Streatham Hill.
Local travellers are urged to walk or cycle where they can, drivers should allow extra time and check before setting off, and anyone using the A23 for longer journeys without stopping locally is advised to take the A24 or A3 instead.
Brent Cross and the Westway
Further ahead, the A41 at Brent Cross and surrounding roads face lane restrictions and full overnight closures on selected dates in October and November for essential safety works. From 10pm on Wednesday, September 30 until 5am the next day, the A406 North Circular closes westbound beyond the Brent Cross interchange exit slip, with traffic diverted back round the interchange to rejoin the A406.
The A40 Westway also sees weekend directional closures between the Westway Roundabout and the Marylebone Flyover, with signed diversions in place – including an eastbound shutdown from 10pm on Friday, October 2 until 5am on Monday, October 5. The restrictions follow a bus fire on the route.
TfL advice
TfL’s advice is to plan ahead, allow more time than usual and check before travelling. The transport authority expects to run a good service overall, but warns buses may be delayed, diverted or stopped short of their final stop.
People heading through affected areas should walk, cycle or use public transport where possible, while drivers are pointed to the M25 for longer journeys around the capital. Buses will keep serving Brent Cross, but some trips will take longer amid congestion and reduced road space, and overnight closures will push services onto diversions. Full details of individual closures are on the TfL website.
