Have your say on the trial pedestrianisation of Camden High Street
In May 2025, Camden Council launched a trial pedestrianisation of part of Camden High Street to create a safer, healthier and more enjoyable space for everyone.
We are now consulting on making the trial permanent, seeking views on a potential expansion to the traffic free area and want to hear from you.
Camden Town is an important shopping and transport hub for local residents as well and being an internationally recognised destination that draws people in from across London, the rest of the UK, and the world.
Since May last year, we have been trialling a traffic-free section of Camden High Street. Previously, before the trial, the number of motor vehicles on this section of road could lead to conflict with pedestrians overspilling from the pavement, worsen air quality, and negatively affect visitors’ experience on Camden High Street.
The trial has made the area safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and reduced air pollution on the street. The extra space has also allowed us to hold events and activities that showcase the best of Camden’s culture and communities.
During the trial, we have been collecting feedback through our Commonplace page along with our own monitoring to better understand how the scheme was working.
Councillor Slater continued:
“The comprehensive and detailed feedback that we have received from residents, businesses and visitors, along with our monitoring, has helped us to better understand what people feel about the trial and therefore we are consulting on making the trial permanent and also on a potential extension to the traffic free area.
“If the trial is made permanent, this could provide opportunities to replace the large barriers with a smart bollard system and make further improvements to the look and feel of the street, through more level surfaces, benches and planting. We would work with the local community to further refine these plans.
“Many residents have told us that they want to go even further on pedestrianising Camden High Street, so we will also be seeking views on extending the area across Camden Lock bridge and up to the junction with Castlehaven Road.
“This could include a range of improvements for people walking, wheeling and cycling, as well as more public space and outdoor seating for local businesses.
“Whether or not you responded to the earlier survey, we want to hear your views on our proposals for the future of Camden High Street. The consultation will run for six weeks from Monday 13 July to Sunday 23 August. and I urge all residents, businesses and visitors to respond.”
Once the consultation is complete and we have reviewed all the feedback received, this will then be considered alongside monitoring data collected during the trial as well as council policies.
Camden will then decide whether to make the pedestrianised area permanent or end the trial.
If we decide to make the trial permanent, we will also consider the feedback received on the expanded traffic-free zone to inform the designs for this area. We will invite further comments on these designs for the potential extended area through a further public consultation in 2027.
During the trial, we have also heard about wider issues and ideas that would benefit Camden Town as a whole. If you have got more to say, we are running a separate consultation on a vision for Camden Town that will help guide investment and collaboration on future projects in the area. Play your part – share your views in the Camden Town Vision consultation today.
Feedback through our Commonplace page received during the trial and data received from external independent monitoring that we commissioned have shown:
- People told us that removing traffic has made walking in and around the area more comfortable
- Data shows that the amount that people spend on businesses in the pedestrianised area has remained at consistent levels
- Visitor footfall – meaning the number of people measured walking on the high street – has remained mostly the same.
- Roads around Camden High Street did not see higher traffic levels overall
- Clear improvements in air quality on Camden High Street, with no significant effect on air quality on nearby roads
- Overall levels of crime fell over the course of the trial
The trial scheme forms part of our plans to establish a Low Emission Neighbourhood in Camden Town, backed by £5m of TfL Borough Safer Streets funding.
Over 70% of people in a public consultation held in 2024 said they supported pedestrianisation and the proposal to trial a motor traffic-free section of Camden High Street.
The trial has seen the removal of motor vehicles on Camden High Street, from the junction with Parkway and Kentish Town Road, in front of Camden Town Underground station, up to the junction of Jamestown Road and Hawley Crescent. Buses towards Chalk Farm now travel along Kentish Town Road and then Hawley Crescent before continuing northward.
The high-level ideas for an expanded zone
- An extended pedestrianised zone on Camden High Street between Hawley Crescent and the junction with Castlehaven Road, with two-way cycling to link Arlington Road with Castlehaven Road and Chalk Farm Road.
- A new pedestrianised zone on Jamestown Road and Hawley Crescent, between Arlington Road and Stucley Place. This would create a more flexible space which can be used for business spill-out, seating, tables and chairs licences, events, etc.
- New timed loading and servicing access arrangements on Hawley Crescent and Jamestown Road. This means that at quieter times of the day, businesses can still use this space for loading and servicing.
- Bus improvement changes on Kentish Town Road from Hawley Crescent, north to Castle Road, to support diverted buses and bus journey times.