Camden council has confirmed that an 18-month trial to pedestrianise the exceptionally busy Camden High Street will start on Saturday 3rd May 2025.

The council announced that it would test a ban on road vehicles on Camden High Street earlier this year, but the date it would come into effect was not known at the time. Once it starts, pedestrianising the road should increase the amount of space for pedestrians by between a third and 50 percent.

The trial, which is based on an early local consultation, will see motor vehicles removed from Camden High Street from the junction with Parkway and Kentish Town Road, in front of Camden Town Underground station, and up to the junction of Jamestown Road and Hawley Crescent.

During the trial, buses going towards Chalk Farm will be diverted along Kentish Town Road and then Hawley Crescent before continuing northward.

To mark the start of the pedestrianisation trial on Saturday 3rd May, there will be a street party on Bank Holiday Monday (5th May) — free tickets here.

On Camden High Street

• A motor traffic- free space from the junction with Parkway and Kentish Town Road, to the junction with Jamestown Road and Hawley Crescent. This will mean no access to motor vehicles to this section of Camden High Street, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, except for emergency services and some refuse collection vehicles. Northbound cycling will be retained.

On Kentish Town Road and Hawley Crescent

• Motor traffic, including buses, will travel via Kentish Town Road and Hawley Crescent, where they will then re-join Camden High Street. At the moment, buses travel from  Camden Town Station (northbound, Stop X) directly to Hartland Road / Camden Market (northbound, Stop CQ). As there are no stops on the bus routes that travel through the proposed traffic-free section of Camden High Street, during the trial buses will continue to travel from Stop X to Stop CQ without stopping at any new bus stops. Currently, traffic is only permitted northbound on Camden High Street between Mornington Crescent and Chalk Farm Road. Traffic is also only permitted northbound on Kentish Town Road between Parkway and Hawley Crescent.
• Southbound routes are not affected by the changes proposed in this consultation.

On Buck Street and Arlington Road

• New loading bays will be installed on roads near Camden High Street to create more space for delivery vehicles and support local businesses and residents.
• In addition to the loading bays, dedicated blue badge parking will be introduced on Buck Street to enable easier access to the Camden High Street for disabled people.

On Jamestown Road

• Jamestown Road will be made one way (west bound) between Camden High Street and Arlington Road. This change will enable more space to be provided for outdoor seating areas in the road protected by barriers