Traffic-free shopping on Oxford Street on November 27

London Mayor Boris Johnson revealed the date at a launch event yesterday, and was joined by leading retailers Andy Street, John Lewis managing director, Arcadia Group boss Sir Philip Green, Jaeger & Aquascutum owner Harold Tillman,

Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas, chairman of New West End Company, which organises the event,  also joined the retailers.

The Shop West End VIP Day “shopping extravaganza” is expected to generate £250m worth of sales in one weekend alone. From 10am-6pm no traffic will be allowed on the street. This year’s event will offer two extra hours of traffic-free shopping, compared with last year, then £200m was spent by shoppers splashing out on items in the run up to Christams.

New West End Company chief executive Richard Dickinson said: “Shop West End VIP Day has become a world-renowned event on the seasonal shopping calendar and we are expecting even more shoppers this year.  We know that shoppers will be planning ahead to find great products, prices and promotions and retailers are poised to lend a helping hand to kick start the Christmas shopping season.”

Boris Johnson said: “London’s West End is the world’s top shopping destination and the VIP day has fast become a key date in the shopping calendar, attracting visitors from far and wide each year. For one traffic-free day only, pedestrians will rule the iconic Oxford Street and Regent Street. I am confident that the tills will be ringing continuously as shoppers explore the flagship department stores and take a break in one of the great restaurants which make shopping in the West End such a unique experience.”