cars

DODGING the crowds on Oxford Street could become a thing of the past ahead of new plans to ban all traffic.

The busy London street is taking its first steps to becoming pedestrianised and will partially close to cars in October.

It’s not the first time that Oxford Street has been closed to vehicles – but this will be a move for a permanent change.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan‘s vision is for it to be transformed into a ‘pedestrian plaza’ at the cost of £150million.

At first, not all of Oxford Street will be closed to cars – the plan is for 1km to be traffic free by the second half of October.

Buses won’t be allowed to drive down the pedestrianised area either and will be diverted to other roads.

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The section closed to traffic will be Orchard Street near Selfridges and Great Portland Street.

This area includes the Oxford Circus junction where Oxford Street and Regent Street cross.

Not only will the road be shut, but there will be new seating and planters installed too.

This is a test followed by a review of the scheme which will take place in spring 2027 – work will then start on making it permanent later on in the year.

The end aim is for Oxford Street to undergo an enormous £150million to be completely pedestrianised between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch.

There will be more space for its 500,000 daily visitors to walk around by replacing the roads with paths.

There are concerns though – some locals are worried that the pedestrianisation will push the traffic out into the surrounding areas such as Soho and Mayfair.

Council leader Paul Swaddle has raised further issues including safety.

He said: “At the moment, if you go to Oxford Street at midnight, there are buses, there are people getting night buses – you would feel relatively safe.

“If you were crossing that on your own – if one of my kids was crossing it on their own in the evening, I’d be concerned.”

Other concerns are about emergency services, however unlike private vehicles, they will have access to the street at any time in the new plan.

A new study has found that the cost of a week’s car hire can vary by hundreds of pounds

Drivers hiring a car abroad could be paying far more than they need to if they don’t do their due diligence before booking. A new study has found that the cost of a week’s car hire can vary by hundreds of pounds depending on which rental company customers choose.

The biggest difference was uncovered in Dubrovnik, where a medium compact car – such as a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus – cost as little as £261 with one provider but £871 with another. That is a £610 difference, meaning the most expensive deal was 234% more than the cheapest.

The research, by iCarhireinsurance.com, compared prices from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt for the period from July 25 to August 1, 2026. It looked at seven popular holiday destinations, including Dubrovnik in Croatia, Faro in Portugal, Milan, Nice, Crete, Barcelona and Dalaman in Turkey.

How much could you save by shopping around?

Destination – Cheapest – Most expensive – Difference

Dubrovnik – £261 – £871 – £610

Faro – £390 – £796 – £406

Milan – £373 – £547 – £174

Dalaman – £337 – £487 – £150

Nice – £301 – £401 – £100

Crete – £344 – £423 – £79

Barcelona – £257 – £315 – £58

Faro had the second biggest gap, with prices ranging from £390 to £796 – a difference of £406. In Milan, the difference was £174, with prices ranging from £373 to £547, while in Dalaman there was a £150 gap between £337 and £487.

Even in Nice, where the difference was smaller, holidaymakers could save £100 by choosing the cheapest deal rather than the most expensive. Across all seven destinations, the average cheapest price was £323, compared with an average highest price of £549 – a difference of £226, or around 70%.

But the rental price is not the only cost holidaymakers need to watch. The study found that common extras could add another £391 to the bill if customers bought them all.

An additional driver cost £68 on average for a week, while a sat nav added an average of £76. A week’s super damage waiver excess protection cost an average of £196, while separate tyre and windscreen excess cover added another £51.

The excess is the amount a driver could be liable to pay if a hire car is damaged or stolen. In the study, the average excess was more than £1,600.

Holidaymakers are therefore being urged to look beyond the initial headline price when comparing car hire deals and check exactly what is included. Ben Wooltorton, of iCarhireinsurance.com, said: “It can be easy to assume that car hire prices will be broadly similar, but our research shows just how much they can vary between rental companies.

“Taking a few minutes to compare prices before booking could save a significant amount. It’s also important to look beyond the headline rental price. Extras can quickly add to the cost, and one easy saving is buying a standalone excess reimbursement policy in advance from a specialist provider.”

A standalone excess reimbursement policy from iCarhireinsurance.com costs from £33.15 for an eight-day European trip, according to the company, while an annual European policy starts from £41.99 for eligible customers.

The research was based on quotes for a medium compact car, such as a VW Golf or Ford Focus, from six major rental companies across the seven destinations.

It has been dubbed one of the most unique villages in the UK thanks to its steep cobbled streets, stunning beach and car-free policy that sees residents use sledges for transport

The UK boasts some stunning locations, but one village in North Devon could well be among the most distinctive. Nestled into a dramatic sea cliff, the village is so steep that cars are banned from its cobbled streets, forcing locals to devise a rather unconventional method of getting about. Instead of vehicles navigating tight lanes, residents rely on sledges to haul items up and down the remarkably steep hillside.

TikTok user David Ashman paid a visit to the village and was left astounded by what he discovered. The village comprises a remarkable maze of cobbled streets, with a pub and hotel positioned at both the top and bottom of the slope. This means residents and visitors face plenty of climbing, with what David described as an “obscene amount” of cobbles separating the two ends.

Yet the challenging walk is arguably part of what lends the village its unique character.

At the base, the streets emerge towards a picturesque harbour, while a brief stroll away sits a waterfall framed by striking coastal scenery.

For those who enjoy discovering quirky corners of the UK, it certainly appears to be a destination worth adding to the bucket list.

David said he could imagine it being “pretty cool” to live there, though conceded the relentless walking would undoubtedly keep residents in good shape.

The village is called Clovelly and is located in North Devon.

There is, however, one drawback for visitors hoping to explore during the summer months.

David highlighted that visitors are required to pay an entrance fee to access the village during the summer months, meaning you’ll need to purchase a ticket before exploring its distinctive streets and seaside panoramas.

Recording his experience on TikTok, David described the village as among the most remarkable locations he’d encountered in the UK, while urging his followers to seek out more unconventional destinations across the country.

Responding to his video, one user said: “My dad grew up here and they used to live around the inn.

“People back then would leave their doors open in summer and one time some American tourists just walked right in to the house because they didn’t think people actually live here.

“[They] just thought it was some quaint preserved village for tourists..”

Another user added: “Ok just to confirm the queries. Car park at the bottom for hotel guests only. Car park further up for residents but no access to the cobbly bits.

“Car park right at the top for visitors and the only access from there is via visitor centre, shop etc.

“Yes, you have to pay because it is a family owned private estate. The same as paying to go into Longleat, etc.

“All the residents and businesses are tenants of the estate, hence no second home usage. If anyone fancies it, the lease on the pub at the top was up for renewal last year. Not sure of its current status.”.

Why do you have to pay to enter Clovelly?

According to Clovelly’s official website, there has always been a charge to visit the village.

A statement reads: “Like most historical landmarks (e.g. National Trust sites), we heavily rely on entrance fees for the essential maintenance and upkeep that comes with an ancient village perched on a 400ft cliff, with no vehicular access.

“Your entry fee also goes towards our tree planting and conservation initiatives that you can see around the village.”

What is included in your entrance fee?

• Entry to the village
• Parking
• Entry to Clovelly Court Gardens
• Entry to the Fisherman’s Cottage and Kingsley Museum
• Audio-visual experience
• General Facilities
• Great access to the walks and picnic spots surrounding the area
• Contribution towards the care of the donkeys

1st March 2026 to 28th February 2027

• Adult – £10.90
• Child (Aged 7 – 16) – £6.25
• Young Child (Under 7 – Free
• Family (2 adults & 2 children) – £27.00
• Adult (Annual pass) – £35.00
• Family (Annual pass) – £85.00