News

Navigating the city of London could soon be a very different and potentially more enjoyable prospect for tourists, with plans in place to give priority to pedestrians on a number of major roads.

Mayor Ken Livingstone announced the city's intentions to create a number of attractive tree-lined walkways similar to those seen in European cities such as Barcelona and Paris.

Among the areas that could be closed to traffic and paved over for pedestrians is the Victoria Embankment, which runs alongside the Thames, the Times reports.

Tourists visiting London's major attractions are likely to benefit from the initiative, with areas such as Portland Place, which runs between Regent's Park and Oxford Street, potentially being included in the pedestrianisation scheme.

The first changes are expected to appear in Parliament Square, with traffic flow set to be removed from the side of the square closest to Westminster Abbey from 2009.

Green party member Jenny Jones welcomed the plans, saying: 'Making it more enjoyable for people to go by foot will help to cut congestion and relieve pressure on some of London's busiest bus and Tube routes.'

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