Oxford Street is the one of the busiest and most dynamic shopping areas in Europe. It consists of a long street of about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) with approximately 300 individual shops and many restaurants. The Oxford Street branch of many companies and departments is often considered its flagship store. Its location in the center of London means the street is easy to access.
Explore the famous shops along the strip. Spend an afternoon browsing the items at Selfridges, the second-largest department store in the country. It was built in 1909.
Oxford Street is home to a mixture of expensive boutiques and bargain stores. Peruse the souvenir shops and small stalls selling London-themed memorabilia.
Dine at one of the many upscale restaurants on the strip. Enjoy a beer at one of the bars. There is Wi-Fi all along the street and you can find many banks, ATMs and currency exchange offices.
Marvel at the annual Christmas lights, which run from November until January. A celebrity, such as Jim Carrey and the Spice Girls in recent years, has traditionally turned them on at the start of the season.
Take a break from shopping at one of the many parks and plazas next to Oxford Street. Enjoy a picnic at Cavendish Square Gardens or Hanover Square.
Most of the shops open in the morning and close in the evening. They stay open a little later on Thursdays and close earlier on Sundays. There are many upmarket hotels in the area.
The street follows the path of a former Roman road. It was also once the notorious route that prisoners took on their final voyage from Newgate Prison to the gallows at Marble Arch. It has been known as a shopping district since the 19th century.
Oxford Street lies in the center of London. It is near to other shopping areas such as Bond Street and Piccadilly Circus. Take the London Underground to Oxford Circus, Bond Street, Marble Arch or Tottenham Court Rd, which are scattered along the long street. There are many buses that go to Oxford Street from all around London.
