With over 200 million visitors a year, more than 300 shops and 5 million square feet of retail space, Oxford Street lays claim to being London's busiest street.
The opening of Debenhams and Selfridges in 1909 marked the beginning of the street's dominance as a shopping centre. Amongst the chaos and bustle, retail therapists will find an oasis of calm in the area's unrivalled collection of department stores.
Debenhams has a great line in designer garments at more affordable prices. Look for Jasper Conran and Lulu Guinness. Who doesn't love John Lewis? From fabric to feather boas, children's toys to cutlery this store stocks the lot. They have a 'lowest price' guarantee so you can buy with confidence and the simple lay out means you won't spend hours searching for it either! Less intimidating than Harvey Nicks and more down to earth than Harrods, Selfridges is the department store of Londoners. There's an incredible selection of British and International designers available and plenty of great restaurants and cafes to chill out in if you get a bit tired.
Oxford Street also offers some of the best choice in terms of High Street fashion, if you can fight your way through the crowds. Among the best shops are inexpenswive but stylish Spanish favourites Zara and Mango, up to the minute trends at Topshop's flagship store and its male counterpart Topman, Benetton and French Connection or cheap and chic Swedish store Hennes (H&M). Hot on their heels is Nike Town - several floors dedicated to sports wear in every conceivable guise and colour.
Oxford Street is one and a half miles end to end.
Most shops open from 10am to 6 or 7pm. Many also open on Sundays from 11/12 to 6pm with late nights on Thursday.
The Apple Store
235 Regent Street, W1B 2ET
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Mandeville Hotel
8-12 Mandeville Place, W1U 2BE
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The Wallace
Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN
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John Lewis
278-306 Oxford Street, W1A 1EX
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Pride London
Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS
3rd July 2010
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Carluccio's are springing up all over the place, from Bluewater to Brent Cross, spreading the gospel of good fresh superior Italian food. Each restaurant is ... More
An old-fashioned, sugary-sweet, treat temptation Mrs Kibble's Olde Sweet Shoppe offers pure, unadulterated, candy-filled fun. Forget Flying Saucers, Rhubarb and Custard is the current, No ... More
Discreet, muted shades, wood-panelled walls, over 140 carefully designed rooms with free Wi-Fi and a number of airy public spaces in which to relax typify ... More
At the Oxford Street end of pretty Marylebone village, this hotel earns its ‘boutique’ label due to its uniquely designed funky interiors. The swanky deVigne ... More
An exhibition of work shortlisted for the annual £30,000 Deutsche Borse Photography Prize including images by Anna Fox, Zoe Leonard, Sophie Ristelhueber and Donovan Wylie. ...More
The Royal Academy heralds the new year with a blockbuster exhibition on the works of Vincent van Gogh - the first major solo exhibition dedicated ...More
Coming across the pretty, pedestrianised streets off St Christopher's Place is like discovering an oasis of Continental cafe culture in the most unlikely place - ... More
This members-only club, restaurant and nightclub has a loophole – you can book a table for dinner. The intimate and nostalgic bistro and garden on ... More
The Caldesi family first set up a cooking school in Giancarlo's native Tuscany. His 'Return to Tuscany' was captured by BBC cameras and dished up ... More
Cordwainers, specialists in leather, accessories and footwear, have now merged with the London College of Fashion. Among the very best specialist textile and fashion courses ...More
This beautiful garden just off Oxford Street and close to Selfridges occupies an unlikely position - above an electricity sub-station. Brown Hart Gardens were re-opened ... More
More than just a spa, the Elemis is a temple of touch, taste and smell. Using therapies from Bali, Tibet, Polynesia, Japan, Morocco and Thailand ... More
Timothy d'Offay is a tea connoisseur. The leaves he brews and sells at Postcard Teas are the result of ten years spent tasting and investigating ... More
Between the Victorian elegance of Berkley Square and the Imperial magnificence of Piccadilly, you might be surprised to find a club that oozes with Eastern ... More
A favourite with young royals - Princes Harry and William, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have been spotted here... all at the same time. And where ... More
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With over 200 million visitors a year, more than 300 shops and 5 million square feet of retail space, Oxford Street lays claim to being London's busiest street.
