Oxford Street - Definition and Overview

Oxford Street is a major London shopping street, running from Marble Arch at the north east corner of Hyde Park, through Oxford Circus to St Giles' Circus, its intersection with Charing Cross Road and Tottenham Court Road, where it becomes New Oxford Street until it runs into High Holborn.

Until 1782 it was known as Tyburn Street, after the River Tyburn that now flows underneath it (Tyburn, a place of execution, stood where Marble Arch now stands).

Oxford Street is a square on the British Monopoly board. It is the same colour as Regent Street and Bond Street (that being green).

Oxford street and the streets around it are the center of London shopping.

To the west Oxford Street becomes Bayswater Road (at Marble Arch).

Major retail shops

• Selfridges, luxury department store that has been on this site for more than a century
• HMV, although they moved from their original location in 2000 after 80 years. HMV has two other stores on the street including its flagship, which is Europe's largest music store.
• Borders, a large bookshop
• Debenhams, John Lewis, Jessops, W H Smith and Marks and Spencer are major retailers with flagship stores on Oxford Street.
• Virgin Megastore, at the intersection of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, a very large entertainment store.
• Centred around Oxford Circus are major fashion stores including Topshop London, a largish fashion store.

Nearest tube stations along Oxford Street starting at Marble Arch:

• Marble Arch
• Bond Street
• Oxford Circus
• Tottenham Court Road

External links

Oxford street's official website (http://www.oxfordstreet.co.uk)