Oxford Street

Oxford Street was originally the final journey of prisoners from Newgate Prison to be executed at the Tyburn gallows, the site on which Marble Arch now stands. Oxford Street was the main route in and out of London and for a long time was known as Tyburn road, after the river Tyburn which lies to the south.

Marble Arch is seen as the gateway to the west end of Oxford Street, though it was originally built as the entrance to Buckingham Palace. Marble Arch was moved from Buckingham Palace and became the entrance to Hyde Park, though it was separated from the park as more roads were built around the area to relieve congestion.

Oxford Street began its life as a premier shopping site at the end of the nineteenth century when the likes of John Lewis and Selfridges department stores first opened. Marks and Spencer stands on the site of the former Pantheon where victorian Londoners watched and gambled on tiger baiting.

Oxford Street is now a bustling mecca for shoppers and has attracted some huge names in retail such as Nike Town and Mango. Thankfully Oxford Street has four Stations, Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road serving it such that congestion is minimised as much as is possible.

Oxford Street has a wealth of shops, including three separate malls and many restaurants. Be warned though, shopping there on a Saturday is not for the faint-hearted as tens of thousands swarm to the shops and battle their way to the bargains!