Oxford Street with over 300 shops is the world's busiest shopping street, as well as the most crowded it may even be the longest at two and a half kilometres. It runs from Marble Arch, through Oxford Circus to St Giles' Street.
Oxford Circus intersects with other famous roads in London, Oxford Street, Charing Cross Road, Tottenham Court Road, Regent Street, New Bond Street and Park Lane.
Oxford Street has some of the most famous shops in the world such as Selfridges, John Lewis, Marks and Spencers, Debenhams, House of Frazer, HMV and many, many more. Regent Street has the wonderful Liberty and the fantastic childrens shop Hamleys established in 1760. For boutiques the place to go is New Bond Street. Oxford Street may not be the most expensive shopping area in London but it has the greatest variety of shops to suit all pockets from, Primark the flagship store of the low-price fashion retailer, to Selfridges.
Oxford Street with its neighbouring streets has also several of the more exclusive hotels for example the
Radisson Edwardian Berkshire and
The Mandeville Hotel.
Within five minutes walk from Oxford Circus is the London Palladium, a well know theatre which was built in 1910 and presented variety. It was originally named The Palladium before changing to the now familiar name The London Palladium in 1934.
The London Palladium was famous for the variety shows in the 50s and 80s. The theatre has also been used for concerts - perhaps the most famous one being the 1960's Judy Garland/Liza Minnelli concert which was televised.
From the 1980's in particular the London Palladium become associated with large scale musicals - The King and I with Yul Brynner and Virginia McKenna, Barnum with Michael Crawford, Singin' in the Rain with Tommy Steele, the short lived Ziegfeld with Topol, La Cage Aux Follies with George Hearn and Denis Quilley, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang starring Michael Ball. The Sound of Music is on at the moment.
Each Christmas the street is decorated with festive lights. In mid-to-late November a celebrity turns on the lights and they remain on until January 6. In 2007 the now well known singer Leona Lewis who won the 2006 X Factor a talent show in the Britain, turned on the lights.
Locations near Oxford Street which may offer to the discerning visitor more than just shopping are
Green Park,
Trafalgar Square and
Regent's Park.
