major road west end london europe busiest shopping street half million daily visitors approximately shops designated major road london signed traffic regularly restricted buses road originally roman road essex hampshire london known road middle ages notorious street prisoners prison transported public hanging known 18th century began change character residential street commercial retail purposes late 19th century attracting street traders confidence prostitution department stores britain opened early 20th century including unlike nearby shopping streets retained element street trading alongside prestigious retail stores street suffered heavy bombing world war longstanding stores including completely destroyed rebuilt scratch despite competition shopping centres shopping centre remains high demand retail location chains hosting flagship stores street number listed buildings annual switching christmas lights celebrity popular event combination popular retail area main london buses caused significant problems traffic congestion safety pollution traffic management schemes proposed transport london including ban private vehicles daytime hours saturdays improved pedestrian crossings location runs approximately miles marble arch meets park lane westward continuation road runs east past street station junction meets street ends junction road station eastward continuation road entirely street classified trunk road running london oxford like roads longer routes road number numerous bus routes run oxford street including history early history follows route roman road linked near hampshire london major routes city 12th century variously known road river ran south flows underneath road portion london oxford road bush oxford road plan london published 16th century road described partly followed oxford road showing rural farmland junction place despite major coaching route obstacles including bridge trust established improve road notorious route taken prisoners final journey prison near marble arch spectators prisoners road buy rope executions road known street began redeveloped 18th century surrounding fields purchased earl oxford local began build property north map london published shows urban buildings far intermittent rural property buildings began erected corner davies street development street occurred place public entertainment opened street popular including bear theatres public houses attractive middle upper classes nearby notorious removed end century built containing mix residential houses entertainment princess theatre opened site shopping area retail development changed character residential retail end 19th century furniture stores began appear street later expanded department stores street vendors began sell tourist street time plan london street views published late 1830s remarks street save far western end primarily retail started small shop opened march southern west davies street completely rebuilt allowing uniform ownership 1930s street entirely retail position remains today unlike nearby streets park lane remained element including street traders prostitutes aside number fixed places street provisions selling licensed goods oxford street advent closed circuit television reduced attraction area artists illegal street traders suffered considerable bombing second world war night early hours september bombers targeted west end particularly buildings damaged direct hit subsequent fires including department stores wrote diary september completely traffic pedestrians saw fragments broken glass caught fire september reduced shell remained bomb site remainder war finally demolished rebuilt partially reopened september main remained boarded basement converted studios broadcasts bombed april suffering damage including destruction basement converted communications base dedicated line run oxford street allowed british prime minister winston_churchill secure direct telephone calls president store damaged december rocket exploded nearby duke street causing christmas tree displays collapse street outside damage quickly repaired shop opened following day september shopping bag bomb detonated offices injuring people second bomb detonated street december injuring people human billboard began selling advertising belief link proteins sexual dangers regularly patrolled street headlined passion protein advertised pamphlet passion proteins care death housed eastern end road station designed property developer opened failed find suitable tenant sat years eventually occupied centre protest lack suitable accommodation building began converted residential flats development expected finish notable buildings home number major department stores flagship retail outlets containing shops frequently visited shopping street attracting half million daily visitors popular destinations london tourists annual estimated turnover billion forms shopping district west end london streets including garden bond street group oversees stores trade street objective place safe desirable critical quality shops started clamp abusive traders refused british retail chains regard oxford street branch flagship store originally opened merged opened nearby street company owned burton london flagship store house began moved current premises department store serving floor second largest department store flagship chain stores junction second branch road stands site music retailer opened sir beatles recording london cut demo disc store larger store opened sir largest music shop world square feet music video retail premises supported live store financial difficulties store closed retail moving basement running live music venue october thought safe bombing threats underground location played host jazz musicians including renamed subsequently took lease 1950s played venue time key venue jazz revival hosting renamed club bought stake venue adding alcohol licence time venue hosted british rhythm blues bands included animals important venue punk rock hosted british punk festival september featuring sex pistols damned grade listed public house oxford street near built mid-19th century remaining pub street campus street near college retailer lush opened store oxford street measuring square feet containing floors company largest retail premises transport links served major bus routes tube stations london underground marble arch eastwards stations follows marble arch central line bond street central line jubilee line central line line victoria line central line northern line stations serve average million passengers year busiest major project involving east west rail route london stations serving bond street station double ended exits existing tube station distance away east bond street square near west dean street traffic ranked important retail location britain busiest shopping street europe street large number tourists arrive tube stations roadway result buses routed street heavy competition foot bus traffic main east west bus corridor people bus day passengers popular particularly stretch accidents involving traffic pedestrians report suggested buses generally travel faster miles hour compared typical pedestrian speed miles hour proposals reduce congestion horse drawn vehicles banned traffic signals installed year alleviate congestion help traffic flow buses designated bus lane peak daytime hours private vehicles banned open buses wheeled vehicles days sundays ban introduced june considered success estimated increase retail sales new diagonal crossing opened allowing pedestrians cross corner opposite corner having cross road twice use pedestrian doubles pedestrian capacity junction completely traffic free saturday christmas known day important pedestrians scheme popular boosted sales announced scheme ahead year wanted new liberal democrat members proposed mayor london forward proposals service running end end mayor elected announced scheme ahead cost effective response request london undertook reduce bus flow subsequently called reduction bus movements oxford street transport london suggested suitable long term measure reducing demand bus services proposed ban traffic buses cycles peak shopping times existing traffic signals street including signals proposed transport london concerned long term traffic problems affect trade competing shopping centres shopping centre campaigning election labour favoured supported parties election pledged street completely including complete ban buses pollution report london scientist showed world highest concentration nitrogen dioxide pollution cubic metre air figure average included night time traffic lower peak times day levels recorded times permitted maximum diesel powered traffic street buses annual average concentrations times target council directive christmas lights christmas decorated lights tradition christmas lights began years neighbouring light displays economic recession lights returned organised laser display year current practice involves celebrity turning lights mid- late november remain lit january twelfth night festivities postponed assassination fit touring commitments lights switched earlier sunday november resulting unusual closure street traffic following celebrities turned lights listed buildings grade listed buildings addition tube station listed cultural references mentioned works tale cities street described having buildings fact heavily built late 18th century referred sketches bleak house street square game board forming green set bond street streets grouped primarily retail areas music manager entrepreneur produced ghosts musical documentary life history local area
Oxford Street