The Oxford Street Experience

Oxford Street, located in the City of Westminster, existed from
Roman times until the 17th century primarily as a westwards
route out of the City of London towards Oxford, hence its name.
Today, Oxford Street is one of the busiest shopping districts
and the world's largest shopping street, having more than 300
shops that attract annually around 200 million of consumers.

The development of Oxford Street as a prime shopping area began
at the start of 20th century, when the first furnishing
specialists, Waring & Gillow, opened its doors in 1906. In
recent years, Oxford Street represents the heart of London's
West End shopping, running for approximately a mile and a half
from Marble Arch at the north east corner of Hyde Park, through
Oxford Circus to St Giles' Circus, at the intersection with
Charing Cross Road and Tottenham Court Road. Opposite to the
Tottenham's tube station, the recently refurnished, "The
Tottenham" pub claims to be the only pub on the whole Oxford
Street. But, with numerous clothes shops, record shops, like
the famous Virgin Megastore and the HMV unit, which is the
largest music store at 50,000 square feet, multiple computer
games shops and department stores, including Selfridges, Oxford
Street is an ideal location for those on leisure travel and time
to browse through its colorful shopping windows. But although
the street has multiple stores for one to choose from, these
are not the most fashionable or the most expensive in the city
of London. For those interested in other principal shopping
areas, Knightsbridge is an excellent choice, especially because
it is there where the famous Harrods department store is
located.

Famous for its celebrity launches and promotions, Oxford Street
becomes the focal point during the Christmas period because of
the wonderful Christmas lighting tradition that began in 1959.
Decorated with thousands of festive lights Oxford Street
celebrates the Christmas spirit at a heavily publicized
"turning-on" ceremony in mid-to-late November, when a chosen
celebrity flicks a switch that illuminates the rays of light
that go on until January 6.

Plans have been announced in 2005 for what could be an
audacious new move to change Oxford Street from its current
traffic clogged state into a pedestrian paradise. Proposals to
end the gridlock feature closing the street entirely to all
traffic, even buses and build a new monorail stretching from
one end to the other to transport people along. Critics however
have pointed out that a monorail simply caters for shoppers too
lazy to walk down the entire length of the street and that this
is already well served by tube which would simply require
improved accessibility to existing stations and perhaps a new
station half way up the street.

Article Source: http://www.all-about-vacations.com/drx

About The Author: Kadence Buchanan writes articles for
universeofentertainment.com/ - In addition, Kadence also
writes articles for ecookingcentral.com/ and
universeofbeauty.net/

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