Oxford Circus

Oxford Circus
Oxford Circus in November 2009 with new diagonal crossing
Location
Westminster, London, UK
Coordinates:	51°30′55″N 0°08′31″W / 51.5153°N 0.142°W / 51.5153; -0.142Coordinates: 51°30′55″N 0°08′31″W / 51.5153°N 0.142°W / 51.5153; -0.142
Roads at junction:	Regent Street and Oxford Street
Construction
Type:	Intersection

Oxford Circus is the area of London at the busy intersection of Regent Street and Oxford Street, in the West End. It is served by Oxford Circus tube station, which is directly beneath the junction itself.

History

A panoramic view of Oxford Circus, looking down Regent Street, as it was in March 2006

The Circus was constructed in the beginning of the 19th century, and was designed by John Nash.

Diagonal Crossing

In 2009, Westminster City Council commenced a £4m pedestrianisation scheme for the area, allowing shoppers to cross the intersection diagonally as well as the traditional 'straight ahead', turning it into a "pedestrian scramble", much like Tokyo's Shibuya crossing.^[1] Work started in Summer 2009, and the crossing opened on November 2nd of the same year, by which time the cost had risen to £5 million.^[2] Although London Mayor Boris Johnson declared it, "a triumph for British engineering, Japanese innovation and good old common sense," it was noted that a similar crossing in Balham, South London had previously opened in 2005 at a cost of only £98,000.^[3][4]

Major shops

• Nike Town
• H&M
• Topshop/Topman
• United Colors of Benetton
• Miss Selfridge

Local museums

• Handel House Museum

References

1. ^ "Oxford Circus may get Tokyo look". BBC. 10 July 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7498662.stm. 
2. ^ "Oxford Circus 'X-crossing' opens". BBC. 2 November 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8337341.stm. 
3. ^ Oxford Circus X-crossing opened, but is it first?
4. ^ Metro: "I'd cross the road for this", 3 November 2009, page 27

External links