![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/oxford-street-is-it-facing-demise-or-resurgence/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/117891057_mediaitem117891056.jpg&description=Image source, PA Media Image caption, The nature of shopping on Oxford Street is changing - but is it for the better? Known as the nation's high street, Oxford Street in central London has long attracted domestic shoppers and tourists. But with the pandemic, hybrid working and the phenomenon of US-themed sweet stores putting pressure on the street's popularity, is it facing a demise, or heading into a resurgence? For several decades it has been a destination for international shoppers and brings in an outsized chunk of London's retail, so it's important to the city that Oxford Street does well. But according to retail expert Jonathan De Mello, the pandemic impacted the street "substantially". "In 2019 [Oxford Street] was the pre-eminent street in Europe for retail," he said. By comparison, footfall there is now about 20% down according to the , which represents Oxford Street's businesses, partly due to fewer people returning to work in nearby offices. Image caption, Selfridges has been a mainstay on the street since 1909 Pre-pandemic, Thursday and Fridays were Oxford Street's busiest days, thanks to office workers, whereas now the weekend is busiest with highest footfall and spending on Sundays, despite shorter opening hours. Compared with last year, footfall on Oxford Street east is 30% up, 7% on the west side, mainly thanks to an increase in international visitors, says. The average time spent there is two hours, it says, with the value of the average transaction being about £125. The opening of Crossrail in 2022 added a million more people within 45 minutes of the West End and made Tottenham Court Road station busier than Oxford Circus, according to Transport for London. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, In its heyday, Topshop at 214 Oxford Street saw supermodel Kate Moss attract huge crowds If you took a stroll along Oxford Street as the country was easing out of covid lockdowns, you would have seen empty shops as many brands closed for good - Topshop be){kind=link}
Known as the nation’s high street, Oxford Street in central London has long attracted domestic shoppers and tourists.
But with the pandemic, hybrid working and the phenomenon of US-themed sweet stores putting pressure on the street’s popularity, is it facing a demise, or heading into a resurgence?
For several decades it has been a destination for international shoppers and brings in an outsized chunk of London’s retail, so it’s important to the city that Oxford Street does well.
But according to retail expert Jonathan De Mello, the pandemic impacted the street “substantially”.
“In 2019 [Oxford Street] was the pre-eminent street in Europe for retail,” he said.