Oxford Street walking tour – past, present and future

Meet: Circadian sculpture, 5 Marble Arch, W1H 7EJ

In centuries past thousands of people thronged to Oxford Street to watch executions – now London's most famous destination draws millions of visitors who spend millions of pounds in Europe's busiest shopping thoroughfare. This walk uses the built environment to chart the history of retail and witness its future already in action.

Getting there

Tube

Oxford Circus

Train

Charing Cross

Additional travel info

Tour start: Marble Arch at a public sculpture called Circadian at the bottom of Edgware Road. Tour ends at Centrepoint Tottenham Court Road.

Access

What you can expect

Seating and drinking water is available midway through the tour. Oxford Street is a busy environment and we need to be aware of traffic

About

Background

From Roman road to the site of mass execution, from residential neighbourhood to centre for commercial and retail business and then to pioneering department stores - Oxford Street has never ceased to rebrand itself. Carved stone beavers and lost crystal palaces are part of the lively tale.

Golden Key Academy

This tour is led by a participant of Open City’s Golden Key Academy – a course training up insightful and engaging guides dedicated to explaining London and bringing its many stories to life. It is part of a wider collection of tours created by Golden Key Academy guides for the Open House Festival celebrating their conclusion of the eight month course.
Further information on the Golden Key Academy can be found here https://open-city.org.uk/golden-key-academy

Nearby

Drop in

One Great Cumberland Place

mixed use

Architect-led tours of this reinvention of an Art Deco building not normally open to the public. 10 years in the making, the building forms the backdrop to the Marble Arch, and visitors will see how AHMM’s design ensures the restoration, protection and reinterpretation of the existing historic architectural features.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris/ F J Wills, 1928

Drop in / Guided tour

The Annunciation Marble Arch

religious

The Annunciation is a dramatic Gothic Revival building tucked behind the Marble Arch end of Oxford Street. The Grade II* church was built by Sir Walter Tapper in 1912-1914.

Walter Tapper, 1912

Drop in

Hinde Street Methodist Church

religious

Hinde Street Methodist Church was constructed in 1887 with a grand pillared portico, spire and classical interior which remains largely unaltered. The entrance foyer was remodelled in 2014 to give the church a more welcoming appearance.

James Weir, 1887

Drop in

Disco Flat

housing

An exquisite three-bedroom apartment is situated on the second floor of a handsome Edwardian block to the east of Marylebone. Redesigned by architect William Smalley, named Disco Flat by him as well related to the fabulous illuminated corridor. I purchased this property a year ago, had changed the interior of it step by step. I would call it a masterclass in the transformative power of material.

William Smalley, 2019

Drop in / Workshop

Contemporary Applied Arts

gallery

Contemporary Applied Arts, is London’s original multi-disciplinary applied arts gallery. We are a registered charity and a membership organisation with more than two hundred leading British-based artists working in ceramics, furniture, glass, jewellery, metal, paper, textiles and wood. We view this interdisciplinary approach as a harmonious dialogue between materials & techniques.