Great news for anyone who enjoys walking in London and doesn’t mind being jostled by a surging tide of humanity! Today - December 5th 2009 - Oxford Street and Regent Street go pedestrian only. These two major London shopping streets will be closed off to cars, buses and taxis as part of the 5th Shop West End VIP (it stands for Very Important Pedestrian) day.
If you would like to head over there and do your Christmas shopping then you have a choice of several Underground Stations to head For. At the east end of Oxford Street is Tottenham Court Road Station. At the junction of Regent Street and Oxford Street is Oxford Circus Underground Station. Be warned this one is BUSY! Emerging from its depths onto anyone of the four corners is like stepping onto a human cattle drive!
A little further along Oxford Street is Bond Street Underground Station, which is very convenient for Selfridges.
Finally at the far west end of Oxford Street you will find Marble Arch Underground Station. Having tired of shopping in London a Walk in Hyde Park makes for a very pleasant way to recover from the pushing, jostling and barging that you will inevitably encounter on Oxford Street.
So perhaps the best way to take advantage of VIP Day is to get of the tube at Tottenham Court Road, walk the full length of Oxford Street to Marble Arch and then spend a little recovery time either sitting in or strolling round Hyde Park.
In keeping with the Christmas theme Hyde Park is currently hosting the wonderful Winter Wonderland which really captures the magic of London at Christmas.
So why not, as the song goes, Go West, and really get the spirit of a London Christmas with a Walks along Oxford Street and regent Street.
Tags: Christmas Shopping in London, Hyde Park, London at Christmas, VIP Day, Walking in London, Winter Wonderland
