Oxford Circus

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

Oxford Circus
Oxford Circus in November 2009 with new diagonal crossing
Location
Westminster, London, UK
Coordinates:	51.5153°N 0.142°W / 51.5153; -0.142
Roads at junction:	Regent Street and Oxford Street
Construction
Type:	Intersection
Map

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

History

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

Diagonal crossing

In 2009, Westminster City Council started a £4m scheme for the area, allowing shoppers to cross the intersection diagonally as well as the usual 'straight ahead', turning it into a "pedestrian scramble", much like Tokyo's Shibuya crossing.

The crossing opened on November 2nd of the same year, by which time the cost had risen to £5 million. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said it was "a triumph for British engineering, Japanese innovation and good old common sense". Others noted that a similar crossing in Balham, South London had opened in 2005 at a cost of only £98,000.

Oxford Circus Media

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  Oxford Circus in 1904, still showing John Nash's original design

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  Oxford Circus in 1949 with temporary facade to the Peter Robinson building

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  One of the entrances to Oxford Circus tube station