The Clooper Guide To Oxford Circus
If you’re a Londoner, you’re aware of Oxford Circus, but here’s a rundown for those of you who may be unfamiliar!
Oxford Circus is known the world over for its shopping opportunities. There are over three hundred shops, drawing in hundreds of millions of visitors each year. While this traffic might not make it the perfect place to live for some, it surely has its appeals — for long stays or short stays.
PROPERTIES AND PRICES
TO BUY: Oxford Circus is a junction connecting Oxford Street and Regent Street. These are very affluent areas. In the surrounding areas, property is luxurious and in high demand. Expect to pay upwards of £600,000 for even a single studio, with penthouse properties reaching the millions.
TO RENT: Again, the locales surrounding Oxford Circus are very wealthy areas. A studio apartment in Oxford Street for example will usually start off around £1,000 per month, with one-bedroom full apartments ranging from £1,500 to £1,800 per month.
TO STAY: Typically, luxury serviced apartments around Oxford Circus start at about £130 per night. You can browse through some of our available properties here.
GREEN SPACES
Of course, Oxford Circus is far from a leafy paradise. It is a very industrialized area that, fortunately, benefits from Hyde Park being a walkable distance. You are still, however, far more likely to see a celebrity roaming about than any wildlife, so you might be better off star-watching rather than bird-watching.
Regents Park is also incredibly close by. Regents Park is a sizeable park, sporting a wide variety of greenery and florals, as well as a cafe. It is fantastically cared for. Locals that live alongside Oxford Circus frequent it regularly; as well as the squirrels that call the park their home, of course.
Cavendish Square Gardens is another fabulous park that’s only a few minutes away from Oxford Circus. Locals call it a ‘little gem in the middle of a busy city.’ There are many benches, gorgeous structures and statues, and even parking available. If you’re a local, you’re only a five minutes walk away, but it’s always nice to know there’s parking available if family and friends are visiting!
THINGS TO DO
Oxford Circus is so expansive, it may be overwhelming. Of course, it’s easy enough to find the shops — just follow the crowds! But how else can you entertain yourself during your stay? Here are a few suggestions to help you get started.
- Ain’t Nothing But The Blues Bar: This blues club is well-known for its bi-weekly jam sessions and nightly American acts.
- Swingers Crazy Golf boasts a combination of street-eats, cocktails, DJ music and a popular indoor mini-golf course.
- The 100 Club is something of a legendary name. This, perhaps unassuming basement club has an impressive history and still puts on regular gigs, dance classes, and even VIP shows.
- The John Lewis Store is iconic, also, and sports a wide variety of goods available for purchase. Another very popular store with a similar vibe is Selfridges.
- The Palace Theatre is a name you may have heard. This West End Theatre is a little further than a stone’s throw from Oxford Circus, but it’s worth the journey. Currently, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is featured, but keep an eye on their website to see what performances cycle through and when.
AMENITIES
Oxford Circus, as we all know, is famed for its shops. There are, again, hundreds. This means that you’re certainly not going to go without your basic amenities in this area. There is a bounty of supermarkets, corner stores, coffee shops and restaurants.
As Oxford Circus is so commercialised, you’re unlikely to find independently-owned stores. This locale is also lacking in luscious outdoor scenery. If you’re looking for an area that’s more rural, check out our Brockenhurst Area Guide.
Oxford Circus and the surrounding Oxford Street also often have pet-friendly apartments available. You can browse through our selection of Oxford Circus properties to find your ideal pet-friendly property, or check here for some of our recommendations. As well as to learn the benefits of bringing your furry friend on your business trips with you. Or even just along for a holiday!
SCHOOLS
Oxford Circus is a fantastic place to live in terms of easily getting to and from education. There are a wide variety of colleges, schools and universities in the area.
Oxford Circus may not be ideal for very young families, however, as the hustle and bustle could be bothersome. There aren’t many outdoor activities available for young children either, save for parks of course.
There is a selection of mixed and single-gender schools available, however, primary and secondary. If you’re looking for a locale that really excels in education, look no further than Cambridge.
