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?

High-end retailers are choosing Regent’s Street instead.

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 New West End Company, which represents Oxford Street’s businesses, partly due to fewer people returning to work in nearby offices.

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