Until 1782 it was known as Tyburn Street, after the River Tyburn that now flows underneath it.
Major Retail Shops
- Selfridges, luxury department store that has been on this site for more than a century
- HMV, although they moved from their original location in 2000 after 80 years. HMV has two other stores on the street including its flagship, which is Europe's largest music store.
- Borders, a large bookshop
- Debenhams, John Lewis, W H Smith and Marks and Spencer are major retailers with flagship stores on Oxford Street.
- Centered around Oxford Circus are major fashion stores including Topshop London, a largish fashion store.