A complete guide to the best things to do in Oxford Street, London, from hidden sculptures to unique shops – the coolest places to visit in Central London!
Hidden gems in Oxford Street are plenty; restaurants and cool shops might have the monopoly of the street, but there are still some very secret things to see there.
If you’re traveling to London for the first time, chances are you’ll want to go shopping in Central London more than once.
But you’ll also quickly understand that when you look up, there are lots of hidden gems you’ll find in every area of the city.
The Best Things to Do and Hidden Gems in Oxford Street, London
Oxford Street is one of my favorite – and one of the trendiest areas of London.
Tourists and locals blend there in a massive crowd that never seems to decrease, visiting study cafes in nearby Marylebone and Mayfair, and checking out the racks at Selfridges.
If you’re looking for cheap clothes in London, Oxford Street has a couple of cool fashion shops that are worth both time and budget.
But honestly – look up.
From free rooftops to hidden statues, these are the best hidden gems in Oxford Street to discover solo, with friends or family!
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Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street: Aqua Kyoto Rooftop
The first stop on our list is Aqua Kyoto on Argyll Street, just off Oxford Circus Tube Station.
For whoever needs to find halal Japanese food in London, Aqua Kyoto will cater to you but beyond that, one of the restaurant’s highlights is its incredible rooftop.
If you’d like to catch free views of London, Aqua Kyoto is not the place but for a romantic date, they offer affordable set lunches to enjoy elevated sushi and other exquisite Japanese dishes.
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Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street: Post Building Rooftop
Now in terms of free rooftops in London, one of the newcomers is the rooftop at the Post Building, on New Oxford Street.
You’re literally at the very end of Oxford Street, pass by Tottenham Court Road station, and that’s the area in which you’ll find the Post Building rooftop.
On a clear day, the view from the Post Building rooftop is incredible and makes you grateful to be able to live in London.
When it rains in London, though, we’ll avoid this one and move on to shops, shopping centers and other department stores like Selfridges or John Lewis.
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Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street: Queen of Time Clock Sculpture, Selfridges
The Queen of Time statue is nothing if not one of the best hidden gems in Oxford Street, and is located right above Selfridges’ entrance.
There are lots of mythological statues in London and other incredible allegorical statues which you can namely find around Bank Tube Station.
The Queen of Time statue, perched on the Ship of Commerce, is one of them.
It doesn’t look like it, but this statue was first unveiled in 1931 and is still very well-preserved.
It marked the 21st birthday of Selfridges, and is one of those secret sights which make Oxford Street that much more special.
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Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street: Allies Statue, New Bond Street
Located on New Bond Street, the Allies statue features Winston Churchill and President Franklin Roosevelt, and makes for another one of the best hidden gems in Oxford Street.
Crafted out of bronze, the pair of politicians are separated enough on their bench that tourists are often found taking pictures in between the two statues.
New Bond Street is one of the hearts of the posh Mayfair area, and you’ll find amazing art galleries and shops nearby.
The shops in Mayfair ooze luxury, as do all the art galleries and the beautiful arcades (notably the beautiful Burlington Arcade, perfect during Christmas time).
Walk around, check out Flocafe for amazing espresso and iced coffee, and why not end up in one of Mayfair’s most beautiful restaurants for a romantic dinner date?
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Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street: Ballerina Statue, Plaza Shopping Center
There are lots of beautiful bronze statues in London, including around Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and London Bridge.
One of them is the Ballerina statue, inspired by former ballerina Darcey Bussell.
Around Central London, you’ll also find other bronze sculptures like the Three Golden Divers (also called the Three Graces, or Daughters of Helios) as well as the three Horses of Helios, both located at Haymarket.
The Ballerina statue is located above the entrance of a former shopping center, The Plaza, and was unveiled to London in 1997 – still amazingly preserved today!
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Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street: Lush Coffee Shop
You’ll find lots of cute cafes around Oxford Street, but one of the street’s hidden gems is the coffee shop located on the first floor of the Lush shop.
Lush is one of my favorite makeup stores in London, especially the vintage lipsticks and the incredible metallic eyeliners – both amazing Lush products.
The Lush coffee shop is completely vegan and caters to cravings with snacks, cakes and delicious Plant Works Cafe beans.
It tends to be quite empty, so why not take some time from walking around with an oat latte?
Who knows – the Lush cafe might become one of your top spots to write in London!
Read: The Best Bookshop Cafes in London
Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street: Beavers Statues
If you look up at numbers 105 to 109 Oxford Street, you’ll find four beaver sculptures, and this has everything to do with what the building used to be used for.
A hat factory used to sit there, Henry Heath’s Hat Factory, which was booming business in the 19th Century.
It does not exist anymore, but Henry Heath achieved a significant amount of changes and evolutions in fashion, especially with top hats, an essential accessory to dressed-up outfits at the time.
Beaver fur was used for these hats, both formal and for everyday wear, explaining why these beaver statues have been looking down on Oxford Street for over a century.
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Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street: TK Maxx, Oxford Street
There was really no way I was going to write about the best hidden gems in Oxford Street without mentioning TK Maxx.
A few big TK Maxx are to be found in London, but with Oxford Street’s being the largest, you’re bound to find a discount prop to treat yourself to.
There are amazing candles at TK Maxx as well as lots of skincare and makeup to be snapped as soon as you see them on the racks.
From DW Home candles to Illamasqua lipsticks and even some Tom Ford and Estee Lauder products, alongside amazing skincare and makeup brands, TK Maxx offers lots in terms of lifestyle bits and bobs.
It’s one of the best places to go shopping in Central London, and seasonal products are always utterly interesting, especially for Christmas gifts.
Read: The Most Unique Shops in London
Best Hidden Gems near Oxford Street: Free People, Regent Street
Another one of the best hidden gem shops on Oxford Street is actually located… in Regent Street.
If you’re into utterly beautiful clothes with character, Free People’s boho style will have you hooked – it has me hooked.
Textures, patterns, vintage elements and flowy silhouettes are all strong features of the Free People clothes.
Although it is a female clothing brand, the Urban Outfitters-owned brand feels like it has something to offer to all genders, at least in terms of edgy accessories.
So if you’re looking for the best shops on Regent Street, Free People definitely is a must-visit.
After, you can pop by the Lavazza coffee shop, one of London’s best Italian cafes, for some well-deserved Italian pastries and succulent coffee.
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Best Hidden Gems in Oxford Street: St Christopher’s Place & James St
St Christopher’s Place and James Street are both located right off Oxford Street, and are two of the prettiest streets in London.
In St Christopher’s Place, you’ll find amazing jewelry shops like Maya Magal as well as fashion and skincare shops.
James Street is host to some of London’s most instagrammable cafes, and the houses there each boast a different color.
I love finding new colorful places in London, and James Street definitely delivers.
Pink coffee shops, amazing brunch spots and a village feel right off Oxford Street?
Yes, please!
If you’re down to walk a bit more, you won’t regret strolling along James Street towards Marylebone, where you’ll find some utterly pretty mews, too.
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The Best Things to Do and Hidden Gems in Oxford Street, London
There you have them, all the best hidden gems in Oxford Street to discover when you’re willing to get off the beaten path!
I have always been fascinated by the amount of hidden gems and secret places you can find in London when you allow yourself to get lost.
There are also plenty of cool hidden gems in Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, London Bridge and Tottenham Court Road, so make sure you check them out too!