Regent Street is one of the best known shopping streets in London’s West End and is also famous for its Christmas light displays. The street stretches from All Souls Church at the northern end through Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus to Waterloo Place at the southern end. Regent Street is named after the Prince Regent - later to become King George IV. In 2019 events were held to celebrate the 200th anniversary since the naming of Regent Street.
Regent street was laid out in 1825 under the direction of architect John Nash and developer James Burton and was an early example of town planning. Nash envisaged the street to be a ‘boundary’ separating the lower classes of Soho from the upper classes of Mayfair. Only All Souls Church and some sewers designed by Nash remain from the original development and the buildings we see today were built towards the end of the nineteenth century to provide an improved base for the burgeoning fashion trade. The buildings are an example of the Beaux Arts architectural style.
You can shop till you drop in Regent Street but be sure to bring a hefty wallet and purse if you want to buy from some of the high-end stores that are based there. One of the most famous shops in the street is the Liberty department store with its stand-out Tudor-revival frontage. Here you can buy high-end fashion and homewares. They even have their own line of fabrics. The Apple Store is a popular visit too as well as Hamleys toy shop, which has been on Regent Street since 1881 and a must at Christmas to buy for the kids. Other high-end retailers include Barbour, Jaeger and Burberry.
Each year a new set of Christmas lights are hung in the street and are a popular feature, attracting thousands of visitors. There have been Christmas lights in the street in some form or other since 1882 but the current format was outlined in 1948 when the street was decorated with Christmas trees by the Regent Street Association. The turning on the lights ceremony takes place in November each year. There are often special events staged over the weekend of the switch-on.
After a hard day shopping or Christmas light admiring, you’ll likely be a tad peckish or feel the need for a drink or two. There are many places to eat in and around Regent Street to suit most budgets. Pedestrianised food quarters just off the street are at Hendon Street, The Quadrant and the aptly named Swallow Street. Whether it’s take-outs you require or a fine-dining experience, Regent Street offers something for everyone.
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