Oxford Street has been through many changes during its long history — from its association with the Tyburn gallows to the transformation of Oxford Circus by John Nash — but has rarely seemed so dispiriting as it has in recent years. A street where the original department stores first flourished, from Selfridge’s to John Lewis, has turned into a grim mix of American candy shops of dubious repute and cheap retail chains. But change for the better is underway: about £1 billion is being invested in Oxford Street, not least by new owners of the former Debenhams and House of Fraser stores.
