Marylebone High Street and Oxford Street Shopping - 3.1 km Route
- Philip Carey
- Oct 14, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Route Overview
Start: Baker Street Station
Finish: Marble Arch Station
Distance: 3.1 km
Estimated Time: 15-30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Best Time: Early morning weekends
Terrain: Pavements, very crowded on Oxford Street
Notable: Marylebone village, Wallace Collection, Selfridges, Marble Arch
Best For: Village atmosphere, shopping contrast, Victorian architecture, cultural venues
Quick Links
Maps: Google Map | Strava Map
Video: High-Speed Route Preview
Virtual Tour: 360° Interactive Map
Previous Route: The BBC, Portland Place, Regent's Park & Baker Street – 3.1 km
The Experience
This pleasant route showcases two distinct sides of London. The journey down Marylebone High Street, with its village feel, offers a calm contrast to the roaring traffic to its north and the frenetic shopping along Oxford Street to its south.
Marylebone offers a mix of shops and places to eat and drink, alongside Victorian architecture and cultural venues. Wigmore Street features wide, quiet, historic streets lined with impressive buildings. The final section takes you towards Marble Arch along the western side of Oxford Street, past its remaining department stores.
This is a study in contrasts—from intimate village lanes to one of the world's most famous shopping streets, showing how London accommodates both scales beautifully.
Your Three Layers of Discovery
This self-guided route gives you everything you need to explore at your own pace, all in one place:
Familiarisation Guide – Core route information to get you started confidently
Sightseeing Guide – Points of interest, history, and 360° virtual tours to deepen your understanding
Connoisseur's Guide – Places to eat, drink, explore, plus 'add-on' routes
The Familiarisation Guide
Essential information to help you become familiar with the route before you arrive.
Maps
Use the Google and Strava maps below to stay on track. They show your location relative to the route, helping you explore confidently without getting lost.
Please note: These don't provide turn-by-turn directions—we want you present and alert, using your senses, not glued to your screen.
The Google map shows the main route in red
Both maps will open in a new tab.
High-Speed Route Preview (5:00)
See the route from a runner's perspective—as if you were sprinting at over 40 km/h. Watch this before you go to familiarise yourself visually with what's ahead.
What to Know Before You Go
Best Time to Stride:
The route is generally busy; however, early morning—especially weekends—offers the best experience when there are fewer crowds, the light is at its best, and you have the rest of the day ahead of you.
When London Awakens:
In the early morning, Marylebone High Street retains its village charm without the crowds, and Oxford Street is transformed—empty pavements where you can appreciate the grand Victorian architecture without the retail chaos.
West End Shop Opening Hours:
Most shops generally open 09:00–20:00 or 21:00 on weekdays, with later hours on Thursdays and Saturdays, and shorter hours (approximately 12:00–18:00) on Sundays.
Accessibility:
A mix of pavements and paths. Generally busy after shops open. Oxford Street and its shops are often very crowded throughout the day.
Top Tip:
Have this guide and your chosen map (Google or Strava) available on your mobile for quick reference.
The Sightseeing Guide
Once you know the route, dive deeper into the stories and sights that make this stride special.
Key Sights Along the Way
Madame Tussauds London
Marylebone High Street and Marylebone Lane
The Wallace Collection
Wigmore Hall
Cavendish Square
Harley Street and Wimpole Street
Hanover Square
St Christopher Place
New Bond Street
Selfridges
John Lewis
Primark and Marks & Spencer
Oxford Street
Marble Arch
Hyde Park and Speaker's Corner
Explore the gallery below for photos, history, and the stories behind each location.
360° Virtual Tour
Step into the route before you stride it—or relive your experience afterwards. Click the map below to explore interactive 360° views at key locations along the way.
The virtual tour opens in a new tab with a map showing all 360° locations. Click any location icon to be transported to that spot.
The Connoisseur's Guide
Know the route well? Time to become a connoisseur. Discover the best places to eat, drink, and explore in the surrounding area.
Where to Eat & Drink - Key Dining Areas:
Marylebone Lane – Wide selection
North Audley Street – Good variety
Kingly Street – Vibrant dining scene
St Christopher's Place – Pedestrian area with cafés
Also Worth Exploring:
Marylebone High Street and Baker Street – A rich source of options
Moxon Street – Quality choices
South Moulton and adjoining streets – Good selection
North of Marble Arch – Edgware Road and Seymour Place
Things to Do
Shopping Experiences:
Marylebone High Street – Indulgent boutique shopping, village atmosphere
Oxford Street – Department stores (Selfridges, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Primark)
Wimpole Street – Specialist shops
Art & Culture:
Wigmore Hall – Classical music venue
The Wallace Collection – World-class art in Manchester Square (free entry)
Twist Museum – Immersive art on Oxford Street
Entertainment:
Madame Tussauds – Wax museum at the start
Planetarium – Near Baker Street
Peaceful Spaces:
Brown Hart Gardens – Hidden rooftop garden
Grosvenor Square – Elegant square with American connections
Hyde Park – Escape to green space at the end of the route
Route Extensions
Three extensions help you explore the area more thoroughly:
The Marylebone Station Loop – 1.1 km
Explore the northwestern corner of Marylebone.
The Marylebone Lane Loop – 1.2 km
Dive deeper into some of the hidden areas of Marylebone.
The Marble Arch Loop – 2.1 km
Explore Hyde Park's northern edge..
Main route in red, extensions in blue.
Detailed guides and videos coming soon.
Follow-On Routes
Continue Your Journey:
Ready for the next stride? Try the Marble Arch, Hyde Park, Mayfair and Shepherd Market – 3.0 km route. .
