and Mayfair to its immediate south. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, with around 300,000 daily visitors, and as of lc=y 2012 had approximately 300 shops. It is designated as part of the A40, a major road between London and Fishguard, though it is not signed as such, and traffic is regularly restricted to buses and taxis.

The road was originally part of the Via Trinobantina, a Roman road