LONDON Christmas News, Dec 12, 2011

Christmas shopping: Oxford and Regent Street closed to traffic BBC News Two of London's busiest streets have been closed to traffic for the weekend to try to encourage people to head into the West End to shop for Christmas. Vehicles have been barred from Oxford Street and Regent Street on selected dates in recent years.... See all stories on this topic » BBC News

Christmas shopping: London West End retail takings fall BBC News All of its daily walk-in tickets to Santa's grotto were sold within seven minutes, it said. Rival retailer John Lewis said its sales were 2% higher week-on-week. Christmasshoppers on Oxford Street in central London. See all stories on this topic » BBC News

High street gloom is being oversold, says John Lewis Telegraph.co.uk Managing director Mr Street will spend the day manning a cash register on the ground floor of the retailer's Oxford Street store in London and another day doing the same in Edinburgh. In the week when retail guru Mary Portas will publish her ... See all stories on this topic » Telegraph.co.uk

Readers' tips: best unusual UK shops The Guardian 11 Mare Street E8, 020-7998 3617, viktorwyndofhackney.co.uk micahelameadow Postcard Teas Minutes from Oxford Street, this shop sells rare and unusual teas and tea paraphernalia. If you want to learn about tea, have a tea-tasting session. ... See all stories on this topic » The Guardian

Xmas Bargains Come Early To UK High Streets Sky News Retailers across the UK are offering discounts of up to 50% as they try to get people spending on what is one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year so far. Traders in Oxford Street and Regent Street in central London have estimated that sales ... See all stories on this topic »

Gift aid: the best alternative Christmas shopping in the UK The Guardian Avoid the mayhem of Oxford Street by seeking out one of London's many bijoushopping streets. Just a tube stop away (Holborn) from the huge department stores of the West End are the enticing shops of Lamb's Conduit Street. From old-fashioned tailors to ... See all stories on this topic » The Guardian

High street gloom continues as festive shopping reined in Telegraph.co.uk Christmas lights in Oxford Street, London's main shopping destination. Photo: GETTY By Harry Wallop, Retail editor The BRC figures showed that sales fell by 1.6pc on a like-for-like basis, which strips out the effect of new shop openings. ... See all stories on this topic » Telegraph.co.uk

Shoppers offer Christmas cheer to UK retail Retail Gazette It has been forecast that some £280 million went through tills in London's West End – Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street – while shopper numbers have been steadily increasing at Capital Shopping Centres' (CSC) regional hubs across the UK. ... See all stories on this topic »

Belt-tightening blow for Central London shops Telegraph.co.uk Consumers in Central London have spent 10pc less than last year on a major, traffic-free Christmas shopping day in another setback for struggling retailers, early estimates suggest. By Graham Ruddick Around £180m was spent on Oxford Streetand Regent ... See all stories on this topic » Telegraph.co.uk

Could it be magic? Occult specialist Atlantis Bookshop claim lights 'stayed on ... West End Extra So when the shop overcame a street-wide power cut this week, what else could be the cause but magic? Managers at the store, just off New Oxford Street, were startled when they saw flames shooting three feet into the air from a manhole after hearing a ... See all stories on this topic » West End Extra

Price cuts entice bargain hunters The Press Association Selfridges, on Oxford Street, said customers were queuing to get in when the store opened at 11.30am on Sunday, with headphones, iPads, Kindles, candles and chocolates among the most popular items. Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), which operates 14 ... See all stories on this topic »

Oxford Circus Tube station evacuated by London police BBC News The emergency saw several police vans parked at the corner of Oxford Street and Regent Street. The station serves the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria Lines and it has now reopened to passengers. It had been busy with Christmas shoppers throughout the ... See all stories on this topic » BBC News

Shoppers lift hopes on the High Street with buying spree - but sales below ... This is Money Department store John Lewis revealed record weekly takings of £123.5million for the seven days up to Saturday. At Selfridges, the London department store, there were a record number of enquiries for its 'gift guru' service, while headphones, iPads, ... See all stories on this topic » This is Money

Amazon sells 3 million items in 'Cyber Monday' frenzy Telegraph.co.uk Christmas web sales are expected to rise 15 per cent this year, accounting for £7.75billion in sales. Shop takings in London's West End fell by 10 per cent compared with last year on the first day of a traffic-free weekend. Takings on Oxford Street and ... See all stories on this topic » Telegraph.co.uk

We wonder what Wills gets in his stocking? Entertainmentwise ... still picks out her own Christmas presents as she is spotted shopping in Londonthis week. The style-icon, who sells out every dress she is pictured in, headed toOxford Street to pick up a few Christmas treats at the iconic Selfridges store. ... See all stories on this topic » Entertainmentwise

Britain's high streets launch wave of Christmas sales to get shoppers spending ... Mirror.co.uk There was a glimmer of hope yesterday, with shops in London's Oxford Street, Manchester's Trafford centre and Bluewater in Kent all seeing brisk trade. Are you one of those people who's left all your Christmas shopping to the last minute? ... See all stories on this topic » Mirror.co.uk

Shoppers spend £280m in traffic-free West End London Loves Business New West End Company chief executive Richard Dickinson declared the weekend a success, as shoppers enjoyed the opportunity to shop traffic-free on Oxford Street and Regent Street while benefiting from discounts and giveaways. Dickinson said: “Christmas ... See all stories on this topic »

Sales come early to entice shoppers The Press Association Store chains including Marks & Spencer, fashion retailer French Connection and shoe chain Barratts were offering discounts of up to 50% designed to get people spending. Traders in Oxford Street and Regent Street in central London forecast £150 million ... See all stories on this topic »

High-street rescue plan sees Mary Portas set out market stall The Guardian Demonstrating the benefits to be had from supportive local authorities, traders onOxford Street and Regent Street in London on Sunday said they had enjoyed a record trading period over the weekend due to Westminster council's ban on road traffic in ... See all stories on this topic » The Guardian

Early sales bring rush to stores The Press Association Queues formed outside high street stores as many retailers slashed their prices in the hope of kick-starting the big Christmas spend. Store chains including Marks & Spencer, fashion retailer French Connection and shoe chain Barratts were offering ... See all stories on this topic »

Amazon's 'Cyber Monday' saw 3million items sold in Christmas rush Daily Mail More than 1.5million shoppers spent £180million in Central London on Saturday alone, according to the New West End Company, which represents around 600 traders inOxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street. The company said it expected a further... See all stories on this topic » Daily Mail

All I want for Christmas is a pepper tree Telegraph.co.uk (blog) By contrast in London, I have been overwhelmed by the gaudy street lights, the numerous tantalising Christmas shop window displays, and sales promotions. There are shoppers and shiny Christmas trees everywhere and special celebratory menus for office ... See all stories on this topic » Telegraph.co.uk (blog)

West End parking charges will penalise visitor and locals alike Daily Mail (blog) Crossrail has greatly reduced any pleasure attached to Christmas shopping on Oxford Street, knocking out many of the parking spaces near the works and creating lengthy diversions. The digging will go on for another four years and next year we can look ... See all stories on this topic »

Takings Down At Oxford Street VIP Weekend Londonist Is it really necessary to hold a funfair in the middle of Regent Street to entice people to the most famous shopping area in the country two weeks before Christmas? Or do the buses and vintage cars parked outside department stores actually just create ... See all stories on this topic »

Festive season in London Hindustan Times The Nutcracker Ballet is a favourite at this time of year and Santa's Grottos can be found in the major department stores, markets and museums. Christmas lights and Carols: While Oxford Street, Regents Street, Carnaby Street, St Christopher's Place, ... See all stories on this topic »

The Wombles Aim For Xmas Number One Glasswerk.co.uk ... (155 views) Britain's favourite eco-warriors, The Wombles, celebrate the release of their new single, 'Wombling Merry Christmas', with a photocall for media at HMV's flagship Oxford Street store inLondon's West End on Sunday 11th December 2011. ... See all stories on this topic »

'Tis the season to be ANGRY The Independent Then last weekend, in London, police were forced to close part of Oxford Street after fears thatChristmas shoppers could create a deadly crush. And in Australia, shopping centres have employed car park attendants for the first time this year to ... See all stories on this topic »

Flashes of hope but Ospreys fail to fire South Wales Evening Post UNLIKE the army of Christmas shoppers who left Oxford Street with bags full to the brim on Saturday evening, the Ospreys didn't get what they wanted from their trip to London. They had hoped for a win but had to settle for a bonus point. ... See all stories on this topic »

Youngsters board double-deckers to admire London's Christmas displays This is Local London The buses cruised around London, allowing the children to admire the spectacular Christmas light displays in areas including Oxford Street and Regent Street. Specialist chYps nurse Kay Elliott said: “Some of our children would not have been able to get ... See all stories on this topic »

Sitting on UK Santa's knee costs R572 Independent Online “How can you not like Christmas, it brings families together – it's a time of joy.” Meanwhile, South African children don't know how lucky they are when it comes to sitting on Santa's knee for free. In London's Hamleys Regent Street store, ... See all stories on this topic » Independent Online

Travel Agenda: London's West End; Papaya Playa; low-cost Caribbean; Inghams ... The Independent Today: The West End of London welcomes Christmas shoppers. Oxford Street and Regent Street are closed to traffic this weekend, opening up the roads to pedestrians (westendvip.com). Meanwhile in Tulúm on Mexico's Mayan Riviera, Design Hotels is hosting ... See all stories on this topic »

Shop like a VIP this weekend thanks to American Express My Fashion Life Thanks to this frankly genius scheme, this weekend you can now enjoy two totally uninterrupted days of shopping on Saturday 10 th and Sunday 11 th December, whereOxford Street and Regent Street will be closed to road traffic so you can fully enjoy ... See all stories on this topic » My Fashion Life

J'accuse: Cool Britannia? Malta Independent Online Either that or, instead of wondering, it was busy shopping in Oxford and Regent streets because the recession might turn out to be one big Brussels lie after all … might it not? www.akkuza.com the website is currently a huge work in progress due to a ... See all stories on this topic »

Stars unite to save the falafels that fuelled theatreland The Guardian These big landlords know they could get you out tomorrow, yet if you go to Paris you see small shops and cafes of different kinds. As a result, these bistro chains have no chance there. But if I walk from Oxford Circus to my deli what do I see? ... See all stories on this topic » The Guardian

Gerry Broome / AP Washington Post Shoppers walk along Oxford Street after it and Regent Street were closed to vehicle traffic for a pre-Christmas shopping weekend in London. A Bulgarian Muslim woman takes part in the wedding procession of Mehmed Aiumankov and his bride Fatme Kichukova ... See all stories on this topic »

Bologna Flips the Switch to Light Its Own Twin Towers for the Holidays Jaunted You know how Christmas decorations can somehow seem a little tacky? (Yes,Oxford Street and Regent Street in London, looking at you.) Well, over in Italy, everything's done a little more classily. In Bologna this weekend, the first thing we noticed was ... See all stories on this topic » Jaunted

UK: Waitrose Launches Surprise Goose Egg Offer For Christmas Namnews The chain said the free-range eggs will be sourced from a farm in West Cornwall, and are currently available at three London outlets – Waitrose Canary Wharf, and the Foodhalls on Oxford Streetand Bluewater) – for £6.99 per egg. ... See all stories on this topic »

10000 jobs under threat on the high street Mirror.co.uk Thorntons, which is closing half its 360 stores losing up to 1100 jobs, and Mothercare which announced plans to shut up to 110 stores after half-year year losses of £82million, are also suffering . Barratts store on London's Oxford Street ( Pic : PA ) See all stories on this topic » Mirror.co.uk

UIC Students Learn on the Streets of London MediaSyndicate (press release) The itinerary already includes ice-skating in front of the Natural History Museum, shopping at department stores and going to see the Christmas lights on Regent and Oxford Streets. These activities help to limit the impact of homesickness. ... See all stories on this topic »

Britain likely to suffer from a double dose of severe weather next week Telegraph.co.uk Traders in London, however, remained optimistic during the weekend's relatively calm but cold weather. In London a spokeswoman for the New West End Company, representing 600 traders in Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, said: "There have ... See all stories on this topic » Telegraph.co.uk

Immerse Yourself in a Christmas Experience of London to Remember Pressitt (press release) Spending your Christmas in London will indeed make for a wonderful experience. Become enchanted by the sparkling, impressive Christmas lights on display onOxford and Regent Street. Visit different festive markets to discover supreme ideas for presents ... See all stories on this topic » Pressitt (press release)

PLEASE HELP GIVE THESE CHILDREN A CHRISTMAS Express.co.uk BY POST: Send your donations to Sunday Express Christmas Appeal, Kids Company, 1 KenburyStreet, London SE5 9BS. BY TEXT: To make an immediate £5 donation, text KIDS CHRISTMAS to 70700 (£5 SMS will be billed to your mobile account. ... See all stories on this topic »

A London Christmas: Family Days Out | vtravelled Blog London: Christmas Fun for Kids and Families ... However if you look beyond the crazy shoppers onOxford Street you will find some true festive ... The world- famous department store offers a 30-minute visit through an Ice Grotto filled with ... blog.vtravelled.com/things-to-do-with-kids-family-in-london-...

email: info@als-alexander.org or interalex2@gmail.com