Oxford Street
Oxford Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2022
Home to some of Sydney’s best shopping, Oxford Street is an edgy thoroughfare that runs east from Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD) toward Bondi Junction. Lined with trendy shops and boutiques, it has become a central hub of Sydney’s late-night club scene, as well as the unofficial center of Sydney’s LGBT community.
The Basics
To learn about Oxford Street’s fascinating history, join a guided walking tour that explores this infamous Sydney thoroughfare, or simply spend a few hours strolling the street and colorful street-side markets. Tours focused on LGBT history and heritage typically spend time on Oxford Street, as do many more general sightseeing tours.
Things to Know Before You Go
Oxford Street is a must-visit for a glimpse into contemporary Sydney culture.
Many of the bars, boutiques, and shops are clustered around Darlinghurst, to the east of Hyde Park.
Due to the number of bars, the area can be troublesome at night: Exercise caution as you would in any big city.
How to Get There
If you’re traveling by train, you can get off at Museum Station, just off the northern end of Oxford Street and a 30-minute walk to Paddington Markets. Otherwise, buses 333, 380, and 378 all go to Oxford Street from the city center.
When to Get There
Oxford Street has something to appeal to visitors any time, whether it’s shopping during the day, meeting friends for dinner, or hitting the bars and clubs in the evening. In Paddington, the area known as the Intersection comes alive Saturday mornings with the weekly Paddington arts and crafts market, where you can browse goods made by up-and-coming designers.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
At the beginning of March each year, the Darlinghurst stretch of Oxford Street is closed to traffic and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras joyfully takes over. It’s a spectacle of colorful floats and vivaciously dressed revelers that you should see if you get the chance.
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