Baker100 - Oxford Circus station Station opened: Monday 30th July 1900 Distance from previous station: 900m Exit: The old Baker Street & Waterloo Railway station, designed by Leslie Green, on the corner of Oxford Street and Argyll Street Entrance: steps down from the four corners of Oxford Circus, into the new ticket hall built for the opening of the Victoria line in 1969 Surroundings:northwest - H&M (smiley Swedish clothing); southwest - United Colors of Benetton (purveyor of ultra-matched separates); southwest - Shelly's Shoes (sold-out Carnaby Street bootseller); northeast - Niketown (corporate sportswear temple) Station layout: Oxford Circus station is bloody complicated beneath the surface, with long winding tunnels everywhere which seem to take forever to walk down. I could try describing the layout, but I'd rather guide you towards these fine below-surface plans and 3Dcutaways. Tell me you're not impressed. Station history: short version here, extremely detailed pdf version here Change here for: Victoria line (a very easy same-level interchange) and Central line Bakerloo platforms: tiled with a green and white maze mosaic Thrilling fact: Smoking on tube trains and underground stations was only banned in 1985 after ascaryfire at Oxford Circus station trapped 1000 late-night commuters in smoke-filled tunnels. Local character: Where Oxford Street once had Stanley Green, the Protein Man, now it has Paul Howard, the Sinner Winner Man. "Why be a sinner, when you can be a winner?" If you ever risk crossing Regent Street just north of Oxford Circus you'll probably hear Paul's dulcet tones booming out from the traffic island [photo], trying to convert passers-by to the living gospel. "If God's not the boss you're gonna suffer loss." There he stands in his orange anorak (with arctic-fur collar), politely haranguing pedestrians with his streaming megaphone monologue. "If we don't team up with God we never win." There's just a hint of a Deep South guttural aitch whenever he utters the word "je-h-esus" (which is often), but stay and listen too long and you'll realise that a lot of what he has to say is on a recycled loop. "Why be a sinner, when you can be a winner?" Read the b3ta interview with Paul here, download a signed poster here and buy the official t-shirt (honest) here.
Station opened: Monday 30th July 1900
Bakerloo platforms: tiled with a green and white maze mosaic
Bakerloo platforms: tiled with a green and white maze mosaic