Up to £50m was spent in London’s West End stores on Saturday as 500,000 shoppers took advantage of a traffic-free Oxford Street.

Entertainment was provided in-store and on the street as buses, taxis and cars were barred between 12noon and 5pm. New West End Company said the shopping mecca benefited from the “staycation” trend – where Brits choose to holiday in the UK rather than abroad in order to save money.

New West End Company’s chief executive Richard Dickinson said: “We hope it will give Londoners and those from other parts of the UK a great reason to rediscover the West End – with its fantastic breadth of retail across 600 stores, great galleries, superb shows, restaurants for every pocket and much more besides.”

Selfridges director of food and restaurants Ewan Venters said: “Customers were busy buying for the holiday season with best-sellers including beauty, beachwear and summer dresses. In the food hall people are stocking up on BBQ essentials and ice cream has been flying out.”

The event was organised by New West End Company in partnership with the West End’s retailers and property owners, among others.

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