Waterstones coming back to Oxford Street after eight years away

Waterstones quit the famous high street (PA Archive)
Waterstones quit the famous high street (PA Archive)

Waterstones is set to return to Oxford Street eight years after the last of the four stores it once had on the West End’s premier shopping destination shut down.

The new bookshop will open inside the John Lewis department store near Oxford Circus on 8 October with a range of nearly 20,000 titles.

Waterstones’s chief operating officer Kate Skipper said: “We are thrilled to be working with John Lewis on this exciting new partnership and delighted to be returning to Oxford Street this Autumn.

“Waterstones at John Lewis Oxford Street will be an extensively ranged bookshop sited within this iconic flagship department store, perfect for browsing and a hub for author signings, with our booksellers on hand to offer expert customer guidance.

“We can’t wait to open our doors on Tuesday 8th October.”

The new Waterstones bookshop will be part of a major makeover of the John Lewis flagship including a new beauty hall and a newly opened rooftop bar and restaurant.

Katie Papakonstantinou, director of services  and hospitality for John Lewis said: “We’re dedicated to offering our customers the best shopping experience possible, and this new bookshop is another way for us to invest in the customer offer, from our products and services to our complimentary hospitality offerings.

“With the record number of customers shopping with us, it is crucial for us to continue investing in our brand and customer proposition.”