Good news, shoppers – the former Topshop on Oxford Street has an exciting replacement

Telegraph

13-03-2025

London's Oxford Street was once the go-to destination for shopping fashion; the 'big' Topshop, right by Oxford Circus tube station, was the busiest shop of them all. Three floors of almost everything you'd need for a new wardrobe – from jeans to shoes, jewellery to handbags – until its doors closed permanently in 2021.
While Ikea now occupies the space with its current pop-up, it was announced this week that the leading British multi-brand beauty retailer Space NK will open a shop on the ground floor of the former Topshop building this autumn, in a beauty space spanning 4,600 square feet. There appears to be demand: Space NK's closest current location, a couple of minutes walk on Regent Street, commands queues around the store on a daily basis.
This is big news for the beauty industry; the past five years has seen a boom in popularity of beauty on social media, which has translated into hundreds of new beauty brands launching every year and a rise in sales across the board.
The evolution of beauty retail has evolved from single-brand, often-intimidating counters in department stores or budget chemist purchases to carefully curated 'experiences' for keen shoppers.
'Traditional beauty counters will only ever be able to sell you the best fit from that brand,' says Andy Lightfoot, the chief executive of Space NK. The chances of single-brand products offering you the ideal regime are slim, 'particularly if you have specific skin needs,' he explains. In contrast, Space NK curates a selection of over 160 brands under one roof, cherry-picking the best of the best products for its shoppers.
But are they all 15 years old? We've all seen the groups of teenagers shopping for beauty products with the same enthusiasm teens 20 years ago would shop for clothes on a Saturday afternoon, but interestingly, beauty sales across all generations (not just Gen Z and Alpha) are on the rise; beauty is seen as an affordable luxury for many. 'We're seeing younger shoppers wanting to experience products [from] the trends and brands they are seeing on social media and that are trending in their friendship groups,' says Lightfoot. While 'those with a longer relationship with beauty are equally drawn to our stores to experience what's new but are doing so with a desire to get clear advice and lean on our expert staff to get confidence in what's right for them.'
Indeed many of the Space NK shoppers will use the website and in-store shopping in tandem, researching online to narrow the choices and completing the purchase in-store, making the final decision with the help of beauty advisors.
According to the Value of Beauty report from the British Beauty Council, created in association with Oxford Economics, there was a predicted 3 per cent growth for the beauty industry in 2024 – higher than the general economy. 'We're a growth industry,' says Millie Kendall OBE, the founder and chief executive of the British Beauty Council. 'Beauty is definitely on the upswing – our team in government has grown from three people to nine in six years. We've had the biggest presence on the high street in 10 years over any other business group, and the new Space NK will be a game-changer for Oxford Street.'
If you're looking to upgrade your beauty go-tos, here are a handful of the best products out now in Space NK:
Dreambeam SPF30 in Sunlit
£36 by Kosas
This superb sun protection is nothing like a traditionally thick sun protection; it delivers a natural bronze tone on the skin, melting seamlessly into all skin tones. Whether you're a make-up wearer or not, this evens out the skintone with a hint of colour. I've almost finished a full bottle of it to the last drop.
Liptide Lip Oil
£10 by Byoma
These lip oils by British brand Byoma fly off the shelves in Space NK, and we know exactly why; the nourishing, moisture-locking formula softly plumps the lips while leaving a natural-looking gloss. It doesn't feel remotely sticky on the lips, either.
Pro Collagen Black Cherry Cleansing Balm
£49 by Elemis
This cleansing balm by Elemis is cult for a reason; it removes every last trace of make-up and grime from the skin whilst keeping it soft and moisturised. If you're a fan of the original Cleansing Balm, you'll likely love this new version in an uplifting fruity scent.
Multi Peptide Rich Cream
£27 by Naturium
If you haven't discovered this American brand yet, it's definitely worth a look. Naturium delivers big results in its skincare and body care, with prices that remain reasonable (the range starts from £12). While this moisturiser is by no means cheap, the formula is excellent for anyone looking for a rich, nourishing cream.
Vitamin A Power 2
£115 by Sarah Chapman
One of London's leading facialists who sees everyone from Victoria Beckham to Naomi Watts, Sarah Chapman knows a thing or two about keeping the skin in tip-top shape. This powerful retinol just launched this week, and is an excellent option if you already use retinol and want to step things up a notch.
Wonder Land Hand Lotion
from £14 by Joonbyrd
This terrific body care brand was founded by the dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite, who has applied all her knowledge of skincare and ingredients to this range. While the price point for most of her products are on the luxury end of the scale, this handbag-worthy hand cream is a great way to try the brand. It sinks into the skin beautifully and has a warming, spiced amber scent.
Sun Tone Bronzing Drops
£53 by Westman Atelier
Gucci Westman, the founder of Westman Atelier, is the go-to make-up artist for Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz. Indeed, these bronzing drops are the quickest way to achieve that effortlessly sun-kissed, Californian skin; dot a couple of drops on the cheekbones and temples, and blend with your fingers or a brush.