Standing on Berwick Street: The Original Oasis Landscape
Leaving Adidas, I navigate the maze-like alleyways of Soho. The wind is cold against my cheeks, but strangely, I don’t feel the chill. Instead, I feel my body temperature rising with anticipation for where I am heading.
I turn a corner, and a familiar street stretches out before me. This is Berwick Street.
In the context of an oasis pilgrimage london, this street is not merely a road. It is a monument etched into the history of Britpop itself.
Oasis’s second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, released in 1995, sold over 25 million copies worldwide. The iconic cover photo of that monstrous album was taken right here on this street.
That symbolic visual of two men passing each other on a deserted early morning street defined an era. Noel Gallagher once said he liked the cover because “you don’t know who’s who,” and that very anonymity transformed this location into a blank canvas for fans worldwide.
Oasis jacket location
This is the spot where countless fans attempt to recreate that legendary album cover angle. During the day, the street is lined with market stalls and bustling with life, making it difficult to replicate the serene silence of the original photo.
However, at this hour, the twilight Berwick Street reveals a different expression—one filled with melancholy and allure, distinct from the album cover.
I stop and take a deep breath. Did Liam and Noel walk right here? The clamor of the 90s, the Britpop frenzy, and the raw ambition of their youth aren’t just sleeping beneath this asphalt. In 2025, they have reawakened, enveloping this street as a living legend once again.
Photomo values the transmission of sensation over mere recording. Standing here, breathing this air—that is the true experience.
Entering the Sanctuary: Sister Ray
Walking down Berwick Street isn’t just about sightseeing. This street is home to one of London’s finest record shops: Sister Ray, marked by its iconic blue sign.
As I mentioned in a previous article (Hunting for Vinyl Gems at Sister Ray), this shop is a fixed observation point for me every time I visit London.
On my last visit, I miraculously managed to acquire a rare promotional record. The excitement of that find still lingers in my fingertips.
“What will I encounter this time?”
I check my watch; it’s just past 6:00 PM. Most record shops in this area close at 7:00 PM, and Sister Ray is no exception.
I have less than an hour. There is no time to leisurely dig through every genre.
I make a decision. “Today, I will focus on Oasis.” Just as in digital marketing, narrowing your target is the shortest path to results when resources are limited.
London Oasis shop
Stepping inside, a unique scent tickles my nose—a blend of old cardboard sleeves, dust, and faint incense. It is the smell of a record shop.
I quickly scan the CD section on the ground floor. I spot a few bootlegs, likely live recordings or demo collections. However, nothing triggers my radar today.
“The vinyl gods are calling from below.”
Trusting my intuition, I descend the stairs to the basement record corner.
The Underground Excavation: Searching for Oasis
The basement is a forest of vinyl. Rare records adorn the walls, cardboard boxes sit on the floor, and diggers move their fingers silently through the stacks.
I head straight for the “Rock / Pop” section, specifically “O.” The Oasis corner.
Oasis pilgrimage London
My heart rate spikes slightly the moment I find the Oasis divider. This sensation never gets old, no matter how many times I experience it.
I flip through the jackets with a rhythmic snap.
The first things that jump out at me are the solo works of Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher.
Recent works by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Liam’s solo albums are stocked here. Seeing their works side-by-side on the shelf carries a deeper weight now that the brothers, who walked separate paths for so long, are finally standing on the same stage again.
Feeling a strange sense of emotion at that fact, I keep my hands moving.
London Oasis landmarks
Unfortunately, I don’t find any rare promotional copies or unseen white labels this time. True rare gems are not easily found, which is precisely why the discovery is so moving when it happens.
Suddenly, my eyes land on a box set displayed on the top shelf.
It is the Oasis Complete Record Album Set. The price tag reads £299.
“…I want it.”
I want it desperately. It’s not just the price—though it isn’t cheap—but the physical logistics that cross my mind.
Suitcase space, weight limits, and the risk of damaging it on the flight back to Japan.
With a wry smile, I bid a mental farewell to the box set. “If I ever live in London, I’ll come back for you.”
The Trophy: Taking Liam’s Voice Home
Regaining my focus, I turn back to the shelves.
If there were any second-hand 12-inch singles, I would buy them instantly, but none are to be found. Perhaps the timing is off, or maybe Oasis fans from around the world have already picked the shelves clean.
Just as I am about to give up, one record stops my fingers.
London Oasis merchandise
It is Liam Gallagher’s solo album, C’mon You Know. Specifically, the picture disc edition.
It is a beautiful specification where the jacket artwork is printed directly onto the vinyl itself. It is a piece that is as good to display as it is to hear.
“This is it.”
Oasis has finally reunited, but this record captures the struggle and passion of Liam, who kept the rock ‘n’ roll flame alive during the years leading up to their revival. There could be no better memento for this trip.
I tuck the record under my arm, securing it. Mission accomplished.
Manchester Oasis pilgrimage spots
Let’s broaden our perspective for a moment.
It goes without saying that Manchester, their hometown, is the ultimate holy land for Oasis. Places like the childhood home in Burnage and Sifters Records retain the deep roots of the band.
However, the stage where they ascended to global stardom is undoubtedly here in London.
If Manchester is where they were born, London is where they became legends.
Like the Berwick Street cover, London is dotted with the footprints of their success. That is why we chase not just the phantom of the past, but the ‘living heat’ of Oasis here in London, just as we do in Manchester.
Digging for records at Sister Ray offers a sophisticated, urban joy of discovery that differs from the experience of buying a record from “Mr. Sifter” in Manchester.
Respect for the 7-Inch Corner and Locals
After securing my main LP, I wanted to check the 7-inch single corner.
However, it was already occupied. An elderly man, likely a local regular, was digging through the boxes with a serious gaze.
His back didn’t radiate a “don’t disturb me” aura, but rather a profound love for music.
Seeing this, I decided to skip the 7-inch section this time. Respect for the locals is a necessary manner for any traveler.
Besides, I still have places to go: Reckless Records across the street and the temple of electronic music, Phonica Records.
Checkout and the Next Destination
I return to the ground floor and head to the register. The staff member checks the record with practiced hands.
“Good choice.”
I feel a surge of pride at his brief comment.
“Thank you.”
When I step outside, Berwick Street is completely wrapped in the darkness of night. Yet, the streetlights and the glow leaking from the record shops illuminate the street warmly.
London sightseeing Oasis
I made a good purchase again.
Searching for rare Oasis records is not just “shopping.” It is a journey to relive the enthusiasm of the music born in this place, and a ritual to reaffirm one’s own love for music.
London as a tourist destination is attractive, but walking the city with a specific culture as your axis reveals the true face of London that isn’t in the guidebooks.
Oasis pilgrimage Japan
There are many enthusiastic Oasis fans in Japan. If you are reading this article, you are likely one of them.
A pilgrimage from Japan to London takes considerable time and money.
But let me assure you: stepping on the asphalt of Berwick Street and searching for records in the unique scent of Sister Ray is an asset that cannot be replaced.
Music on Spotify is wonderful, but the weight of a record held in your hands while breathing the air of the place where that music was born provides a sensation that is the polar opposite of digital convenience.
Now, enough sentimentality.
My night is not over yet. Next is Phonica Records across the street.
London nights are far too short for music lovers.
Sister Ray Store Information
Here is the information for Sister Ray. It is a legendary shop that every music lover, not just Oasis fans, should visit at least once.
Sister Ray
Address: 75 Berwick St, London W1F 8TG, UK
Official Website: http://www.sisterray.co.uk/
▼ For those who want to master record hunting in London
Beyond Sister Ray, London has countless wonderful record shops.
Please refer to my complete guide, where I cover the shops I’ve personally visited.
London Vinyl Odyssey: CityNomix’s Ultimate Guide to Record Store Hunting – A Journey for Sound, Soul, and Analogue Warmth
