London's Oxford Street was eerily quiet on Thursday morning

Yet a visitor to Oxford Street late Thursday morning would have been in for a surprise - it was rather quiet indeed.

With the madding crowds nowhere in sight, the scene suggested that everyone must have done their shopping early this year. Or via the internet.

Or maybe Britons are not spending as much this Christmas. Or perhaps, a combination of all three.

Whatever the reason for the lack of crowds, BBC News asked some of those people who were out and about on Oxford Street exactly how their Christmas shopping was going this year.

I did all my Christmas shopping in one day on Tuesday.

I thought I had left it a bit too late, but it didn't actually take too long.

I'm not sure what is the 'in' present this year as I just got loads of different things for my girlfriend - CDs, DVDs, clothes, perfume, tickets for a show.

Christmas shopping can be a pain, but it only took me about an hour-and-a-half all in.

Men are just much quicker shoppers than women - women can spend ages 'umming' and 'ahhing' and thinking about exactly what they want to buy people, but blokes just go out and get everything on impulse.

I'm OK, I've almost finished my Christmas shopping.

My family all live back in Brazil so I did most of my shopping in advance so I could post it out.

I got them some clothes and sweets and lots of London and England souvenirs.

The difference between shopping in the UK and Brazil? Here it is much more expensive, but otherwise pretty much the same.

The crowds in London don't get to me as I'm from San Paulo which is a huge city.

The British are crazy when it comes to Christmas presents - you go completely over the top!

Christmas shouldn't be so commercial. Instead I like to make my own presents for my family and friends, ornaments and flowers.

There is also less rush while shopping back home, here people are always so busy.

And the British seem totally obsessed with buying as many presents as they can.

This is the first time in years that I have done all my Christmas shopping before Christmas Eve.

I had the time this year so for once I thought I'd get everything done early.

I am surprised at how quiet it is today though - where are all the crowds?

I used to live in New York and it would be much busier back there.

I finished all my Christmas shopping back in November so I could avoid the rush.

I have left it until the last minute before and it wasn't very pleasant.

It is nice not to have to join in with the crowds.

I don't know if there is a must-have gift this year - I bought lots of different things for my family, and my friends.

I'm surprised at how quiet it is today, seeing as it is the day before Christmas Eve.

But then, it has been really, really busy up until now, so perhaps everyone has been doing their shopping early this year.

It has been fun though and I have been able to say a big Christmas cheer to loads of lovely children. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas.