Streets take no the — Broadway, Oxford Street (GiU Unit 78)
The rule
Section titled “The rule”There are many theatres on or near Broadway in New York. ✓
Street/road names take no article: Broadway, Oxford Street, Fifth Avenue, Wall Street, Regent Street.
✗ the Broadway / the Oxford Street — unless the name refers to a venue/building itself (a theatre named “The Broadway”).
Squares, parks, streets — all no the
Section titled “Squares, parks, streets — all no the”Trafalgar Square is a large square in the centre of London. ✓
Named squares, parks, streets, roads, stations and airports take no article:
| no the | example |
|---|---|
| squares | Trafalgar Square, Times Square, Red Square |
| parks | Hyde Park, Central Park, Green Park |
| streets/roads | Broadway, Oxford Street, Fifth Avenue |
| stations | Victoria Station, King’s Cross |
| airports | Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle |
With the: rivers (the Thames), seas/oceans, canals, deserts, mountain ranges, island groups, and institutions/venues: the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tower of London. Bridges take no the (Tower Bridge).
Exceptions — where the appears
Section titled “Exceptions — where the appears”| with the | why |
|---|---|
| the High Street | BrE local convention (the main street of a town) |
| the M1, the A4, the B3128 | numbered roads (M/A/B + number) |
| the Broadway (venue) | if it’s a theatre/cinema name |
Same no-article logic for named places in Unit 78: airports, stations, universities follow their own rules (the University of X but X University).
Road/street name = no the. Numbered route = the. Venue that shares the street name = the + proper title.
Source
Section titled “Source”Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use, Unit 78 — Names with and without the 2. Ebot lesson 2026-09-05.