• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • First Time Here?
    • Archive
    • London Blogs
  • Blog
  • Travel
    • London Theater Tickets
    • Shopping
    • Tips
    • Tours
    • Transport
    • Maps
    • Parks
    • Resources
    • Restaurants
    • Top 10 London
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Buildings
    • Food
    • London Books
    • Movies
    • Museums
    • Music
    • Pubs
  • Londonism
    • Reviews
    • Fun London
    • Iconic London
    • Life in London
    • London Realities
    • Moving to London
    • Politics
  • The Tube
  • London History
    • Great London Buildings
    • Great Londoners
  • Contact
  • Guidebooks
    • 101 London Travel Tips – Guidebook
    • 101 Free Things to do in London

Londontopia

The Website for People Who Love London

You are here: Home / Site News / Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London

Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London

Dec 17, 2020 By John Rabon

So you’ve traveled all the way to London—and you want to go to the mall.  Well, while London certainly has many a great market, arcade, and high street, you’ll be glad to know that shopping malls aren’t exclusively American.  London has plenty of its own great shopping centers that offer a British take on the mall experience.  Visitors to one of these shopping centers may find the experience similar, yet different with plenty of British retailers alongside American and international chains.  We’ve identified ten shopping centers in London we think you should visit and you can let us know your favorites in the comments.

Bluewater

Making number 10 because it’s just outside of London, Bluewater is just outside the M25 near Dartford.  Bluewater is the fifth-largest shopping center in the UK with over 1.6 million square feet of retail space.  House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, and John Lewis & Partners make up the anchors while other stores include Waterstone, H&M, LEGO, O2, HMV, and more.  The interior is decorated with statues of various trades, large skylights, and curved walks.

Angel Central

Angel Central is pretty decent shopping center thanks to stores such as H&M, Frame, Argos, and Typo, but it’s really best known for its entertainment venues.  In addition to housing a Vue cinema, it is also home to performance venue O2 Academy Islington, unquestionably one of the best concert stages in London.  There are also several good and affordable food options such as Pret A Manger, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, and Wagamama, amongst others.

West 12

One of the earliest shopping centers in London, West 12 opened in 1967 and borders on Shepherd’s Bush and experienced a significant renovation in the 1990s.  Like Angel Central, one of its anchors is the Vue cinema chain and is also features the Sherlock-themed escape room, The Game is Now, as well as several bargain shops such as Poundland, Lidl, Bargain Buys, and Argos.

Victoria Place

Just outside of Victoria Station, Victoria Place is an excellent shopping center to stop for supplies whether you’re justing getting to London or leaving the city for other parts of the UK.  Most of the well-known shops are dedicated to health and beauty whether you visit Boots, Body Shop, Lush, or Holland & Barrett.  There’s also the currency exchange retailer Thomas Exchange Global if you need to change your money.

Cardinal Place

Also located near Victoria Station is Cardinal Place, this shopping center is spread across three buildings and eleven floors.  While the center doesn’t have its own website, there is a dedicated blog for the center that outlines such tenants as Marks & Spencer, Spacesavers, Hotel Chocolate, and Topshop to guarantee you’ll have some souvenirs to take home with you.

Ealing Broadway

Ealing Broadway Center just outside the Ealing Broadway Station is a beautiful mix of indoor and outdoor shopping in London.  The center opened in 1985 and features stapes such as Marks & Spencer, Boots, O2, Tesco, Poundland, and others, while also home to unique shops like Miniso, Neon Sheep, and Flying Tiger.  Ealing Broadway is also home to the Ealing Library and local health non-profit Nuffield Health.

Hay’s Galleria

Once a warehouse associated with Hay’s Wharf, Hay’s Galleria was revamped in the 1980s and is now a lovely mixed-used retail center with shops, restaurants, and market stalls.  The Galleria is comprised of six buildings with a large glass covering over the main thoroughfare.  It features the staple of Boots along with Hays News, Lead & Ball, Accessorize, and more, though it’s real draw are the restaurants and cafes.

Brent Cross

Located in Hendon, Brent Cross Shopping Center is one of the largest in London with over 910,000 square feet of shopping floorspace.  It was founded in 1976 as the city’s first “out-of-town” shopping center and today features one of the greatest mixes of British and international shops including O2, Levi’s, Miss Selfridge, Waitrose, Dune, Khaadi, Topshop, and more.  It has a very conventional shopping mall look and plenty of US retailers from Vans to Apple, so you can experience some British shopping while feeling right at home.

Westfield Stratford City

Westfield is responsible for some of the biggest shopping centers in the United Kingdom with two right in London.  Its’ retail space of 1.9 million square feet makes it the fourth-largest shopping center in the UK and has over 200 stores and restaurants from Accessorize to Zara.  The anchors are Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, and TK Maxx (the UK version of TJ Maxx).  Everything from basic services to high-end luxury can be found here, so it’s worth checking out if you need something or just want to spend a few hours shopping.

Westfield London

Of course, Stratford City is only outdone by Westfield’s other shopping center, Westfield London.  It opened in 2008, but an expansion in 2018 made it the largest shopping center in Europe at 2.6 million square feet of retail space.  It has 284 shops, restaurants, and services from Abercrombie & Fitch to Zadig & Voltaire with John Lewis & Partners, Harrods Outlet, and House of Fraser as the anchors.  If you feel that absolute need to hit the mall while you’re in London, this is going to be the best place to go in the city.

John Rabon
Author: John Rabon

John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.

close

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Share this:

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Pocket

Filed Under: Featured, Guides, Shopping, Site News, Top 10 London

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

About John Rabon

John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bill H says

    Dec 18, 2020 at 11:29 pm

    My two favorite shopping locations (other than Oxford/Regent Streets, obvs) are The Glades in Bromley and The Bentall Centre in Kingston. Both are smaller manageable malls with all the usual stores. The John Lewis in Kingston is also probably my fave, even over Oxford Street. Plus, both have wonderful outdoor pedestrian shopping areas with shops of all sorts, much less cafes and food places. I mean, who doesn’t want a Gregg’s sausage roll while Christmas shopping?

    • Marianne Evans says

      Dec 19, 2020 at 7:03 am

      I miss the Glades in Bromley and the shopping in Croydon. I have to go to Norwich now for a decent shopping trip.

      • Simon says

        Jan 28, 2021 at 2:32 pm

        They started calling The Glades “intu” for a time. That’s branding for you. They seem to have gone back to calling it The Glades though.

  2. Simon says

    Jan 28, 2021 at 2:35 pm

    You might see Bluewater in the odd episode of Doctor Who. Or at least the quarries that were on that site before the mall was built. It’s the sign of the drowned horse.

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Get the Anglotopia/Londontopia App

Our Advertisers

If you are a mobile gamer, you may want to take a look at UK’s new mobile casinos and slots reviewed by NewCasinoUK.

Join the London Forum

  • Mudlarking
  • MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN LONDON
  • What's Your Favorite Place in London?
  • Paddington Station

London Guide

  • Ten Cheap Things You Can Do in London on a Budget
  • Ten London Exhibitions to Look Forward to in 2023
  • London’s Non-Free Museums: Your Guide to London’s Museums That Charge Admission
  • Trip Planning: Top 10 Exhibitions To Plan Your 2018 Trips to London Around
  • London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Support Londontopia

Search our Extensive Archive

Top 10 London

  • Ten Unusual Exhibits to See in London
  • London Pubs: Ten Thameside Pubs for a Pint and a View
  • Top 10 London: Ten More Things to Do Along the River Thames
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
  • Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haggerston
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haringey
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Redbridge
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hillingdon
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury

Recent Posts

  • The Fiver – Five Movie Pubs You Can Visit in London
  • What’s On In London: London Events For June 2023
  • Big Changes at Tate Britain – Inside the Rehang
  • Passengers can now travel directly from Essex to Heathrow on Elizabeth line
  • World’s largest collection of Banksy artworks to go on display in London
  • Four London landmarks to join Big Ben in lighting up for the King’s coronation
  • What’s On in London Events for May 2023
  • Prince and Princess of Wales take the Tube to the pub as London prepares for coronation
  • Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben to light up for King’s coronation
  • Coronation benches designed by children to be at Tower of London all summer

Best Posts on Londontopia

  • 101 London Travel Tips
  • Top 100 London Attractions
  • How to Find the Cheapest Airfares to London
  • 10 Things NOT to do in London
  • Best London Guidebooks
  • 101 Free Things to do in London
  • London Lingo – A London Word Dictionary
  • Top 7 Tips for Doing London on the Cheap
  • Top 11 Myths American Believe about London
  • Guide to Eating in London
  • Best Times of Year to Travel to London
  • London Packing Tips
  • Top 11 Movies Set in London
  • Top Attractions off the Tourist Track
  • Top 5 Most Amazing London Hotels
  • Top 10 Hostels in London
  • Best Views in London Restuarants
  • London Taxi Ettiquette
  • Top 12 London Views
  • Great Fire of London
  • A Guide to Five of London’s Bridges
  • 10 Random Facts and Figures about Trafalgar Square
  • Top 100 British Slang Words

London Places to Explore

Bloomsbury Buckingham Palace Canary Wharf City of London Covent Garden Cutty Sark Greenwich Hampstead Hampton Court Palace Heathrow Houses of Parliament Hyde Park Imperial War Museum Islington Kensington Kensington Palace Leicester Square London London Eye London Transport Museum Museum of London National Gallery Notting Hill Piccadilly Circus Putney Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Regent's Street Royal Academy Selfridges Somerset House Southbank Southwark St Pancras St Paul's Cathedral Tate Britain Tate Modern The City Tower Bridge Tower of London Trafalgar Square V&A Wandsworth West End Westminster Westminster Abbey

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Recent Videos

Walk Around London Virtually Right Now – Watched Walker is the YouTube Channel We All Need Right Now

Jason Hawkes Shares a Beautiful Video of London From Above That We All Need Right now

London Tube: You’ve Got to Watch This Amazing Mesmerizing Animation That Shows the Real Geography of the London Underground

Video: The Basics of Crossrail – London’s New Underground Line

London History: The Place Where Old London Double Decker Buses Went to Die

London Video: A Look at the Great Smog of London

Passengers can now travel directly from Essex to Heathrow on Elizabeth line

Prince and Princess of Wales take the Tube to the pub as London prepares for coronation

Transport for London creates ‘crowndels’ to celebrate coronation

10 Interesting Facts about the Hammersmith and City Line

Nearly half of Londoners have used Elizabeth line so far – survey

Tube and London bus fares to rise by nearly 6% from March

Footer

About Londontopia

Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!

When We’re in London Next

We don’t currently have any travel plans to London but hope to visit at some point in 2021.

  • SEO Backlinks
  • Travel Blog

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Copyright © 2023 Anglotopia, LLC · Website Developed by Anglotopia, LLC · Log in