The Largest Shopping Malls In The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom hosts world-class shopping centers including some of the largest shopping destinations in Europe. Some of these large shopping centers in the country attract millions of visitors annually. Here we enlist the 20 largest shopping centers in the country by size and describe the features of the top five.

5. Liverpool One

The Liverpool ONE is the fifth biggest shopping destination in the United Kingdom and the biggest open-air shopping center in the country. It is located in Liverpool, England. The project was built on underutilized land in the center of Liverpool city. The shopping center is anchored by the Debenhams and the John Lewis departmental stores. Leisure facilities like the adventure golf center and a 14-screen Odeon cinema are also a part of the complex.

4. Bluewater

Bluewater Shopping Centre located in Stone, Kent, England is an out-of-town shopping center. It is located 28.6 km from the center of London. The shopping center was established on March 16, 1999. It occupies an area of 155,700 m2. The shopping destination has a triangular shape with 330 stores, 40 restaurants and cafés, and a 13-screen cinema. Over 7,000 employees work here and nearly 27 million visitors are served each year. Four major institutions of the country own the Bluewater Shopping Centre.

3. Westfield Stratford City

Westfield Stratford City, located in Stratford, London, is the third largest shopping center in the United Kingdom. The center has a total retail floor area of 177,030.6 m2. It was opened on September 13, 2011. The shopping center is owned by the Westfield Group, ABP Pension Fund, and the CPP Investment Board holding different percentage of shares. The Westfield Stratford City is anchored by the John Lewis department store, a Waitrose supermarket, and a Marks & Spencer department store. The shopping and leisure destination also hosts a 17-screen cinema and a 24-hour operating casino. A total of 280 stores and 70 restaurants are present here. Two hotels, the Premier Inn hotel and a hotel with 350 rooms are also part of the complex.

2. intu Trafford Centre

intu Trafford Centre is the second largest shopping center in the United Kingdom. The center is located near the Trafford Park industrial estate in Greater Manchester, England. intu Trafford Centre was established in 1998 and is owned by Intu Properties. The market value of the shopping center is £1.9 billion as of 2016. The architectural style of intu Trafford Centre represents the rococo/late baroque architectural style. The food court of the shopping center, the Orient, is shaped like a steam ship reminding visitors of the Manchester Ship Canal located nearby. It is also Europe’s largest food court. Since intu Trafford Centre is located in a densely populated area of the country, over 35 million visitors pay a visit to the shopping center annually. intu Trafford Centre also hosts the busiest cinema in the country that attracts over 28,500 visitors weekly. It has more than 11,500 car parking spaces.

1. intu Metrocentre

Formerly known as the MetroCentre, intu Metrocentre is the largest shopping and leisure center in the United Kingdom. It is located on a former industrial site near the Tyne River in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. The first phase of the shopping center was opened on April 28, 1986. It occupies a retail area of 190,000 m2 and houses over 340 shops. The mall is anchored by the three large departmental stores of Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, and House of Fraser. Several major fashion retailers also have their stores at the mall. The leisure facilities here feature a 12 screen Odeon cinema, and an indoor amusement arcade called the Namco Funscape.