A Question...

[Feralpeg]

The other day, my DD (17) and I went to the Premiem Outlet not far from WDW. We live in the area, so we go there about once a month. Whenever we are there, we notice that a large percentage of the people shopping there are from the UK. DD asked me if there are malls in the UK. I told her I had no idea.

I hope this doesn't sound silly. Outside of London, are there malls in the UK? When I say mall, I mean a place with a large number of shops in either one building or buildings connected to each other. I'm sure you have lots of stores, but I don't know if they are set up the same way they are in the US. I'd never thought about it until DD asked me. Thanks!

 

[wilma-bride]

Hi. Yes, we do have some malls (we tend to call them shopping centres). There are quite a few large ones dotted around. Just outside London, you have Blue Water and Lakeside. Then, there are several others in major towns or cities:

Newcastle has Metro Centre
Manchester has Trafford Centre
Leeds has a large one (can't remember the name)
Bristol has Cribbs Causeway

I'm sure there are loads more but I can't think of them offhand.

Most of them, like the ones in the US, have a food court, where there are several restaurants and cafeterias.

The reason why so many Brits shop at malls when they're on holiday in the US is the prices - everything is so much cheaper

Are you planning a trip to the UK then?

 

[alisonbestford]

Sheffield has Meadowhall

DD (7) is looking forward to a trip to a 'mall' as she's seen them on Lizzie McQuire and Bratz movies

 

[mushumadness]

yes near me we hate the white rose centre and meadowhall

meadowhall is not quiet as big as the florida mall and theres definatly not the choice of big department stores.

the white rose is quiet small with just one street in it,

I love the premiumoutlets for the designer labels as theyre alot cheeper than they are here and you can get alot of different styles while you can be limited here

 

[florida sun]

Hi There

8 Miles from me here in Wales we have MacArthur Glen, a large premier desginer outlet which is very similar to the Premium Outlets you talk about, great place for Bargains.

 

[Minniespal]

Here in Glasgow we have:-

The Fort
Braehead
Buchanan Galleries
St. Encochs Centre

and in Edinburgh there are:-

Gyle
McArthur Glen
Princes Mall
St. James Centre
Cameron Toll

Although we do have many shopping centres/malls the whole point of us visiting the ones in the US is cost. I can purchase say clinique products quite easily here in the UK but at almost double the price of the same items in the USA.

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

There's the new Bullring in Birmingham that's not bad but as nice as it is to be out of the cold and wet weather I personally don't like the crowds. I can only stand it for a couple of hours before having to go home so it doesn't make sense for me to go anywhere "big". Our little town has two undercover shopping centres with a fair selection of big name stores. M&S, Boots, Woolies etc.

 

[Goofyish]

We have The Shires in Leicester city centre and Fosse Park just on the outskirts of Leicester

http://www.theshires.co.uk/home.shtm

http://www.fossepark.com/

 

[Claire L]

Yes we do have malls in most large towns these days but the good selection of items and low prices draw us to the outlet malls in the US and even the regular malls are better than here for alot of things

Claire

 

[carolfoy]

I'll agree that the big attraction is the savings to be had! that's why you'll see us stocking up on trainers, sportswear, golf equipment, cosmetics...
I was wondering though, are electricals/camera equipment/ mobli phones much cheaper?, I never seem to think they are but I could be wrong

 

[wils]

The savings at Orlando discount malls are great e.g. last visit we bought Fisher Price toys to take home as Christmas pressies - they were 1/2 the price of the UK (The fact we had to buy another suitcase to carry everything negated some of the savings but never mind!)

I just wish I realised what a bargain the kids clothes were and bought (even) more

DH says that he won't buy shirts again until we go back to Florida - any suggestions how to subtly destroy shirts to lessen time to our next trip welcome

 

[Claire L]

DH says that he won't buy shirts again until we go back to Florida - any suggestions how to subtly destroy shirts to lessen time to our next trip welcome

Umm wash alot in the machine and 'accidentally' leave a biro in one of the pockets Lol

Claire

 

[princess jackson]

In the North we have the Metrocentre, at Gateshead and in Newcastle we have a very dated Eldon Square. (could do with a upgrade)

Then we have two outlet style shopping places, Dalton Park which is the newest.

Then we have the Royal Quays at North Shields.

 

[WDWfan uk]

Major malls near us are in the Essex area : Bluewater and Lakeside - not too far from each other on the M25.

Manchester has the Trafford Centre which is impressive.

There are small malls in most towns - our town has a small mall and another larger mall is being built.

 

[Feralpeg]

Thank you all for your responses! DD and I are planning a visit to the UK. We were supposes to visit this summer, but planning for DD starting college has gotten in the way. I hope we can visit next summer. Sounds like I better bring extra cash if I plan to shop over there!

DD wants to do a study abroad program in the UK in a couple of years. I'm sure she will try to hit many of the shopping centers you mentioned!

 

[Tink78]

Milton Keynes has a fab mall.

www.thecentremk.com

You can easily spend a day there!!

 

[mark&sue]

also the exchange rate currently is very favourable for us to shop in US.


Susan

 

[PigSoldier]

There are a few shopping centres in London, not so much in the centre, but once you start moving out you get a few. I know Brent Cross in North London was the biggest in the country, once upon a time!