By Kingfisher Visitor Guides
If you prefer the comfort of well-known stores, you’re in luck. In Middlesex you can gorge yourself on brand names and go loopy for labels, thanks to a clutch of fabulous malls that will keep you shopping all day.
Shopping malls
Start your shopping odyssey at Westfield London, which at 2.6 million sq ft is the largest shopping centre in Europe. Highlights include a swish John Lewis department store set over four levels and the mall’s designer wing, The Village, where you’ll find 35 boutiques by leading fashion houses including Burberry, Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, as well as refreshments in the form of a swanky champagne bar.
Find designer brands and high street stores at Brent Cross
If you’ve got more of a lemonade budget, you’ll also find all your high street favourites such as Marks & Spencer, H&M, Diesel, Abercrombie & Fitch, Levi’s and Monki. When it’s time for a break from all that retail action, there’s a huge upmarket food hall where you can get everything from Lebanese to sushi, as well as several sit-down restaurants. Not enough action for you? Check out the bowling alley, mini golf or multiscreen cinema.
Westfield London, which at 2.6 million sq ft is the largest shopping centre in Europe. Highlights include a swish John Lewis department store set over four levels and the mall’s designer wing
Westfield’s rival to the north west is Brent Cross Shopping Centre, a sprawling indoor mall that’s home to dozens of stylish stores including AllSaints, Mango, Guess and Reiss as well as large Fenwick and John Lewis department stores.
Treat yourself
If you’re in need of a break, swap the changing rooms for a beauty treatment room. There are Clarins spas in both Fenwick and John Lewis, or if you’d rather go independent there’s Sia, a hair and beauty salon. When you’re feeling your tummy rumble, there are plenty of eateries to sort you out. They include Wagamama, KFC, Starbucks, Nando’s and Shake Shack.
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- Have yourself a coffee break at one of the many cafés
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- There are plenty of opportunities to pick up some fantastic clothes
For more high street names, head to Ealing Broadway shopping centre, which is home to brands including H&M and Footlocker as well as Ealing’s flagship Central Library, if you fancy a break and a browse. There are plenty of good things to eat, too, including coffee and sandwiches at Jamaica Blue and Japanese fast food at Wasabi.
If you like the big fashion names but can’t afford the prices, make a beeline for Wembley’s London Designer Outlet. Situated in Wembley Park, next to Wembley Stadium, it offers up to 70 per cent off all sorts of high street brands. There’s Adidas, Calvin Klein, The North Face, Vans and Levi’s, just for starters. If you’re making a day of it, there are also restaurants, coffee shops and a Cineworld cinema so you can really settle in.
If you fancy a break and a browse. There are plenty of good things to eat, too, including coffee and sandwiches at Jamaica Blue and Japanese fast food at Wasabi
Shopping hotspots
If you’re looking for other shopping hotspots in Middlesex, try Uxbridge, which has two shopping centres. The Chimes in the town centre has a collection of high street favourites, fast food joints and an Odeon cinema, while The Pavilions has stores including a large M&S, a TK Maxx and several cafés.
There are plenty of opportunities for the family to browse around
Nearby Staines has two covered shopping centres – Two Rivers and Elmsleigh. At Two Rivers there’s a great selection of high street brands including Next and Boots, as well as restaurants, a cinema and a gym. Elmsleigh, the older of the two precincts, houses chains including Clarks, H&M, New Look and Waterstones.
Middlesex is home to Heathrow Airport, so it’s the perfect opportunity to indulge in some duty-free shopping (as long as you happen to be flying somewhere!). Each of the five terminals has at least one World Duty Free shop, offering beauty products, leather goods and alcohol at great value prices. Just make sure you stick to those allowances!
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