We have been looking at some of the best places to live to have easy access to Britain’s most popular shopping centres. This time, we head to the West of England and Wales.
The country’s earliest, and arguably best-known indoor shopping centre was first opened in 1964 as the Bull Ring. It was completely redeveloped and re-opened in 2003 and together with the connected Grand Central development offers around 240 places to shop, eat and drink. There are 3,500 parking spaces in central Birmingham but you might prefer to get the train, as it is right next door to Birmingham Moor Street station.
The B5 postcode is one of the most central, within walking distance of the Bullring and also incorporating the Chinese Quarter and Gay Village. A few miles south-west of the city centre, Rubery and Lickey have the convenience of being close to the M5 and M42, a well-respected golf course and country park, and it’s only 20 minutes by rail from Longbridge station to Birmingham New Street.
Situated in the Brierley Hill district, there are over 160 shops here, and over 40 places to eat and drink, with a 10-screen Odeon cinema providing an alternative to retail therapy. Driving is the best way to get here but there are over 9,000 parking spaces over seven car parks, so it’s easy to find a space.
Dudley is a very well-connected town, thanks to the road and rail networks. Wolverhampton offers plenty of shopping of its own but is only 20 minutes’ north. It’s about the same journey time from West Bromwich and from Stourbridge.
There are 150 shops here, but also a lot more to do to make it a real day out. Immotion VR and Belong At Game offer a range of motion simulators and online gaming so entertain people of all ages; Cineworld has no fewer than 15 screens to show 2D, 3D and 4DX movies; Treetop Adventure Golf has two 18-hole courses set around a cafe/bar. There are some 2,000 spaces at the 24-hour car park and two stations, Cardiff Central and Queen Street, are in walking distance.
Cardiff has so much to offer, it’s no surprise just how many people visit the city – this shopping centre has about 38million through its doors every year. There’s lots of regeneration happening in its suburbs and thanks to the M4, places like Cwmbran and Newport are around only 30 minutes away.
Located in the Broadmead part of the city, the shops are complemented by a Showcase Cinema De Lux with 13 screens, two 18-hole courses for Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf and the 60-minute, and the action-packed Escape Hunt. If all this isn’t enough, there are more stop stores in surrounding streets and if there’s still energy to burn, the Castle Park Adventure Playground. It is easily reached by public transport and by car, with 2,500 parking spaces.
Bristol has a host of suburbs with different character and things to do. Knowle is only a 30-minute walk from Broadmead, while arguably the city’s best-known district, Clifton is only 40 minutes away on foot. Frenchay is to the north and only 15 minutes away on the M32.
A seven-screen cinema is here along with the wide array of big brands and independent shops, and numerous cafes and restaurants to suit all tastes. 360 Play Town offers a host of activities for 3- to 10-year-olds from a soft play zone to arts & crafts and a two-storey play area with all sorts of rides. This is all at the heart of the town centre, opposite the station, but there are also 2,500 spaces across five nearby car parks.
Redditch is easily reached from Bromsgrove, the popular town with some notable schools, which is just 15 minutes away. Worcester and Kidderminster are both only half-an-hour's drive away.
There are over 160 units, from big names to one-off specialists, at this shopping centre in Southwater, Telford, which is a hub for retail and leisure. While the Centre itself includes a gym, just on the doorstep is a real mix of things to do, including two large cinemas, an ice rink and ten-pin bowling. It’s a short walk to Telford Central station, The Forge Retail Park and a host of other shop-lined streets. There’s parking for 4,000 vehicles.
Telford itself is seeing many new homes being built to suit all sorts of budgets and requirements. The likes of Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton and Stafford all benefit from being a simple journey away.
This collection of some 150 shops, cafés and restaurants is on the northern fringes of Bristol. It’s on a site neighbouring a host of other big stores for many things, from footwear to furniture, as well as a large cinema and a ten-pin bowling venue. There’s a soft-play crèche and outdoor play area to keep young non-shoppers happy. There are some 7,000 free parking spaces, including 300 accessible for disabled visitors.
There are many new homes being built within easy reach of the city in places like Yate and Thornbury and the city is within easy reach by road and public transport from the likes of Weston-super-Mare, Bath and Stroud.
Just a few minutes from the town’s station and served by numerous bus services, just north of Old Cwmbran, this combines a big range of large and small shops and eateries with amenities such as baby changing facilities, a dentist, a library and the Post Office. There are plenty of other stores within easy reach, and parking is easy, with 3,000 free-to-use spaces.
Cwmbran has a very different character from Cardiff, which is only 30 minutes away, as are the historic town of Monmouth and the ‘Gateway to Wales’, Abergavenny.
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