Some people love it, some people hate it, but there’s really no avoiding shopping. But it doesn’t have to be a nightmare and as a nation we love our dedicated shopping centres where everything is under one roof.
As part of our tour of the best places to live to be within easy reach of Britain’s largest and most popular shopping centres, this week we head to the North of England.
One of Britain’s largest shopping centres, with over 200 shops and nearly 50 places to eat and drink, the Metrocentre . There’s plenty of entertainment here to, including Clip ’n Climb, Angry Birds’ Adventure Golf, Namco Funscape and an Odeon cinema with no fewer than 17 screens. There are some 8,300 parking spaces spread over six sites. There’s a MetroCentre railway station just a few minutes out from Newcastle Central, and many bus services stop here.
The suburb of North Gosforth is under 20 minutes away by road, while for those with a young family, Throckley Primary School to the west of the city has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofstead and made the national press for its results. Jesmond is considered Newcastle’s most affluent suburb and is within easy reach of the city centre and Metrocentre.
From popular favourites to high-end names, there 150 shops here cater for all kinds of tastes and requirements, from finance to high fashion. The centre and its surrounding streets have a host of entertainment options too, with a large cinema, indoor skiing, Legoland Discovery, Sea Life Manchester and Belong by Game neighbours to some large supermarkets. There are over 10,000 parking space to accommodate all its visitors.
Platting Village is very close to the city centre – just 30 minutes on foot. Wilmslow is in Cheshire’s Golden Triangle of desirable places to live and is only a 20-minute drive from here. Altrincham is also affluent, home to a number of ‘Outstanding’-rated grammar schools and just eight miles from Manchester city centre.
Right in the heart of the city, this collection of 200 shops and many places to eat welcomes over 40 million visitors a year. The area is manna from heaven for retail addicts and while parking will be an issue for many, there are plenty of bus services from around the city and suburbs, and the Arndale is under 15 minutes on foot from Victoria, Piccadilly and Salford Central stations.
Woodford is one of Manchester’s most prestigious suburbs and has been home to quite a few famous names, particularly in the football word. Macclesfield is a market town only 25 minutes by rail to the centre of Manchester but also on the edge of the Peak District National Park.
Some 170 shops and 35 places to eat make this a very popular focus for retail addicts in the city and across Merseyside. It’s right in the heart of the city, easily accessible by bus and rail (Moorfields, Lime Street, James Street and Liverpool Central are all very close to it), but around 3,000 parking spaces across three sites mean driving is also well catered for. The city’s extensive shopping streets, leisure/culture venues and the Docks.
Edge Hill is just east – only half-an-hour on foot – from Liverpool ONE. The district of Allerton – where Sir Paul McCartney was born – is a sought-after place to live and only a few miles, and a few stations, south of the city centre. Southport is a much-loved seaside town that is only 45 minutes’ drive from central Liverpool.
This is about three miles north-east of Sheffield city centre, and next to the M1, which certainly helps with access for drivers. It’s well worth heading for as it combines a large number of shops and restaurants with a host of leisure facilities. There’s an 11-screen cinema, indoor climbing, inflatable park and Jump Inc, a huge ‘urban playground’ with 120 trampolines! Certainly something for everyone.
There are regular buses from the city centre to Meadowhall (journey time about 20 minutes), and even suburbs such as Woodseats on the opposite side of the city are still only half-an-hour away. Barnsley is only 15 minutes away thank to the motorway.
In the heart of Newcastle, just a 10-minute walk from Newcastle Central station, this mall is well-served by public transport and great for pedestrians, though there are nearly 1,000 parking spaces too. In addition to the shops and places to eat are a soft play area, gym and activities for all ages and ten-pin bowling.
The likes of Hebburn, Jarrow and South Shields, all south of the Tyne, are with an easy journey of the city centre thanks to the Metro system. Keen shoppers need not be on the doorstep in order to enjoy what Eldon Square offers. Towns such as Spennymoor in County Durham may be over 20 miles away but thanks to some great roads and public transport links are just half-an-hour from Newcastle. Middlesbrough and coastal towns such as Hartlepool are under an hour away.
There’s a mix of big and local brands among the 120 shops and 40 restaurants, bars and cafes here. The centre is right in the heart of the city centre and only two minutes’ walk from the station. Leeds has a brilliant reputation as a shopping ‘Mecca’, and the surrounding streets also have a top-class variety of places selling everything from a bar of chocolate to a designer suit. The centre is also home to the five-screen Everyman cinema. Excellent public transport links, and 630 parking spaces a provided.
Leeds is a very well-connected city. A 25-minute train service puts Huddersfield within easy reach (much quicker than driving there). Bradford, around nine miles west of the city, is also easily reach by road and public transport. The suburb of Horsforth is only five miles north-west of the city centre and home to Leeds Trinity University.
About three miles from the centre of Leeds, there are some 120 shops and a host of eateries with cuisine from around the world. There’s a lot more two, with the Escape Rooms offering a range of themed entertainment events, a Play Area with all sorts of activities for the kids, and an 11-screen IMAX cinema offering a whole range of films. Not far from the M1 and M621, this is a destination with around 5,000 parking spaces.
White Rose is an easy drive away from numerous popular towns and villages. It’s under 20 minutes from Wakefield. Doncaster is only 40 minutes away, while the likes of Harrogate, York, Hull and Manchester are all an hour or less from the front door here.
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