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WestField Shopping Centre
White City
Westfield London, White City – Shopping on a Seriously Big Scale
If your idea of a shopping trip involves popping in for one thing and emerging several hours later carrying bags you definitely didn't plan on buying, Westfield London in White City is dangerous territory.
Located on Ariel Way in West London, Westfield London brings an enormous mix of fashion, luxury, beauty, technology, food and entertainment together under one very large roof. It's the sort of place where you can buy a new pair of trainers, browse designer handbags, stop for lunch, catch a film and somehow still discover another section you haven't walked through yet.
Shopping at Westfield London
The sheer choice is the main attraction. Westfield currently lists more than 300 shops, ranging from familiar high-street names to premium and luxury brands.
You'll find major names including Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, Nike, Adidas, Apple, Sephora, John Lewis & Partners and M&S, while shoppers looking for something considerably more luxurious can head towards The Village, where brands include Louis Vuitton, Prada and Tiffany & Co.
That combination is what makes Westfield particularly useful: you don't have to choose between high street and high-end. They're all part of the same shopping trip.
Come Hungry
Calling Westfield simply a shopping centre doesn't quite do it justice. Food has become a sizeable part of the experience, with Westfield currently listing 88 places to eat and drink.
Options range from quick bites and coffee to proper sit-down meals. Current names include Flat Iron, Sticks'n'Sushi, Rosa's Thai, Pizza Pilgrims, Honest Burgers, Wagamama, Wahaca and Nando's, alongside plenty of cafés, bakeries and sweet stops.
In other words, “we'll just grab something while we're shopping” can quite easily turn into dinner.
More Than Shopping
Westfield has increasingly become somewhere you can spend an entire day rather than simply somewhere to spend money on clothes.
There's a Vue cinema, alongside entertainment including Puttshack indoor mini-golf and TOCA Social interactive football. Westfield itself now promotes the centre's mix of cinema, interactive football, mini-golf, bowling and other experiences as a major part of a visit.
That makes it particularly useful when London's weather decides not to cooperate. Shopping, eating and entertainment can all be combined without needing to trek across the capital.
Getting There
Westfield London is in White City, W12, making it a convenient shopping destination for West London as well as visitors coming from Central London. For anyone driving, Westfield currently advertises around 4,000 parking spaces across three car parks.
Is Westfield London Worth Visiting?
If you're coming to London purely for old streets, independent boutiques and quintessential London charm, there are more atmospheric places to shop.
But that's not really what Westfield is trying to be.
Westfield London is about choice and convenience on a massive scale. High-street fashion, designer labels, beauty, technology, restaurants and entertainment are all packed into one destination. It's particularly good for families, serious shopping days or visitors who want access to dozens of major brands without zig-zagging across London.
And if someone in your group hates shopping? Send them for food, mini-golf or a film and collect them later.
City Lynx Verdict
Westfield London is less of a shopping trip and more of a shopping expedition. Come with comfortable shoes, don't promise anyone you'll “only be an hour”, and perhaps leave a little more room on the credit card than you originally intended.
Stratford
Westfield Stratford City – East London’s Shopping Giant
Sitting right in the middle of Stratford, Westfield Stratford City is the kind of place where popping in for a new shirt can somehow turn into shopping, lunch, bowling and a trip to the cinema.
Opened as part of Stratford’s huge transformation around the London 2012 Olympics, Westfield Stratford City has developed into one of East London’s major shopping and entertainment destinations. Its location next to Stratford’s transport connections and close to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park makes it particularly convenient whether you're coming for a dedicated shopping day or simply adding it to a day exploring this part of London.
Shopping at Westfield Stratford City
There's certainly no shortage of shops. Westfield currently lists more than 200 retailers, covering fashion, beauty, technology, jewellery, sportswear, homeware and everyday essentials.
Big names include John Lewis & Partners, M&S, Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, Primark, Apple, Sephora, Adidas and The North Face, alongside premium brands including BOSS, Coach, Polo Ralph Lauren and Breitling.
Watch fans aren't forgotten either, with an OMEGA Boutique, TAG Heuer and Rolex at Watches of Switzerland among the current line-up.
Whether you're hunting for designer pieces or simply need a pair of trainers, there's a good chance you'll find it without leaving the building.
Eating at Westfield Stratford
Shopping while hungry is rarely a good financial decision, so fortunately there's plenty of food around.
Westfield currently lists 48 restaurants and bars, covering everything from quick lunches to proper sit-down dinners. Choices include Big Easy, Busaba Eathai, Pizza Pilgrims, Rosa's Thai, Wagamama, Wahaca, Pho, Nando's, Shake Shack, The Real Greek and Shoryu Ramen.
There's also a sizeable selection of cafés, desserts and grab-and-go options, making it easy to stop for ten minutes — although ten minutes has a habit of becoming an hour.
More Than Just Shopping
One of Westfield Stratford City's strengths is that you don't necessarily have to like shopping to have a reason to visit.
There's a Vue cinema, All Star Lanes, Bat & Ball Stratford and the sizeable Gravity MAX entertainment venue. That means a visit can easily move from shopping to food and then into bowling, gaming or a film without having to travel somewhere else.
It's particularly handy for families and groups where everyone has a slightly different definition of a good day out.
The Olympic Park Is Next Door
Westfield's location gives it another advantage over many traditional shopping centres.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is nearby, meaning you can combine the shopping centre with some of East London's biggest attractions and venues. It's an easy way of turning Westfield into part of a wider Stratford day rather than making the shopping centre the entire destination.
The area has changed enormously over the past couple of decades, and Westfield sits right at the centre of modern Stratford.
Getting to Westfield Stratford City
The centre is extremely well connected by public transport, making it straightforward to reach from both Central London and other parts of the capital.
For drivers, Westfield currently provides more than 4,500 parking spaces across three car parks, which is particularly useful if you've ignored all sensible advice and bought considerably more than you can comfortably carry home.
Is Westfield Stratford City Worth Visiting?
Absolutely — particularly if you're staying in East London, attending an event around Stratford or want a huge selection of shops without travelling between different parts of London.
It's less about traditional London charm and more about having virtually everything in one place. Fashion, trainers, watches, cosmetics, restaurants, entertainment and everyday shopping all sit within the same enormous complex.
For tourists staying exclusively around Mayfair or the West End, Westfield London at White City may sometimes be more convenient. But if you're exploring East London, visiting the Olympic Park or staying around Stratford, this is the obvious heavyweight shopping destination.
City Lynx Verdict
Westfield Stratford City is what happens when somebody takes the phrase “shopping centre” a little too seriously.
Come for Zara, Apple or John Lewis, stay for dinner, accidentally go bowling and realise several hours later that the one thing you originally came to buy is still sitting on the shelf.
City Lynx tip: Combine your visit with Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park rather than treating Westfield as a standalone trip — and wear comfortable shoes. This place is big.
Things to know
February 2019 until Present
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