Westfield Stratford City

£1.45 billion. 1.9 million square feet. 300 stores, 70 restaurants, a 17-screen all-digital cinema, the third largest shopping centre in the United Kingdom and the largest urban shopping centre in the European Union. That the shopping centre in question is within spitting distance of central London, and has all the technological innovations and big-name associations a complex on the Olympic site would be expected to have, you’d be making a pretty good case for Best Mall in Europe, if not the world.

As with its cousin over in West London, the Stratford site is anchored down by a monstrous Marks and Spencer, a Waitrose and now a John Lewis. Almost every conceivable British high street brand is located here, and the Great Eastern Market (as it has been subtly named) has been set up for small-scale producers of fruit, veg and organic produce to sell their goods to a guaranteed customer base. Though it lacks the luxury village of Shepherds Bush, brands like Mulberry, Hugo Boss and Apple have set up shop here, while restaurant chains like Jamie’s Italian and TGI Fridays join independent London favourites like Franco Manca, Busaba Eathai and Rosa’s in providing countless dining choices. Food courts and cafés are placed around the complex for the inevitable episodes of shopping-induced hypoglycaemia.

The complex is served by multiple tube and railways stations, and even has its own hotel; interestingly, there is a direct route from public transport to the Olympic village that takes you through the heart of the shopping centre. We’d encourage you to still visit the small shops and markets of East London, but an afternoon here is not an experience you’re likely to forget anytime soon.

Opening Hours - Monday - Friday: 10:00 - 21:00, Saturday: 09:00 to 21:00, Sunday: 11:00 - 17:00. Restaurants close later, at 23:00 - midnight.

Nearest Tube: Stratford