Bluewater is the ‘best UK shopping centre’ for Christmas

The study, conducted by Cinch, the UK’s largest online used car retailer, assessed the 20 biggest shopping centres across the UK.

Bluewater topped the list, with the Metrocentre in Gateshead and Meadowhall in Sheffield coming in second and third, respectively.

The study considered various factors, including the size of each centre, the number and cost of parking spaces, the number of shops and restaurants, and the average rating of Google reviews.

Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, said: “It’s no secret how stressful Christmas shopping can be, so we wanted to find out where festive shoppers can have the most enjoyable experience.

“With a whopping 13,000 free parking spaces, 350 shops and restaurants spread across 1,800,000 square feet, and a Google review rating of 4.5 stars, it’s no surprise that Bluewater ranks top of our list.

“Gateshead’s Metrocentre and Sheffield’s Meadowhall round out the top three, with both having plenty of shopping and food options and offering more than 10,000 free parking spaces each.”

Westfield London in Shepherd’s Bush was identified as the largest shopping centre in the study, spanning an impressive 2,400,000 square feet.

However, it was Bluewater that took the crown, with its combination of size, parking convenience, and customer satisfaction.

Parking convenience was a key factor in the study, with Bluewater again coming out on top with 13,000 spaces available.

Only seven shopping centres on the list offer completely free parking: Bluewater, Meadowhall, Metrocentre, Merry Hill, Lakeside Shopping Centre, The Trafford Centre, and Braehead.

The study also compared the number of shops and restaurants at each location.

Westfield London stood out, offering an impressive 408 options to explore.

However, it was Bluewater’s combination of ‘variety’ and ‘convenience’ that secured its top spot.

Customer ratings were also taken into account, with Bluewater, Trafford Centre, St David’s, Westfield London, and Liverpool ONE all earning impressive Google review scores of 4.5 stars out of 5.

The study provides a comprehensive guide for those looking to make their Christmas shopping experience as stress-free as possible.

With its combination of size, convenience, and customer satisfaction, Bluewater in Kent is the clear winner.

The full list of the top 10 shopping centres, according to the study, is as follows:

1. Bluewater, Greenhithe, Kent

2. Metrocentre, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

3. Meadowhall, Sheffield

4. The Trafford Centre, Trafford, Greater Manchester

5. Lakeside Shopping Centre, Thurrock, Essex

6. Merry Hill, Dudley, West Midlands

7. Westfield London, Shepherd’s Bush, London

8. Westfield Stratford City, Stratford, London

9. Braehead, Renfrew, Renfrewshire

10. Centre:mk, Milton Keynes

For those looking for a successful Christmas shopping trip, the study suggests that a combination of a variety of shops and restaurants, ample parking, and high customer ratings are key.

With this in mind, Bluewater in Kent is the top choice for Christmas shopping.