This is true shopping paradise! I live in Sunderland so the Metro Centre is about 15-20 minutes by car, but is also easily reachable by bus and train with frequent service to pretty much the whole north-east! There is ample parking and I have never not been able to fine a space - even in the week before Christmas when the place is ridiculously busy!

The centre itself is spread over two floors, and is easy to navigate thanks to coloured zones and many information points with interactive maps. The choice of shops under one roof is amazing, and is by far the best in the north east. In fact having been to other major northern shopping centres such as Meadow Hall and the Trafford Centre the Metro Centre is the best of the bunch. The usual chain shops are all to be found here - Topshop, Debenhams etc but there are also some more idependent places - though sadly more of these seem to be closing every time I visit. Think it must be the high rent.

The leisure aspect of the Metro Centre is what makes it such a brilliant place, as it houses a cinema and excellent choice of places to eat all under the same roof as the shops. The choice of restaurants is excellent, with 2 Nando's, Pizza Hut, Frankie and Benny's, Wetherspoons, McDonalds and absolutley loads more.

Also, the development of the place never seems to stop. The Red mall reopened a few years ago and is by far currently the nicest area of the centre as it is more open than the rest of the centre. The new Qube area looks promising with a YoSushi!, Red House, Pizza Express, Frankie and Benny's and Nando's already opened and more to come. The iMax cinema will also be a great addition.

The only complaint I would have about the metro Centre is it can be extremely stuffy in summer - maybe the air contitioning could be a bit more efficient!

All in all a brilliant place to shop and spend your weekend!