I first visited the Trafford Centre a couple of years ago. I now live in Manchester and frequently visit to the centre. There are over 280 shops within the complex, 35 restaurants. It is also Europe’s largest foodcourt. The opening hours are as follows: Mon-Fri 10 am-9 pm, Saturday 9 am-7 pm, Sunday 12 noon-6pm. Also, parking isn’t a problem if you’re driving to the centre, as there are 10,000 free parking spaces.
The Trafford Centre is located next to junctions 9 and 10 of the M60 Manchester Orbital Motorway, (formerly the M63). Also bus services operate from all parts of the region direct to their own on-site bus-station.

The clothes shops include Selfridges, BHS, H&M, Debenhams and many more. There are many designer shops, and loads of really good discount and bargain shops. The shops cater for everyone, any age. They have a number of sports shops (JJB, Streetwise sports, JD for instance), electrical shops (Dixons etc) and a really nice market place.

What surprised me when I visited the complex, was that the place was extremely clean. I know it’s fairly new, and so will appear clean, but you could really tell that the place is kept in excellent condition. It is also well laid out, and sign posted, so you can (hopefully) find your way around. With its beautiful marble and granite floors, spacious malls and astonishing water features, you’ll find the Trafford Centre a nice place to shop.

Within the complex is The Orient, which is one of the most exciting restaurant and entertainment venues in the North West. You’ll find something to suit all tastes at The Orient. There are continental outlets such as Tiggis, the Italian restaurant, and lively themed restaurants including the American influenced Exchange Bar and Grill, as well as a whole host of fast food eateries offering a quick snack. Trendy bars such as Manto are situated close to the traditional Trafford Tavern, so whether it’
s a relaxed meal for two or a lively night with friends there’s the right venue on offer. You can also watch a film in the 20 screen UCI cinema - the first megaplex in the UK, showing everything from childrens’ films, blockbusters to art-house movies. Near to the UCI is Megabowl, which is also a great form of entertainment.

The Centre is an excellent caterer for disabled people, and people with prams. There are lots of lifts and ramps. They even offer a service to hire wheelchairs and scooters to facilitate shopping.

The Trafford Centre really is a great day out. I recommend you give it a try, I can almost guarantee you’ll love it. One point that I must add, is that sometimes the centre can get quite busy, especially on Saturdays, so if you want to avoid the crowds, then I recommend you go on a weekday.