Beloved UK shopping centre that’s ’showing its age’ is getting major revamp

London’s first American-style shopping centre is getting a much-needed revamp (Picture: Getty Images)

These days,London is fairly well served for shopping centres,with two Westfields and the new space at Battersea Power Station,to name a few. But back in the day,one outlet was completely unrivalled.

Brent Cross was opened in 1976 by the then-Prince Charles,and it was the first out-of-town shopping centre concept not just in London,but in the UK.

Local shoppers will fondly remember the John Lewis,the Fenwick store,and of course,the seemingly huge Waitrose.

If you’d been saving up for a larger purchase or investment piece,like a new coat or a piece of furniture,Brent Cross was the place – and all three of these original shops are,thankfully,still open today.

It wasn’t just higher-end purchases,though: Brent Cross was also full of normal shops to spend a Saturday in with your mates,like Miss Selfridge and Claire’s Accessories.

Now,a revamp is just around the corner,ready to restore Brent Cross to its former glory. We all know that it’s been a little bit lacklustre for a while,not least because of how it looks when you’re passing on the interchange. Brown and,well,slightly depressing.

The new plans will create space for up to 150 new shops (part of 2 million square feet of retail space),50 restaurants,a cinema complex,and a hotel,all of which are set to be finalised in spring 2026.

Brent Cross was first opened in 1976 by King Charles (Picture: PA Archive/PA Images)

The shopping centre isn’t the only thing that’s being refreshed in the area. It’s all part of the wider vision for Brent Cross Town,which,being a collaboration between Argent Related and Barnet Council,includes a new train station at Brent Cross West,as well as 47 new homes through L&Q.

There’ll be 6,700 homes,office space to accommodate approximately 20,000 new jobs,community and health facilities,and extra green spaces that will amount to 21 acres.

Some of the new shops have already opened,the first being Co-op,which welcomed its first customers in November 2025.

There’s also an extra opportunity to get on board with one of London’s most of-the-moment fitness trends,padel,at The 108,which feels incredibly chic for Brent Cross.

The new plans will make space for 150 shops (Picture: Supplied)

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For a while now,journeying to this 1970s shopping centre has felt like travelling back in time. And that’s not always a good thing.

A reviewer on Tripadvisor,known only as Oly said that it’s ‘not as enjoyable as it used to be’.

On Google reviews Kameliya Antova dubbed it ‘truly disappointing’ while Adam R claimed it has ‘no redeeming features’. Others have said it’s ‘very dated’,‘showing its age’,and is the ‘worst place ever’.

Over on Reddit,@hawkisgirl said she’s nostagic for the version of Brent Cross that existed in the 1990s,throughout her childhood.

‘The big wooden animals outside Waitrose,the lovely forest green tiling in the public toilets,the faint smell of chlorine from the magnificent fountain in the central atrium…those were the days,’ she wrote.

@RaisedByRaccoons wrote of missing the three for £21 Hollister perfume deals,adding: ‘Without Victoria’s Secret,New Look or River Island,Brent Cross is so dead now. I spent so much time as a teen roaming the halls. Every time I go there now,it just depresses me.’

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