To think the Trafford centre is horrible?

[Chocolateapot]

I went to the Trafford centre today for the first time in a few years. I couldn’t believe how busy, hot and expensive it was! I know I was adding to the crowds today but I won’t be back anytime soon!

One does not simply go to the Trafford Centre on a weekend and expect it to be quiet.

That way madness lies.

It’s horrible.Try Meadowhall instead, bit more of a chilled atmosphere and easy by train.

Weekday mornings are the only time to go. Arrive just before opening 10. Leave around 11.30 as it gets busy. Weekends are horrific. Those huge families all wandering round but buying very little with multiple small children. Just why??

Not been to that shopping centre but frequently have to walk from Stratford to Stratford International on a Saturday and the way to go is through Westfield. It's such a nasty experience. I'd quite like to go to John Lewis but all I need to do when getting in there is get out.

We went yesterday too, was madness. 5 hours maximum parking seems a bit odd, it took me about 20 minutes of that to get out of our bit of the Regent car park. Full of botox-ed women with fake tans and eyelashes. My DD has just moved nearby but we won't be going back anytime soon.

Evenings are better. There’s a good choice of shops and lots to choose from food wise. I wouldn’t go on a Saturday.

I have rules about going to the Trafford Centre. Never arrive after 11.30 on a Saturday. Don't go on weekends at all in November and December. I was there yesterday in fact from about 10.15 -12.00 and it was fine at that point. I would rather not go but John Lewis refuse to open in town, and I have to drive pretty much past the door of the Trafford Centre to get to the one in Cheadle, which makes no sense.

I went today. I hate it usually but it was tolerable in the shops. The walkways were busy but I didn’t get the rage I usually get so that was a win! Agree though that daytime or evenings make it a nicer experience.

It’s an indoor shopping centre full of retail chain stores; I don’t enjoy going but I don’t think it’s worse than any other shopping centre of that kind.

I guess it depends whether you see shopping malls as places for a fun day out or just a means to an end. For me, a shopping mall is always a means to an end, simply a place I go when I really need to visit one or more specific stores they have there. So they all feel like much of a muchness to me, as I have no expectations of the experience beyond going to the shops I need to visit and then going home again.

I live in Manchester and I probably only ever go to the Trafford Centre once a year or so when I need to go to a John Lewis - anything else I’d shop for in Manchester city centre, as I much prefer walking round a city to walking round a shopping mall.

I really wanted John Lewis to move into the old Debenhams building in the city centre so I didn’t have to go to Trafford for one!

Do not understand why there isn't a John Lewis in town, it's very annoying!😓

We were also there around 12, went for opening times to do an Apple Store click and collect but it took ages! Sundays are usually pretty busy but agree with the roads being rammed too!

We use the John Lewis in Cheadle, much easier to park there.

It's too far for me to make a regular pilgrimage there!

It is home to the worlds worst Waterstones, which really pisses me off.

It's soulless but then most of these kind of centres always are. They're never nice for strolling about in. It has a good-ish range of shops and if you live close by I can see why it's handy. My rule is to never, ever go on weekends and during the school holidays because of the crowds and dreadful traffic around the centre. I also like that there's a cinema next to the shopping centre.

It's horrible and I don't see the attraction - I went a couple of times when it first opened, but haven't been back in over 20 years.
Mind you, I hate all indoor shopping centres - I'd much rather go to an interesting town with some quirky independent shops (not many of those left!).

Not just a Saturday, but payday Saturday for many! It was always going to be horrifying.

As a Merseysider I loved the Trafford Centre. I remember it being built and possibly being called Dumplington Hall 😁 I now live in the middle of nowhere Northumberland and have to say Gateshead tops Trafford. JL was good though.

This.

Derby is bloody awful.

Yeah, it’s a soulless death maze.

I first visited when it opened and it was massive soulless death maze.

I’ve been a couple of times since and it remains a soulless death maze.

It’s far, far, far too big and as for the “grandeur” - it looks like a sixth form art project.

The road system in the area is like trying to work out the Da Vinci Code.

That said, I do quite like the dinosaur crazy golf nearby.

Went there today. Haven’t been for about 20 years. It was busy, ok expected on a weekend. The toilets were absolutely disgusting, overflowing and filthy, worst I’ve seen in a shopping centre. Shops were ok, but didn’t see most of the shops I like. Spent so much time looking for shops that seem to be no longer there. The place is very dated and not well maintained unfortunately.

Does it still have that “wing” of homewear shops like M&S home and Next home etc?

I agree 💯

Went there once and that was enough. There isn't anything unique about it. Same shops as anywhere else.