The Whitgift Centre is one of the largest shopping centres in the United Kingdom and is located in the town of Croydon, south London. The centre opened in 1970 and was one of the first purpose-built shopping centres in the country. It has since been extended and refurbished several times and now covers an area of 1.4 million square feet. The Whitgift Centre can be found here 21 NORTH END, CROYDON, CR0 1TY.
The Whitgift Centre is home to over 250 shops, including major department stores such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Debenhams. There is also a wide range of smaller shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. The centre is open seven days a week and has a regular bus and tram service.
I am a regular shopper at the Whitgift Centre and I love it! I usually come here at least once a week, and sometimes more if I have time. I usually come in the morning, as it’s less busy then, and I can get my shopping done more quickly.
I usually start my shopping trip in John Lewis. I always find something I need there, whether it’s clothes, cosmetics or homeware. They have a great selection of products and the staff are always helpful. I then head over to Marks & Spencer to pick up some lunch. I love their healthy options and their sandwiches are my favourite.
After lunch, I like to walk around the centre and do some window shopping. I usually pop into H&M and Zara to see if there’s anything I like, but I never buy anything as I can find cheaper options elsewhere. I also like to visit the Disney Store and the Lego Store, even though I don’t have any kids!
I usually finish my shopping trip with a coffee and a cake from Costa. They do the best coffee in the centre and their cakes are delicious – look here. I then head home, laden with bags, and start planning my next shopping trip to the Whitgift Centre!
It’s now afternoon, and the Whitgift Centre is starting to get busy. The shops are full of people, and there is a steady stream of people coming in and out of the centre. I take a quick break from shopping and sit down for a coffee and a slice of cake. I people watch for a while, and it’s interesting to see the different types of people who come to the centre. There are families with young children, groups of teenagers, couples and elderly people. There is a real mix of people, and it’s one of the things I love about the Whitgift Centre.
I finish my coffee and cake and head back into the centre. I walk past the Disney Store and the Lego Store, and I can’t resist going in for a quick look. I love how the Disney Store is always decorated with the latest Disney movie, and the Lego Store is just so much fun. I could spend hours in there!
I continue my shopping trip and head into H&M. I find a few items that I like, but I don’t want to spend too much money so I don’t buy anything. I then walk over to Zara, but I can’t find anything that I like. I’m starting to get a bit tired now, so I decide to head home.
I’ve had a great day shopping at the Whitgift Centre, and I can’t wait to come back again soon. There is always something new to see and do, and it’s a great place to find good deals on clothes, cosmetics and homeware. I would definitely recommend a visit to the Whitgift Centre if you’re ever in Croydon!
How To Get To the Whitgift Centre in Croydon
BY CAR
The postcodes for sat-nav are:
Centrale multi-storey car park: CR0 1XT
Whitgift surface car park: CR9 1AT
To drive to the centre:
From central London, take the A23 or A212.
From Sutton or Bromley, take the A232.
From outside London, follow the A23 from junction 7 of the M25.
Scroll down below to enter your location for Google Maps navigation to the centre.
BY BUS
The following services stop nearby: 50, 60, 64, 75, 109, 119, 154, 166, 194, 197, 198, 250, 264, 312, 403, 405, 407, 410, 412, 455, 466 and 468.
BY TRAIN
East Croydon and West Croydon stations are both a short walk away from Centrale and Whitgift. Both stations are served by numerous train operators and have direct connections to central London and the south east of England.
BY TRAM
Services operate from: New Addington, Elmers End, Beckenham Junction and Wimbledon. Please use the Centrale stop for the Centrale centre, and Wellesley Road for Whitgift.
BY TAXI
There is a taxi rank on Poplar Walk, adjacent to Marks & Spencer.
