So, the UK's third largest shopping centre, and Europe's largest in-city shopping centre, is finally open.
I suppose the obvious point to make is that it is big, although because the whole thing is on two levels it doesn't feel quite as large as I expected. Mind you, if you wanted to browse every inch, you'd have to go up the escalators and start again, which I suspect would be a killer.
So once inside? Well, like other Westfield developments, the finish is very high quality, and it is spotlessly maintained. The floors have polished tiles, and the main circulating areas have huge undulating glazed roofs - the main atrium is the size of a soccer pitch. Christmas decorations - on a tree-sized scale - add to the feeling of glitz at the moment. There are comfy lounge areas next to some of the toilets, with nice sofas and armchairs, as well as coffee bars to sit and take a breather.
At the Shepherd's Bush Green end is 'The Village', which houses the 35-plus designer shops: De Beers, Tiffany, Mulberry, Prada, Versace, Valentino - you get the picture. Walk through here and you get to the main mall, arranged on two levels in a figure of 8 shape. This has a wide range of High Street names, with about half the stores focussing on fashion; in each corner is one of four anchor stores (House of Fraser, M&S, Debenhams and a huge Next).
The other main categories are: kids and toys; health & beauty; jewellery; sport & fitness; gifts; games and hobbies; and electronics and phones. There's a Waitrose supermarket at the southern end (below House of Fraser). Altogether, there are 250 shops, and most branches seem large enough to provide plenty of choice. (The stores on level one are mostly two storeys themelves). Most of the shops are now open.
Eateries - of which there are over 30 - are grouped either in the long Terrace at the southern end, on in the two main atria. There are all sorts of other services, including cloakrooms, Shopmobility, family rooms, GPS trackers for children (in case they get lost), kiddie cars, even dog bowls for Guide Dogs.
Quibbles? Well, signposting is not a strong point. Every now and then there are touch-screen panels with interactive maps, but they only show one store at a time, so there were queues to use them (and kids playing on them). Oh, for old fashioned maps. I did manage to find a help desk eventually, with printed guides.
The entry from Shepherd's Bush station is also a little confusing: there are actually several sets of entrances along the Terrace, but the temptation is to go in the first, via the Village. Walk past this, however, and there are more, larger entrances.
And it does get busy: I went during the week and it was packed, so goodness knows what it'll be like on week-ends before Christmas. Perhaps evenings would be better?
Practicalities
Situated in the area north of Shepherd's Bush Green to the east of Wood Lane, getting there is at least straightforward: At the southern end is a new bus terminal (not yet open) with the Central Line Underground station and Overground station either side (alas, not connected to each other).
To the north is the new Wood Lane Hammersmith and City line station, and yet another bus station (Shepherd's Bush). My main quibble - as one of the other reviewers has said - is that getting from the Shepherd's Bush stations to the entrance involves getting wet if it's raining - something that could easily have been designed for.
Car parking is on three underground levels, with spaces for 4,500 cars. Access is easiest from the A3220 link road (south from the A40 or nroth from the A4). The car park has a traffic light system: red lights mean 'full', green 'vacant'. blue 'disabled parking vacant', and orange 'for parents with prams' (seems a tad complicated to me - I wonder how long this will last).
The whole site provides site-free access to every store, cafe, restaurant and service. There's a cloakroom, and it has wi-fi throughout. Opening hours are extended until Christmas. read more