Metro Centre  (Gateshead)

The recent re-opening of the Red zone has confirmed Metro Centre's place as the largest shopping centre in Europe. Lots and lots of new stores but perhaps dominated b the giant presence of Debenhams department store.

Debenhams is however a very welcome addition to Metro Centre's arsenal of superstores selling a range of very high quality merchandise at bargain prices.

It's no wonder that Scandinavians flock here in their thousands.

Metrocentre is probably the best known shopping centre in Britain outside of London. Being the largest undercover shopping complex in Europe has helped the centre to its enormous success. 

Situated on the Gateshead side of the river it is directly adjacent to the A1 bypass that snakes past the angel of the North. It lies only a couple of miles outside of the regions capital city Newcastle. the centre has its own bus and rail links and has parking for over 5,000 vehicles.

The centre is conveniently divided into sectors identified by coloured zones. This makes navigation a little easier, however newcomers will undoubtedly be confused just by the sheer size of the complex.

There are shops and stores to suit all kinds of browsers and facilities range from wheelchair hire to a fully fledged indoor fairground with monorail and the usual fairground attractions.

Also inside the centre are realistic and spacious recreations of an authentic Mediterranean Village and an equally impressive Roman thoroughfare complete with marble pillars and water features.

Mediterranean Village

Cafes and restaurants abound with some of the most popular eating places within the authentic and quant Mediterranean Village.

Here one can eat a variety of worldwide cuisine ranging from Chinese, Italian. Spanish and other moth watering dishes.

There is of course also a range of quaint shops marketing a range of goods with many hand made artefacts and delicious chutneys and delicacies.