Westfield Stratford City has opened to the public today, making London the home of Europe’s largest urban shopping centre, which now sits at the gateway of the Olympic Park.
Early this morning people lined the streets to be the first through the doors of the mega mall, in East London.
Westfield Stratford City contains more than 300 shops, 70 restaurants, a 14-screen cinema, bowling alley and enormous casino.
As he cut the ribbon at midday, Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “The project is setting the pace for the transformation of East London.
“It is one of the most important legacies of the 2012 Olympics.”
Westfield Stratford City cost £1.4billion to build and is expected to create 18,000 jobs. During the Olympic next year, large digital screens will be placed around the centre to show the main sporting events.
Later today, an opening ceremony will be hosted by Pixie Geldof and Nick Grimshaw, while Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger will perform live.
Get more info: westfield.com/stratfordcity
The arrival of the mall has been met with excitement by most Londoners.
“It's mobbed!” tweeted an excited Disneyrollrgirl.
Many stores were giving away products for free to celebrate the first day of trading.
Ann Summers promised a free Rampant Rabbit to the first 50 customers through its doors, while Waitrose gave away 400 breakfast goodie bags this morning.
Will you be hitting the new Westfield this week?
