Monday 28 January 2013

Trafford Centre

Across the road from the hotel where I stay in Manchester is the biggest shopping centre in the UK. It opened  in September 1998 and is called The Trafford Centre. It cost over £600 million to build and contains all the usual shops you would expect to find. What I find different is its opulence. £40,000 worth of gold leaf was used to decorate its columns and statues.











When you step inside the entrance hall it is more like a 5 star hotel than a shopping mall.






Beyond the marble staircase there is a gigantic dining area themed as an ocean liner with swimming pool and a stage.





























Surrounding this area are many restaurants and eating establishments as well as a cinema.


Beyond that area are the shops. After spending the day with Mum this is usually where I end up either to eat or meet up with friends from my schooldays.This is my world Tuesday



Our World Tuesday Graphic













31 comments:

  1. It's so beautiful! The outside statues remind me of some I saw in Rome. You Europeans sure know how to fancy things up. It's really beautiful inside, too. Thanks for bringing me along. :-)

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  2. That is an awesome mall!! Terrific captures for the day! I would enjoy spending time there, but of course, I'd just get in trouble -- I'd have to check my purse at the front door!! Enjoy your week!!

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  3. Beautiful shots of shopping complex.

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  4. Wow, what a fancy place! I'd have fun just walking around taking in the sights.

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  5. Wow is all I can say. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  6. A unicorn and gold leaf! What a shopping center!

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  7. It looks very, VERY fancy! Gold leaf does seem a tad over the top. :)

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  8. Wow what a place..Thanks for the tour

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  9. What a beautiful mall, the statues are lovely! Thanks for sharing, have a lovely week!

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  10. That DEFINITELY doesn't look like a mall! Gorgeous place! I hope the luxurious settings aren't an indication of luxurious prices though... :p

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  11. You'd never have to go on a cruise - just to the mall!

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  12. How very impressive a sight. Must feel a bit surreal though stepping out again. Please have a good Tuesday.

    daily athens photo

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  13. wow, who have time to go in shops when there is so much to look at. And point your camera at. :)

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  14. What an amazing place and seems alone like a reason to visit Manchester . Of course the whole world knows the name of Trafford from Old Trafford. Perhaps I should qualify that to the whole cricket world.

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  15. Wow! What a place ~ Wonderful photography ~ brings one right there ~

    (A Creative Harbor)

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  16. I hate to shop but that mall looks so interesting I might enjoy going there. I definitely enjoyed your shots.

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  17. Gold leaf for a shopping mall? What a wonderful world we live in. Must cost a pretty penny to shop there, but I'd love to go! Thanks for sharing a part of your world with us. :)

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  18. What wonderful shots.

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  19. Thank you for the lovely virtual visit!

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  20. £40,000 worth of gold leaf was used to decorate its columns and statues. It is beautiful. It is unique! But I would feel unhappy in such a place, when I see those poor, homeless people in the world, who depend on charity.
    You have shown a magnificent world, almost unreal. Please forgive me that I wished that world to be more sober and without so much gold.I am with EG CameraGirl: it is a tad over the top.
    But thank you for showing us these beautiful photos. Thank you for your comment on Queen Beatrix's abdication. I hope that the coronation of King W-A will be a sober affair in this time of economizing. Have a great day!

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  21. Wow! What a grand place! Truly a visual delight!

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  22. wow!!
    the outside is almost like a cathedral
    and inside is a city
    amazing

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  23. You've well captured the opulence of the marble statuary &c and neatly ignored the altogther soulless shopping units - thousands of a shopaholics love the place though so commercially it is a success story - me I avoid it like the plague although I've been there maybe half a dozen times since it opened.

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  24. Those are some very beautiful statues. I enjoyed your photos!

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  25. Wow! What an amazing place to visit. I've just been reading some of your other posts that I had missed and I especially like the snowy walk!

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  26. Unbelievable... Don't think I've ever seen a shopping mall quite this fancy... It does look like a fancy hotel for sure... Wow!!! Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  27. Wow ! that's unbelievable looks like out of "Thousand and one night" stories ! Never seen such a "old" new shopping center ! I am not a big fan of boutiques and stores, but this is really worthwhile to walk around ! No wonder that it was so expensive. Harrod's looks like a little shed besides this !

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  28. What a place! All that opulence. Harrods pales.

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  29. Unbelievable, what a luxury in that place. I looks almost like a cruise ship.

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  30. It doesn't look like a shopping centre at all. I like the way you give importance with details of the statues.

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