Lakeside Shopping Centre Area
Large suburban shopping mall with multiple retail outlets
East of London, Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock offers a large indoor mall with high-street shops, restaurants and a cinema; shoppers arrive by car and public transport from the Thames Gateway.
Lakeside Shopping Centre at a Glance#
Address: Western Gateway, West Thurrock, Grays RM20 2ZP, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.lakeside.co.uk
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 11am-5pm (individual store hours may vary)
Admission: Varies by store; mall entry free
About Lakeside Shopping Centre#
Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town retail and leisure complex in West Thurrock, Essex, England, serving the Thames Gateway and the eastern Greater London area. It is one of the larger single-site shopping centres in the UK with a broad mix of shops and leisure facilities.
Shoppers can access over 200 stores alongside restaurants, cafés and leisure venues, including a multiplex cinema and family facilities. The overall complex includes both the enclosed mall and a neighbouring retail park with larger format stores.
Developed as a major out-of-town retail destination, the centre grew in phases to accommodate a wide retail and leisure offer and has been expanded and refurbished at various points to update retail space and visitor facilities.
The centre sits in West Thurrock in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, on the north side of the River Thames and is directly served by nearby motorways and the Chafford Hundred Lakeside rail station, approximately 25 miles east of central London.
- Transport: Served directly by the Chafford Hundred Lakeside railway station on the c2c line and by major road links including the M25, making it accessible from London and surrounding areas.
What to See#
- The Mall: The indoor mall area contains a large concentration of shops, restaurants and leisure outlets including a multiplex cinema and food court.
- Retail park: An adjacent retail park offering big-box and DIY stores sits next to the main shopping centre and shares parking and road access.
How to Get to Lakeside Shopping Centre#
Lakeside sits in West Thurrock, Essex, next to the A13 and A1089. By car it’s well signposted from major A-roads and the M25. Nearest rail links are at Grays or Chafford Hundred; regular bus services run from surrounding towns and London.
Tips for Visiting Lakeside Shopping Centre#
- Use the Lakeside link road entrance to avoid the busiest carparks during peak times.
- Visit early on weekdays for easier parking and quieter food-court seating.
- Check the centre's website for cinema and event hours - weekend timetables differ from weekdays.
Best Time to Visit Lakeside Shopping Centre#
Open year-round; visit weekdays or early mornings to avoid peak weekend crowds, especially during holiday seasons.
Weather & Climate near Lakeside Shopping Centre#
Lakeside Shopping Centre's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 2°C to 22°C. Moderate rainfall (601 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 2° - 8° | 1° | 61 mm | overcast | 93% | 5.1 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.2h |
| February | Acceptable | 2° - 8° | 1° | 37 mm | overcast | 90% | 4.9 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.8h |
| March | Acceptable | 3° - 10° | 4° | 45 mm | overcast | 86% | 4.9 m/s | 0.4 low | 11.7h |
| April | Good | 4° - 13° | 6° | 42 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 4.5 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 13.7h |
| May | Good | 7° - 17° | 12° | 44 mm | overcast | 79% | 4.5 m/s | 1.1 high | 15.4h |
| June | Good | 10° - 20° | 15° | 52 mm | overcast | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 1.4 high | 16.3h |
| July | Excellent | 13° - 23° | 18° | 40 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 4.1 m/s | 1.4 high | 15.9h |
| August | Excellent | 13° - 22° | 17° | 48 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 4.0 m/s | 1.1 high | 14.4h |
| September | Very Good | 11° - 19° | 15° | 56 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 4.1 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 12.5h |
| October | Acceptable | 7° - 15° | 11° | 58 mm | overcast | 87% | 4.4 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.5h |
| November | Acceptable | 4° - 11° | 5° | 61 mm | overcast | 92% | 4.4 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.7h |
| December | Poor | 3° - 8° | 2° | 57 mm | overcast | 94% | 4.7 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.7h |
