Fatherhood²: Review – Westfield Isn’t Just for Clothes Shopping

As most of you will have gathered by now, I’m not very good at doing reviews. Don’t get me wrong, I quite enjoy doing reviews – especially when they’re more than just objects. And for some strange reason, people keep asking me to review stuff – so I merrily carry on. This latest assignment was a little different, and as you’ll see from my post, I embraced it with open arms. Because I was asked to review… an entire shopping centre!

Yes, I was asked to review the Westfield shopping centre. More specifically, I was asked to head down to my local Westfield (which, as luck would have it, is just a few miles away from where I work in Chiswick) and see what dads might make of it. I guess the science behind the theory is that most dads hate shopping (something I certainly can’t buck the trend on!) but that Westfield has enough to amuse even the most curmudgeonly of fathers.

As a self-confessed shop-o-phobe, I relished the challenge I was set – even more so when they handed me a gift card and suggested I buy myself a treat or two. So, yesterday evening, I headed over to Westfield and had myself a wander. Rather than just rattling off a long essay about what I thought of it, I thought I’d “do a Buzzfeed” and summarise my findings in a handy list.

So, here are my 10 reasons that dads (or parents in general, really) might be pleasantly surprised by a trip to Westfield…

• 10. It’s easy to get there.

  I personally got the bus from Chiswick (which dropped me right at the main entrance to the centre) but you’re also in easy reach of at least 2 underground stations AND they’ve got a massive car park. The only thing they’re missing is an airport!



• 9. There’s food bloody everywhere.

  You certainly won’t go hungry in Westfield. Whether you want to sit down for a full meal, stop for a drink or stock-up on sweets for the kids, there are food-stops all over the place.

• 8. There are maps and signs everywhere.

  I know that sounds a bit random, but I lose count of the amount of times I get lost in shopping centres, and we all know how much kids LOVE it when you have to keep going round and round looking for shops.

• 7. Computer terminals too!

  Around virtually every corner is a computer-screen information pod… thing, which contains maps, a search-able shop directory, how to find your nearest toilet – everything you need, basically.

• 6. There’s plenty for kids to to.

  As well as all the traditional retail-based options, there are several “kid zones” dotted around the centre, which are basically miniature crèches where the kids can chill-out when they get bored.



• 5. It’s cleverly planned.

  I’m not sure if this was intentional or not, but all the child-friendly shops seem to be in the same place. If you’re smart you’ll make it the last area you go to – the light at the end of the tunnel for the whining child you’re with!

• 4. All the posh shops are kept separate.

  Again, that might seem like a random observation, but by creating ‘The Village’ (where all the posh shops seem to be) at one end of Westfield you can ensure you don’t step into a classy shop with a screaming child by mistake. After all, nobody in Debenhams bats an eyelid when a child screams, but take them into Prada and you’ll get dirty looks left, right and centre!

• 3. It’s not just clothes.

  I’ve been to a few shopping centres (I’m looking at you, Bicester) where it’s nothing but shoes and clothing – not a ‘fun’ shop to be seen anywhere. Thankfully Westfield has a great mix of shops and stores to keep even the most ardent shop-o-phobe happy.

• 2. Everywhere is immaculately clean.

  Including the toilets! I didn’t look in every one (after all, that would be creepy) but every ‘facility’ I used was sparklingly clean – plenty of baby-changing facilities too.

• 1. They have one of THESE bad boys.

  Yep, they have a Lego Store. No prizes for guessing which shop I chose to ‘treat’ myself in… :D

If you want to find out what else is going on at Westfield (including some fun ‘themed’ events) you can download their ‘Make a Date’ booklet here: http://uk.westfield.com/london/make-a-date