The Arndale Mall

I hear this is the first shopping mall in the UK. You guys are welcome for our commercial bastardization of lazy shopping. This mall has your basics and it even has a grocery store inside it which is very convenient for everyone living right by it.

Limited. I rarely venture into The Mall as you can find what you need around the retail parks or on the internet!

I’m old enough to remember the slogan Luton’s Looking Up and I always maintianed that that particular project should have atarted with the Arndale Centre. It has been slowly transformed into something approaching a modern shopping mall, but still lacks a personality or anything to define its charater making it individual, attractive and a place to enjoy your shopping experience. After all, if they want the public to spend (lots of) money, there should be an incentive other than merely purchasing your product. Enjoyment factor at the Arndale is close to zero, sadly. But, it’s the only centre in town, and Milton Keynes is not far ahead in this respect! Luton has good travel links (bus, train and plane!?) and has a good selection of stores, even if the product choice is rather limited to non-​exclusive goods. Never mind, in this recession, who has the money to buy anything other than essentials? LOL — Parking is easy, but avoid the rush hours as traffic is horrendous in the centre of town.

this is a good sized wilkinsons which has a food range added too. it has an upstairs and a downstairs and has everything u could think of from cushions and bedding to detergent and makeup, it really is a shop that u can get everything in. i used to shop here when i was younger for there pick and mix as its so cheaper than getting it from the cinema across the road. it has now got a purfume counter too which you can get great deals from so i always check it out when i go in. i also noticed they have a big sale on chritmas childrens toys right now and are doing alot half price so you can get some amazing bargins. they have pet food and accessories and garden ranges too. the only bad thing is its always packed becasue it in the centre of busy town.

This isn’t the best shopping mall in the country but it is the only one in central Luton, so if you want to go shopping you don’t have a lot of other options! A good range of shops, department stores, restaurants„ and other bits and bobs, but popular stores like Starbucks are missing. Parking in Luton is pretty convenient although it can get crowded on a Saturday, but that shouldn’t be a problem. Outside the mall there are loads of banks, charity shops, restaurants, and other services, so all in all it’s a decent place to do your shopping.

Has a bit of everything, but usually not too much variety. You can almost definitely find your every day needs here. As most other people have said, if you want a shopping spree make the trip to London, MK, or one of the bigger malls within a 30 minute drive. The whole place is a bit run down, but they’re in the middle of a big renovation.
It’s also conveniently located for the trains and buses. Definitely check out the Market (bottom end of the promenade) for some interesting finds and venture out onto the street for an even bigger range of stores.

The Arndale Mall is the best opportunity in Luton to go shopping, but still it’s nothing spectacular in my opinion.
If you’re looking for everyday stuff then you will find everything you need at Wilkinsons, Argos, Tesco, HMV & Co., but if you’re looking for something special your choice better be to go to London.
I mean I was looking for christmas presents there lately and I coulnd’t find anything special. Also I think that the clothes in the shops are nothing special either. So if you look for something like this better go to the small shops in London but leave the Arndale for you everyday buyings.

Advantages: indoors, everything you nees under one roof
Disadvantages: not quite as good as the nearby Trafford Centre
My first ever shopping visit in Manchester was to the newly opened Trafford Centre, and so when I went Christmas shopping to the Arndale Centre, I wasn’t very impressed. However, after giving it a chance and not comparing it with the Trafford Centre, I discovered that it was actually a great place to shop, especially if you don’t feel like a drive out of the city and into the outskirts. It has a great Marks and Spencers, Top Shop, Miss Selfridges, Bhs — and all of the usual high street stores. There is even a market which is handy for fresh fish, meat and groceries.
There is nothing you won’t find the Arndale centre. It caters for all agegropus, male and female. It’s indoors, and so you won’t get wet and cold (typical Manchester weather) and there are also shops located next to and nearby the centre.
There is also a great food place to go to when your feeling hungry, which has a McDondalds, KFC, and many more — basically what ever you feel like for lunch, you can get.

This is the shopping mall located in Luton. It’s a good position for local transport as it’s only a 5 minute walk to the train station.
I prefer shopping in malls as it means I don’t get wet if it rains! There are a fair few shops in this mall, around 120 some of these include new look, bodycare, Vodafone, Boots, Primark.
I think it’s well worth a look if you are in the area but there’s nothing amazing about it so I wouldn’t make a special visit!

Great place to go shopping, most shops all under one roof (so you don’t get wet), i. e post office, banks, card shops, woolworths, argos and most important clothes shops etc
There is also a macdonalds for the kids.

nice big place to shop in loads diffrent shops
and cafes places to eat good alround place
and bus service near bye to would say very
nice town to outside of center

Living in Luton up untill summer of this year i have always avoided the Arndale where possible, is ok if you want general bits from likes of Argos, Smiths, Wilkco, but if you are in need a of serious shop of new shoes, bags, and all things Fab i would always recommend going to MK much bigger selection of higher end shops.

It is the only shopping centre in Luton with lots of high street shops, and mainly the chain shops. The Mall Arndale is a 5 minute walk from Luton Train Station.
There is also a market hall access from the mall where you get the fresh fruits and vegetables and some local shops of bags, clothes and accessories.
Very near to entrance is the ‘ask me’ point where you can get all the information or any queries of the mall.
Recently there is one fresh smoothie stall opened in mall called ‘Zumo’. I really love these fresh smoothies along the way to shopping.
But on the bad side it has also got some big shops closed down leaving the mall a bit vacant. To name a few is Woolworths, Poundstretcher.
So now a days there is no more charm in shopping at mall except some essentials in Tesco metro, Boots, Primark, and Wilkinsons.

I would just like to add that although Milton Keynes may appear bigger and possibly slightly cleaner, it is very spaced out with a lot of shops that you generally dont want to shop in unless you are looking for something quite specific. Also as Hatter69 stated the parking is of a more reasonable rate at the arndale compared to the majority of parking in Milton Keynes.

Although one of the older shopping centres in the country, The Mall Arndale is far from dead and buried. Infact many shopping centres that were based on the Arndale, could’ve been closer matched to avoid some dreadful errors.
The parking is a fairly routine multi storey car park, making use of the new chip coin system and at a far cheaper rate than most car parks. The car park also offers a walkway into the Galaxy multiplex, along with the Menzies Strathmore Hotel, and always has plenty of spaces on offer.
Public transport links couldn’t be better served with the main hub for bus services residing directly behind the Arndale. Luton Rail Station is a stone’s throw away for those travelling further afield.
There is an excellent range of shops to cater for all needs and avoids having the same shops every few units unlike places such as Milton Keynes and Norwich.
The only real downside to the Arndale is the general decay. For example the floors have seen better days and tend to vibrate heavily, although with a multi million pound redevelopment and expansion planned by owners, The Mall, and Luton Borough Council, what point is there in closing one of the countries busiest shopping centres to replace floor tiles when the building will be completely refurbished soon.

It has a few good shops in the arndale. Personally i prefer driving another 20 minutes and going to Milton Keynes. Arndale is very dirty and always seems to have a nasty smell when you go in it. I tend to pop in quickly if I need urgent things.