12/10-11/2018: Needing laundry detergent washing what little wardrobe I brought with me for this London UK wedding event and journey via bumbling around exploring locals' habitats, haphazardly getting lost, sweating riding the all too cuddly "Tubing" with LONDONITIANS . . . Resulting, an all too arduous, reluctant task I cannot possibly ignore . . . EYE ROLL~please! Searching for a small, no-minuscule packaging of laundry, detergent pods and color bleach is ALL I want-two needful necessities insuring my wardrobe remains clean, fresh . . . Uh-I have never shopped at an UK grocery store, literally. Hunting this store, Tesco whatever its name is, assuredly reminds me of the disastrous Tosco Refinery I had to film for almost two years leaving a negative sensation, a bad vibe causing me immediately evacuating the premises . . . Searching a Mom & Pop store-nope~they only sell snacks, drinks, and candy . . . and fruit! Anyway, trudging the lower level of this shopping center . . . What does this store sells? Uh~I really hoped and thought this small business merchant would sell-nope~not-only luggage . . . Leaving disappointed. Bumbling, searching for laundry pods is making my head feeling tight . . . Poundwhat? Uh-ohhhhh~This store is similar to 99-Cents Store in USA; HOWEVER, the store is an unorganized, pig sty, filthy, horrible, disastrous mess which doesn't have the small detergent pods, either? WHY NOT? Strolling across the other side of the shopping center . . . What's this? Iceland what? Oh-I guess this store is comparable to USA's Save-Mart, right? Right. EUREKA! Ice whatever its name is~sells the minuscule packaging of detergent pods! YAY~I buying the pods-I'm in and outta of here-STAT. Overall, Elephant & Castle is NOT, definitely NOT the upscale Westfield Malls I visit every blue moon . . . Instead, this shopping center is specifically you make a beeline for whatever needful, immediate necessities you need NOW and leave STAT! DONE the "honey-do-shopping list" shopping-now, let's address insuring the boring laundry task gets completed TONIGHT! read more

See all

Holeprefix swearword. That was my original view of this shopping centre. I mean it is pink too. It was in my view the worst shopping centre on the planet. It has a tesco and a rather horrid market. That was the appeal. Upstairs? don't even bother. It scared me as a child. Nowadays, now I know this centre has a short lifespan I really have conquered my middle-class suburban fears and embraced the urban charm of this shopping centre. So what if the upstairs area is a place where English is the second language, with greasy spoon caffs, south american bars, shops, grocery store and and money transfer, internet cafes and bizzare bowling and bingo outlets. Isn't that what shopping centres are for? Downstairs is like most shopping centres. A Tesco, a branch of boots. The market outside is pretty random, but then so are some of the discount shops on the ground floor. What really gets me though is that if you want to change between the rail and tube stations you have to walk through the shopping centre. PS - Need business cards in a hurry, there is a machine on the upper floors here, which you can design and print them in under 30mins. Pretty handy I have found before. PPS - Read the entrance sign. No door to door salesmen. Got that? Good. read more

Elephant & Castle - No door to door salesmen, you got that? - Shopping Centers Near Me - London, XGL

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could travel back in time and go to a shopping centre in the middle of the 80s depression? Well, you need to wonder no longer, you can just visit the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre! 1/2 the shops were closed for business, and I have absolutely no idea what the other 1/2 were trying to sell. The carpets, lights and fixtures all looked 80s tastic, it even smelt like the 80s. This is not so good as a shopping centre, but it is like going to one of them historical reconstructions- except this time it is real! read more

Is this a shopping mall? Really? What a dump! However some of the cheapo shops can be useful... but with so many pound shops just down the street, i don't think i'll have any need to come here. The building truely is an eye sore, and it amazes me that they painted it from the horred pink, but never bothered to properly renovate it. So an eye sore it stays. O-well, i'm sure i'll find some reason to shop here anways! read more

Cheap! So half the stores in this mall are closed and it is a fairly old building. One lazy afteroon my boyfriend and myself stumbled ino this place. I must say this place was very useful to me because I have recently moved to London, so I was able to find many cheap house hold items i.e. laundry basket, hangers, etc. They have stores like Price Mart, Pound store, Tesco, Boots, Lloyds, etc. I am sure that my poor boyfriend who had to carry bags back with me was grateful with myself that the mall is right in front of the tube station. read more

I say give Elephant and Castle shopping centre a break! At least it's not full of chains ;) And, there's an adorable pink elephant on top - brilliant! I saw the positive in the place when I popped into Boots yesterday to get some photos printed (tip! South London Boots with photo printing machine) and am surprised at all the negative press it's received here. There's popcorn, and music and lots of little shops with anything you'll ever need for very bloody cheap. It reminded me of my beloved Brixton market indoors! Sure, I won't be running back to hang out here (or any shopping centre for that matter) but it's got a certain je ne said quoi, it's bustling with people who obviously like it so I was sad to hear of plans to redevelop it. What'll happen to the fantastic pink elephant?? And all the people running the shops?? c* read more

Sadly there really isn't much to say. It's functional. You can pop in and pick up some deodorant if you forgotten to put some on, or collect your prescription, but like I said, it doesn't really do much than what it says on the tin. A bit like a Ford really, assists you in your journey from A to B, but you're not exactly selling ticket to show off the bodywork. read more

Elephant & Castle - Shopping Centers Near Me - London, XGL

The elephant and castle shopping centre just looks like a ruin. It stinks and isn't really welcoming. I just sometimes go there, but only because I need to. If one has the choice, just passes his way... read more

Elephant & Castle shopping centre is one of those places you go to because you are in the area, not because you want to! It's easy to find, Elephant & Castle underground station on the Bakerloo / Northern line, take the shopping centre exit and walk up the ramp as you exit the station....you're there. Don't expect shops such as Fraser Hart, Debenhams or Subway. The majority of shops are high street chains like Woolworths (for as long as they exist now anyway), Tesco (metro) and other small privateers. If you work in the immediate area and need to get some lunch or last minute shopping then you'll probably find it here. Xmas shopping it definately isn't. read more

There are very little places I dislike in London. Now that I get my mind on it I can't really think of one. Elephant & Castle shopping centre (and the all area to be honest) is the exception. I don't like anything about it. It's in a poor state (of decomposition), I get cat called in every alley (even by the security guy wth), it looks dodgy and grim and really there's nothing that appeals to me. One good thing is you'll find the biggest tesco in the area and the small market for inexpensive fruits and veg but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. read more

With the exception of the tesco express, I can't imagine ever going to any of the other shops. They're mostly selling tacky products which I can't imagine many people buying (and as I've hardly ever seen anyone in there, it's possible I'm right). I'll probably just stick to walking through to get to the station! read more

There is something about this shopping centre that always makes me want to get off my bus and go inside but the minute I walk in there, I regret it. I personally do not get a good feeling and it looks like there has been no proper maintenance in years. A lot of busses tends to pass this shopping centre and it has a underground stop just next door to the shopping centre. A lot of people are more drawn to Walworth Road instead of this shopping centre which is a shame as it is situated in a great location. This shopping centre needs a lot of TLC to make it a booming hub again. read more

This is a really small shopping centre though full of a lot of different kind of shops that you may need. It has a Tesco, Iceland's, shoe shops, card shops all on the lower level on the 2nd level it has a food court and then above this you can go to the local place bingo or for a fun night of bowling. Though it is a little dirty looking which is what I don't like about it. There also is a very small market outside. read more

The shopping centre that time forgot.. Apparently it was painted pink for comic relief. Funny? Not as funny as the actual shopping centre. Now don't get me wrong, the shops in the centre are not bad. I use the Tesco's and Iceland quite a bit. There's a peacocks, a boots and a few pound shops (all attempting to under cut each other, so there is a 98p store!)The actual shopping centre desperately need re-doing. This is not only public knowledge but plans have been drawn up for a new shopping centre, although this never seems to be actually started. read more

The Elephant and Castle shopping centre is hilarious. It must be one of the only shopping centres in the country where nearly every unit is still full (what it's full of doesn't need to be discussed at too much length), and nobody can quite understand why. It's drab, it's one of London's ugliest buildings, it has a curious smell and to an outsider it's quite scary. But it has a 99p store, and it's in zone 1, and it's just an experience. Not an experience you'd necessarily care to repeat, but just for sheer awfulness, everybody should go at least once! read more

if I want to feel like your not in england Elephant and castle shopping center will do the trick...english speaking is not so common here...I was searching for the uk visa office and everyone was telling me the wrong directions and looking at my all confused! it was just around the corner people! finally i asked some cops and they showed me... the office is in the shopping centre. I got harrassed by some straight of the boat africans selling stuff in the stalls... and I was the only caucasian girl so people where looking at me pretty strange and the men wouldnt stop trying to talk to me... def not a place I wanna go to again...everything is run down too...i didnt feel safe at all...i felt like it was more of a middle eastern bazaar read more

As a tourist from Southern California who recently rented a flat in the neighborhood across the causeway from this centre, I have to say I became fascinated by the place. It's scary. It's gritty. It's real. It's different from anything I have experienced in the states (except maybe the JJ Newberry in 1950's Los Angeles). From reading up on the place I learned that it was earmarked for destruction at least nine years ago. It's been called the ugliest structure in London. And yet it still stands. I found it handy for grabbing some breakfast items from Tesco, some cough medicine at the pharmacy, and enjoyed a pretty decent meal at the Castle Tandoori. read more

The shopping centre that time forgot. Awful.