Wembley Park has undergone a serious transformation since the halcyon days when the twin towers still stood sentinel on its stadium.
A place synonymous with football, there’s so much more to this corner of North West London than the beautiful game. It’s now home to a Boxpark, and the OVO Arena Wembley, where titans of music, theatre and comedy draw in visitors by the hundreds of thousands.
Amazon Fresh opened one of its futuristic cashless stores there, and chic shared ownership schemes are making it a viable option for those looking to get on London’s property ladder. For shoppers with an eye for bargains, there’s also another big pull.
LDO: a fashion magpie’s secret within the M25
Perhaps best of all - especially if you’re a label lover - is that it’s also home to the London Designer Outlet (LDO), where you can bag big name brands at a snip of their usual RRP.
The shopping mecca, which sits in the shadow of the mighty stadium, is home to 70 outlet stores with typically up to 70 per cent off price tags (and up to a whopping 85 per cent off during its frequent sales). LDO has bargains by the bucketload, starting with the cheap tube fare - it’s just two stops from Baker Street on the Metropolitan line.
We headed there to check out its offering.
Where to shop for clothing
Premium shops
Both Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein have opened their doors at LDO, offering an elevated shopping experience that feels like you’ve been transported to the malls of America. The well-lit outlet stores showcase pieces at knocked-down prices, but they’re not just off-season; each has been curated to show discounted pieces that chime with the season. When we visited, each boutique stocked transitional fashion and accessories as well as lighter spring and summer pieces making it easy to shop for the here and now.
The premium/ mid-weight fashion choice includes the likes of Nicce, Guess, Kurt Geiger, Superdry, Lee Jeans, Wrangler, Levi’s, Sunglass Hut, and Moss Bros.
Athleisure and high street stores
Split into three levels, it’s the ground floor of LDO where you’ll find the cream of sportswear, outdoors and high street brands. We’re talking Adidas, Nike, Skechers, Vans, The North Face, Trespass, New Balance, Converse and more, each with offerings for men, women and kids at knockout prices.
While M&S has always been known for its fair prices for quality goods, the pounds drop even more at its LDO outlet with both wardrobe staples and fashion-led prices treated to clearance labels. If you’ve got a wedding in the diary, find your perfect wedding guest look at Phase Eight. And, if you’re kitting out little ones, make Next a must-stop - there’s clothing and accessories for babies right up to teens.
Where to shop for homeware
If you’re looking to pick up pieces to give your home a little refresh, LDO has plenty of options here too. Find all things kitchen and cooking head to the ProCook shop, or search for more decorational/ gifting items at Denby and Villeroy & Bosch - both offer crystalware, dining and tableware that promise to elevate your next dinner party.
Stop at the Sony outlet for refurbished tech priced at a snip of new models. Got a thing for candles? Feed the flames of your obsession at LDO’s Yankee Candle outlet where you can get the brand’s large and small scented candles for much less than you’d expect - and with plenty of in-store only BOGOF offers too.
Where to pamper
Fancy a head to toe makeover? Drop into gender-neutral salon Chop Chop to get your locks ready for the season ahead. The industrial chic space is all exposed pipes, polished concrete and brass fittings, lending a drop of Brooklyn cool to this corner of London. Whether you’re after a total hair overhaul, short back and sides, or just fancy treating yourself to a bouncy blowout worthy of the red carpet, you’re in safe hands at Chop Chop Wembley Park.
Where to eat
If you agree shopping is cardio, you needn’t worry about hunger pangs getting in the way of your workout. There are plenty of options to fuel your shopping spree, from Wagamama, TGI Fridays, Zizzi, Big Moe’s Diner and Byron burger.
Latin American restaurant Las Iguanas, where it seems to be happy hour every hour, is the perfect pit-stop for lunch or dinner, with a menu to satisfy all tastes. Don’t miss the sizzling fajitas big enough for two to share, or the Argentinian-themed burgers for the truly famished.
Make a day of it and round off your shopping trip with a movie - there’s a Cineworld at LDO too showing the latest Hollywood blockbusters as well as Bollywood flicks, reflecting the area’s diverse population.
Verdict
Whether you’re fed up of spending weekends battling the crowds of the capital or just want to make your pounds stretch further, LDO in Wembley Park is a destination to add to your shopping map of London.
The ease of getting there and the range of outlets and restaurants all in one space means it’s a fantastic afternoon out for all the family, as well as a great place to drop into before a gig or a game.
