Shopping in Livingston
Encyclopedia
Livingston is a large town in Scotland
located about 11 miles (17.7 km) west of Edinburgh
. The town has two railway stations (Livingston North
and Livingston South
), excellent bus services and roads connecting Livingston
to the M8 motorway and the A71 road
.
has three major shopping centres, and another three medium large retail parks and a cluster of small local stores located throughout the different areas.
The first phase of Almondvale Shopping Centre was completed in 1976 to facilitate the needs of the local residents and workers. The first major refurbishment was completed in 1988 by Land Securities. During the refurbishment, the centre was extended by 230000 sq ft (21,367.7 m²) in 1996, creating phase 2 of the already very successful development, bringing the size of the centre to over 550000 sq ft (51,096.7 m²).
In early 1999, construction started on phase 3 of the development with the construction of McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Centre, (now renamed to Livingston Designer Outlet in 2007) and was opened in October 2000, with other work continuing into 2001. During this time, Asda Wal Mart constructed a new supercentre in place of the old Asda
Almondvale Shopping Centre. This supercentre is the largest of its kind in Europe. This development opened up over 80 new shops, 20 bars and restaurants, a fitness Suite, 4,000 new car parking spaces and an 8 screen Vue Cinemas cinema complex. In early 2007, another 15 shops were constructed within the centre replacing the "At home" area. Many businesses within this unit never re-opened in a new single unit.
Phase 4 of the development started in March 2007 which saw the old Safeway, (which had been closed since Morrisons built their new store in October 2006) demolished along with its car park. The car park between Almondvale Shopping Centre and the Designer Outlet was also removed. In its place, the new development was constructed until its opening in October 2008. Phase 4 was originally intended to be called 'The Elements', however Land Securities changed the name to 'the centre' in early 2008. Land Securities also renamed the Almondvale Shopping Centre to 'the centre' with the opening of the new development on October 16th 2008.
The centre contains 35 shop units, with Marks & Spencer and Debenhams as anchor stores. Within this development, there will be socialising areas, bars, restaurants and a Winter Garden, bringing the Almondvale Centre Development to over a million sq. ft. The old Safeway carpark has been developed into a 3-storey car park providing another free 1500 spaces, with a state-of-the-art security system.
, H&M, River Island, Waterstones, Asda WalMart Supercentre, Chiquito, Wetherspoons, ASK, Wagamama, McDonald's, BHS, Game, HMV, Sony Centre, Panasonic Store, Argos, Thorntons and Pizza Hut.
For more information including old pictures and history of the centre visit Livingstoni Online Community Website
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
located about 11 miles (17.7 km) west of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. The town has two railway stations (Livingston North
Livingston North railway station
Livingston North railway station is one of two railway stations serving the new town of Livingston in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on the Edinburgh-Bathgate Line 25 km west of Edinburgh and situated in the Carmondean area of Livingston...
and Livingston South
Livingston South railway station
Livingston South railway station is one of two railway stations serving Livingston in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on the Shotts Line west of Edinburgh Waverley on the way to Glasgow Central...
), excellent bus services and roads connecting Livingston
Livingston, Scotland
Livingston is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is the fourth post-WWII new town to be built in Scotland, designated in 1962. It is about 15 miles west of Edinburgh and 30 miles east of Glasgow, and is bordered by the towns of Broxburn to the northeast and Bathgate to the northwest.Livingston...
to the M8 motorway and the A71 road
A71 road
The A71 is a major road in Scotland linking Edinburgh with Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. It adjoins the Livingston Bypass A899.It runs south west from Edinburgh for approximately 70 miles, through Saughton, Wilkieston and south of Livingston, Whitburn and Wishaw, then by way of the Garrion Bridge,...
.
Shopping Centres
LivingstonLivingston, Scotland
Livingston is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is the fourth post-WWII new town to be built in Scotland, designated in 1962. It is about 15 miles west of Edinburgh and 30 miles east of Glasgow, and is bordered by the towns of Broxburn to the northeast and Bathgate to the northwest.Livingston...
has three major shopping centres, and another three medium large retail parks and a cluster of small local stores located throughout the different areas.
The first phase of Almondvale Shopping Centre was completed in 1976 to facilitate the needs of the local residents and workers. The first major refurbishment was completed in 1988 by Land Securities. During the refurbishment, the centre was extended by 230000 sq ft (21,367.7 m²) in 1996, creating phase 2 of the already very successful development, bringing the size of the centre to over 550000 sq ft (51,096.7 m²).
In early 1999, construction started on phase 3 of the development with the construction of McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Centre, (now renamed to Livingston Designer Outlet in 2007) and was opened in October 2000, with other work continuing into 2001. During this time, Asda Wal Mart constructed a new supercentre in place of the old Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
Almondvale Shopping Centre. This supercentre is the largest of its kind in Europe. This development opened up over 80 new shops, 20 bars and restaurants, a fitness Suite, 4,000 new car parking spaces and an 8 screen Vue Cinemas cinema complex. In early 2007, another 15 shops were constructed within the centre replacing the "At home" area. Many businesses within this unit never re-opened in a new single unit.
Phase 4 of the development started in March 2007 which saw the old Safeway, (which had been closed since Morrisons built their new store in October 2006) demolished along with its car park. The car park between Almondvale Shopping Centre and the Designer Outlet was also removed. In its place, the new development was constructed until its opening in October 2008. Phase 4 was originally intended to be called 'The Elements', however Land Securities changed the name to 'the centre' in early 2008. Land Securities also renamed the Almondvale Shopping Centre to 'the centre' with the opening of the new development on October 16th 2008.
The centre contains 35 shop units, with Marks & Spencer and Debenhams as anchor stores. Within this development, there will be socialising areas, bars, restaurants and a Winter Garden, bringing the Almondvale Centre Development to over a million sq. ft. The old Safeway carpark has been developed into a 3-storey car park providing another free 1500 spaces, with a state-of-the-art security system.
Shops
Livingston now has over 250 different retail units within Almondvale, including Debenhams, Next, Marks & SpencerMarks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
, H&M, River Island, Waterstones, Asda WalMart Supercentre, Chiquito, Wetherspoons, ASK, Wagamama, McDonald's, BHS, Game, HMV, Sony Centre, Panasonic Store, Argos, Thorntons and Pizza Hut.
For more information including old pictures and history of the centre visit Livingstoni Online Community Website