Bentall Centre in Kingston upon Thames

Bentall Centre – the ‘Retail Cathederal’

The Bentall Centre is next to Bentalls Department Store and forms one large shopping complex. Building began in 1987 and it was opened in November 1992 by Edward Bentall.

It was designed by Richard Allen to represent a retail cathedral with high vaulted ceilings, columns and a stained glass facade. The result is an attractive, open shopping environment which has continued to flourish over the past 2 decades.

It has 3 entrances on Clarence Street, Fife Road and Wood Street. There is access to Bentalls store on each of the 4 levels of the shopping centre. The centre has shops, cafes, hairdressers and a creche. The Bentall Centre puts on a fabulous decorative display at Christmas and the automated singing Christmas animals which appear every year on the ground floor are a must-see for kids.

For full details, opening hours and what’s on visit the website. See 1947 footage of Bentall’s Politeness Campaign