I remember visiting this housing/shopping centre a few years back when it was little more than an outdated grey monstrosity.
Today it's still grey in parts, but it's far from being a monstrosity. Developers have done a lot of work on the place in the last few years, transforming it from something drab into something
really rather fab.
Though some look on the Brunswick Centre as a bit of an eyesore, it really did make some excellent progress in the looks department from 2002 to 2006 when a hefty £22 million was used to renovate the area. And just prior to that in 2000, it was given a Grade II listing.
Developers have encouraged some well-known high street names to move in, as well as several restaurants and cafes. To give you an idea, here's a short list of the more than
30 businesses trading there: Coast, Office, Oasis, Gap Kids, Boots, Whittards, Benetton, Holland & Barrett, Strada, Starbucks, Carluccio's, YO! Sushi, Hare & Tortoise, and Square Pie.
There's also a Waitrose supermarket and the superb Renoir Cinema.
On sunny days, the chairs and tables outside the various eateries fill up quickly.
You see, one of the great things about the Brunswick Centre (or simply 'the Brunswick', as its owners would like you to call it these days) is its peaceful precinct area, meaning you can enjoy a coffee or lunch with friends, sitting outside, without having to shout over the noise of cars and buses roaring by. Your lungs won't fill up with fumes, either.
From time to time, the Brunswick runs special offers which might involve, for example, a special meal deal at one of the restaurants. To find out whether anything's currently available, click
here.
Special events take place from time to time too - click
here to see what's coming up.
You'll find the Brunswick in the Bloomsbury area of the city, a two-minute walk from Russell Square tube station.
