Highcross Leicester facts for kids
 |
|
The inside of the covered part of the shopping centre
|
|
| Location | Leicester, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°38′11.00″N 1°8′8.00″W / 52.6363889°N 1.1355556°W |
| Address | 5 Shires Lane |
| Opening date | 1991 (extension opened 4 September 2008) |
| Developer | Hammerson Hermes Real Estate |
| Architect | Foreign Office Architects (Highcross extension) |
| No. of stores and services | 140 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 2; John Lewis and Partners & Debenhams |
| Total retail floor area | 110,000 m2 (1,200,000 sq ft) |
| No. of floors | 2 (up to 4 in department stores) |
| Parking | 3000 spaces |
Highcross Leicester is a large shopping centre located in the city of Leicester, England. It first opened its doors in 1991 and was known as The Shires. Over the years, it grew much larger. In 2008, after a big expansion, it was renamed Highcross Leicester. Today, it's a popular spot for shopping, eating, and entertainment in the city centre.
Highcross Leicester has more than 100 shops. These include big department stores like John Lewis and Partners and Debenhams. You can also find over 40 restaurants and cafés. There is a large Showcase Cinema de Lux movie theatre and two big car parks for visitors.
Contents
Highcross Leicester: A Shopping Story
The shopping centre you see today has changed a lot over time. When it first opened in 1991, it was called The Shires. It was built in the middle of Leicester city centre. Some parts of older buildings were kept, and new parts were built to look like old Victorian styles.
In 1994, the centre got its first extension. This added more shops and space. But the biggest change happened much later, in 2008.
The Big Expansion of 2008
The most recent and largest expansion of the shopping centre was a huge project. During the planning stages, this new part was called Shires West. It made the shopping area twice as big!
This new section added a large John Lewis and Partners department store. It also brought the city centre's only big movie theatre, the Cinema de Lux.
New Features and Stores
The 2008 expansion also created two new public squares. There are also apartments for people to live in. A new bus stop area was built to make it easier to get to the centre.
A large car park with 2000 spaces was added across the inner ring-road. A cool glass footbridge connects this car park directly to the shopping centre. Many new shops opened, including popular fashion brands like G-star, Lacoste, Hugo Boss, and Zara. An Apple Store also opened its doors. Plus, thirteen new restaurants and cafés joined the centre.
Becoming the East Midlands' Largest
Thanks to this huge expansion, Highcross Leicester became the largest shopping centre in the East Midlands region. It offers a wide variety of shops and places to eat.
Cool Architecture
The parts of the centre that house the Showcase Cinema de Lux and John Lewis were designed by a famous architecture firm called Foreign Office Architects. This was their first big project in the UK!
The cinema building is covered in shiny, slightly bumpy stainless steel. The John Lewis store has two layers of glass. Each layer has a swirly fabric design from John Lewis's old collections. This design lets light in and allows people to see out, but it also makes the inside a bit private from the outside. Using a fabric pattern in the design is a nod to Leicester's history as a city famous for making textiles and fabrics.
Opening Day Success
Before the official opening, a special open day was held on Sunday, 1 June 2008. More than a thousand people came to get a sneak peek at the new development.
The newly expanded and improved shopping centre officially opened to the public on 4 September 2008. It was a huge success! Over 125,000 visitors came on the first day. In its first two weeks, more than a million people visited. This big expansion cost about £350 million to build. It was the largest new building project in Leicester for many years.
