Posted:  Sunday, 2nd May 2010

A Day out at Westfield Shopping Centre and Bekonscot Model Village
for London Plant Associates
Wednesday, 14th April 2010

The third trip of the 2010 season saw 34 London Plant Associates and guests visit Westfield shopping centre and Bekonscot Model Village.  Following an early start from our coach pick up point in Thurrock we arrived in town early and we had a short tour around some of London's sites before heading for Westfield.

The Bank of England

 
The Embankment

We did not want to arrive at the Shopping Mall before it had opened so we had time for some sightseeing before we got there.  We were passing Big Ben before 10 am.

Westfield Shopping Mall.

Westfield is in Shepherd`s Bush London.  The centre is noted for its size, equivalent to 30 football pitches. It is said to be London's largest shopping centre and the third largest in the United Kingdom (behind the MetroCentre in Gateshead and Bluewater).  It is the largest urban area indoor shopping centre in the European Union (as distinct from out-of-town centres).  There are more than 265 shops from over 15 countries, plus 16 brands that have never been seen in the UK before.  As we got there early we had the mall almost to ourselves!

The spacious, opulent Mall had few early visitors.

Bekonscot Model Village is different from other model villages.  This is an entire miniature kingdom stuck firmly in an idyllic 1930s time warp.  The photographs show the attention to detail that brings the village to life.

The harbour.

A manor house

A coal mine.

The airport

A chateau

The fairground

The racecourse.

Some Associates look over an exhibit.

Some of the London group at the model Village.

Text: Ron Suttling (Trip organiser)   Photos: Derek Germaney