Shopping · Bluewater
Bluewater: the shopping guide, and a taxi home with the bags
Britain's biggest shopping day out is 15 minutes from Dartford and 30 from Bromley. Here is when to go, what to do, and how to get home without the bus.
When to go
- Quietest: Tuesday to Thursday 10:00 to 12:00, and every evening after 17:00 (open to 21:00 Monday to Friday, 20:00 Saturday, 17:00 Sunday).
- Busiest: Saturday afternoons, school holidays, the Boxing Day sale (queues from 07:00) and the four weekends before Christmas.
- Sales: Boxing Day to late January; summer from late June; Black Friday is now a week.
Beyond the shops
The Showcase Cinema de Lux (17 screens, recliners), Gravity trampolines and go-karts for children's parties, the Winter Garden restaurants, and the lakes: a two-mile walk round the old quarry with the cliffs above. In December there is an ice rink and the grotto. Most people do not know the Plaza has the quiet cafés and the West Village has the independents.
Getting there and home
The bus from Bromley is over an hour with a change at Dartford; the train needs a bus from Greenhithe. A fixed-fare taxi is door to door:
| Journey | Saloon (sedan) (3) | Executive | MPV (6) | 9-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bromley → Bluewater | £37 | £131 | £114 | £147 |
Sidcup, Orpington, Chislehurst and Bexleyheath are similar; Dartford, Swanley and Crayford are the local minimum. Per car, VAT included, no surge on Boxing Day. Pickups are at the Upper Thames Walk taxi rank or any car-park entrance you name; message WhatsApp when you are at the till and the driver meets you at the door.
Questions
How much is a taxi from Bromley to Bluewater?
£37 for a saloon (sedan), £99 for a 6-seat MPV, fixed, one way, VAT included.
Is parking free at Bluewater?
Yes, 13,000 spaces, free, but the car parks are full by 11:00 on a December Saturday, which is the other reason for a taxi.
Can I book a taxi from Bluewater at short notice?
Usually within 15 to 30 minutes from the rank at Upper Thames Walk; pre-booking guarantees the price and the car.
Do you do Lakeside as well?
Yes, via the Dartford Crossing; the crossing charge is included in the fixed fare.
Related
Where south-east Londoners actually go shopping
Where do locals in south-east London shop? Most head to one of three places rather than into the West End.
- Bluewater, near Greenhithe: One of the largest shopping centres in the UK, with department stores, big-name brands and restaurants under one roof. Greenhithe for Bluewater station is served by Thameslink and Southeastern.
- Bromley town centre: The Glades shopping centre and the pedestrianised High Street, with good local restaurants, close to Bromley South and Bromley North stations.
- Bexleyheath Broadway: A compact centre for everyday shopping, handy for Bexley and Welling.
Bluewater gets very busy on Saturdays and in the weeks before Christmas, when car parks fill and traffic backs up towards the A2. A weekday morning is the calm option. Being dropped at the entrance and booking a set pick-up time means no hunting for a space and no carrying heavy bags across a car park.
Q: How do I get to Bluewater without a car?
A: Take a train to Greenhithe for Bluewater, served by Thameslink and Southeastern, then a short bus or walk to the centre. A taxi drop-off at the entrance is easiest with shopping.