Whitgift Centre

Gazing up at the Whitgift Centre, did you ever picture this colossal structure as an open-air market? For two decades after its initial opening in 1968, the Whitgift Centre braved the elements, roofless and exposed to the London sky. It’s hard to imagine now, as we stand beneath its glass atrium, but shoppers once strolled through these halls, sunshine warming their faces or rain peppering their umbrellas. The Whitgift Centre, a Croydon landmark, has a history as layered as its three stories. Named after John Whitgift, the Archbishop of Canterbury who rests nearby in Croydon Minster, the centre has been synonymous with the town since its inception. Originally designed by Anthony Minoprio and built by Fitzroy Robinson & Partners, the centre opened in stages. Boots was the first store to welcome customers in 1968. The official inauguration, however, took place in October 1970, graced by the Duchess of Kent. Can you picture a Roman-themed pub nestled within the Whitgift Centre? The Forum pub, once a central feature, was a popular gathering spot. The Whitgift Centre wasn’t always the enclosed space we see today. In the 1990s, the centre underwent a significant transformation. The open-air design was replaced with the current atrium, and sadly, The Forum pub became a memory. The centre’s basement reveals a hidden network of service roads, stretching over a kilometer, providing access to all retail units. Before Westfield London opened in 2008, the Whitgift Centre held the title of the largest covered shopping development in Greater London. Even now, it boasts an impressive 1,300,000 square feet of retail space, attracting over two million visitors each month. The Whitgift Centre, owned by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield since 2023, continues to evolve. Redevelopment plans have been discussed and revised for years. Despite delays and uncertainties, the Whitgift Centre remains a significant piece of Croydon’s identity, a testament to its enduring presence in the heart of the town.