Oxford Street is good and all, but sometimes you want to avoid the tourists and double decker buses and go to a proper shopping mall. And it’s good news for London’s shopaholics, because a major shopping centre near the capital has just proved itself to be among the best in the UK.
Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent has just been recognised for its achievements in the Sceptre Awards 2025. The retail haven in the Garden of England was highly commended in Sceptre’s category for Sustainability Initiative of the Year.
In the sustainability prize, Sceptre recognised shopping centres that had made considerable efforts to increase their sustainability credentials in various ways.
So what did Bluewater do to get such green chops? According to Landsec, which owns the centre, Bluewater is surrounded by a natural ecosystem, made up of 50 acres of parkland, nature trails, lakes, meadows, flora, fauna and more than 900 species of wildlife. Landsec says its biodiversity management strategy safeguards 17 protected species of plants and animals within this land.
Bluewater has a goal of achieving net zero by 2030, and is currently installing 3,200 solar panels that will power the complex. Its roof is covered with grass and wildflowers, and the roof ventilation system draws in fresh and cooling air to ventilate the malls more efficiently.
The Kent mall was also a runner up for grand the Retail Destination of the Year award. You can read about which shopping centre won that here and find out what a Time Out shopping expert made of the place.
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