Took my two girls there to see the circus on ice show earlier this week. They enjoyed it, especially the funfair afterwards which was almost deserted - the organisers had made the mistake of putting the biggest and most expensive ride at the entrance with '£15 per person ' plastered on it, obviously putting people off but inside it's only £2-3 per ride for most things, and the German hot dogs and the cheeseburgers are half the price of 5 guys just a few steps away, and with no queues.
First time I've been to the trafford centre, aside for a 5 min trip for a school bag 2 years ago, in about a decade. The show was at noon and in the morning going through the shops it wasn't too bad, although people desperately queuing for Nando's to open made us laugh. I've only been to Nando's once...it's just chicken, and not particularly great chicken either.
Coming back after the show was another story. Sardines inside the center, both my 6 year old and 11 year old had their toes stood on by the stampeding masses, the queue for McDonald's was, I'd estimate, about 200-300 people long and the eldest has declared she's never going to the trafford ever again so good to see she learns fast.
Half way back to the car, my wife pointed out that almost all the shops we were passing were completely devoid of people, and it was absolutely true. The place was packed, but very few people were actually going in the shops. Seems that a lot of people must be going to the trafford centre nowadays to march up and down the place and keep warm. Either that or the Trafford center is actually just full of people who don't want to be at the Trafford center!
Coming out was a right laugh too. Some woman drove a 4x4 right at us the wrong way on a single lane one way section to get into the space we'd just vacated, not realising there was already a huge queue the other way because another guy who's decided to block the car park whilst waiting for our space. Fun and games, and a timely reminder of why, if you ever absolutely have to go to the trafford centre, getting there for 10am and buggering off by half eleven is essential for your sanity.