SHOPAHOLICS are guaranteed a good time at Bluewater, with 1.5 million square feet of floor space devoted to shopping. The centre is designed as a triangular-shaped shopping mall with a huge department store at each corner and 320 shops in between.

Two of these department stores, John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, will be the largest of their respective chains in the south east outside of Oxford Street.

Other stores to watch out for include such designer names as Karen Millen, Kookai and LK Bennett, all branching out from the King's Road, and high street favourites Boots, WH Smith, Top Shop, Principles and Next.

Specialist shops include Carphone Ware-house, Electronics Boutique, World of Football, Virgin Megastore, and golf store Nevada Bob's. The massive development will also have an international flavour with 10 per cent of the stores owned by foreign firms.

American giants The Gap and Timberland, Spanish fashion chain Mango and Dutch clothes store Mexx are all in the pipeline. Bluewater expects to attract 30 million shoppers each year, an average of 80,000 people per day.

Australian cinema giant Hoyts will unveil first British cinema at Bluewater -- a 13-screen multiplex capable of seating 3,000. As well as all the major new releases and current films, the cinema plans to run daily films for children, foreign film seasons and premieres with star guests. Automatic ticket machines, Internet booking, a caf bar and a children's area will also be available when the multiplex opens in June.

Seven freshwater lakes on Bluewater's

240-acre site will be available to visitors for boating and fishing. Shoppers can also take picnics or cycle in the landscaped grounds.

Food courts in each of the three malls are aimed at specific groups of customers.

One will be for families and children with fast-food restaurants, take-aways and a children's play area. Another is for more upmarket eating with brasseries and fine dining, while a third mall, targeted at younger people, will have cyber-cafes, sports cafes and other themed restaurants.

With 30 million shoppers expected each year, transport links have had to be improved since the area was hewn out of an old chalk quarry. Most customers are expected to come by car but Bluewater is keen to encourage staff and customers to think green when travelling. Over 13,000 parking spaces will be provided, with secure parking for cycles.

Connex has doubled the number of trains stopping at Greenhithe station and 20 shuttle buses will run from Gravesend and Dartford. Eltham, Swanley, Bexley, Orpington, Meopham, and Longfield will all be served by at least buses an hour.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.