The Brunswick Centre — Attraction in London

I welcome the Brunswick Centre’s management for finally realising there’s an issue with cyclists running roughshod through this shopping centre and at least put up large signs saying no cycling.

Unfortunately there’s no one enforcing it! So once again there’s a steady flow of delivery guys on bike’s flouting the rules regularly.

Honestly do something about it as some of them are on high powered electric bikes and eventually there will be an incident and a pedestrian will be harmed or even worse!!

It really does feel very threatening with these delivery cyclists wizzing around and something has to change.

Just been to the Brunswick Centre on a rainy evening in February, the 6th 2024 at about 10.30pm to be precise and it was reminiscent of going to Washington once and walking too far from the centre. It had the same feeling of lawlessness about it and not a single security guard except from the one in Sainsbury’s itself, presuming I’d be stealing something maybe? Once I left the store I didn’t feel comfortable being in the shopping centre at all.

The Brunswick Centre used to be a great place to enjoy in peace & quiet during the day. Unfortunately now it’s rammed with loud students, fast food restaurants and shops catering for the endless Chinese students who gather there. Also there’s a constant flow of delivery cyclists that the security people, if they exist? allow free rein to do as they please. It’s definitely lost its charm.

If I was a tourist or someone visiting the area I’d stay well clear of this place and especially in an evening!

(Update on my my previous review. Seems at last the management of the Brunswick Centre are finally waking up to previous concerns on the free movement of cyclists, especially food delivery ones. At least now they’ve band them from the main centre. Please now do the same with the Brunswick Square side please!!)

Seems finally now you are trying to band cyclists from all areas in the pedestrian shopping centre! A little too late really and let’s see if you regulate it? I doubt you will...

I have just left the dog event very dissapointed at the way that it was put together. I would not call this event a dog show as it wasn't focused on the dogs but instead little stalls where you can walk around with your dog and expected to buy something or make a donation at every stop you make. In terms of the "show" itself, there was a stage which we thought would be for the Judging of the dogs but it turned out there was just a presenter saying what was going on around us and announcing random winners without even inviting them or their owners onto the stage and no registration for any of the categories, instead there were supposedly secret judges walking around and randomly deciding to award dogs rosettes.

I stopped to speak to two of the young ladies who were part of the secret judging team (which wasn't very secret because they made it quite obvious by walking around with clipboards and selecting dogs) I asked them their background with dogs, both of which who had no experience with dogs, but just a dog owner and young girl who volunteered for the day.

Also, 30 min into the start of the event the categories were basically all awarded with several dog owners and carers asking how judging was done and how to register their dogs?

What I know of a dog show is that dogs are registered and entered to various categories of choice, and at specific timings called up to either the podium or a particular area and then judges by either experienced judges and/or audience. This was not the case. There was no registration, the stage was not used for the dogs, categories were not established from the start and 30min into the event we got random announcements of winners of various categories that were supposedly selected by "secret" judges walking around.

It was very cute seeing all the lovely dogs walk around and say hello to one another, but stand by what I say that this was not a dog show, but more of a fundraiser with random volunteers going around and selecting dogs of their choice to...

I'm here frequently to visit Curson Bloomsbury or Gay's the Word down the street. The Waitrose branch is pretty good, and I'm so glad that Tian Tian Market has found a home here (amazing snacks).

I do really love the space of Brunswick Centre and it's always well patrolled (feels very safe), but I do wish there was a better array of cafes and restaurants. I understand they place things that tourists are drawn to, but it would be nice to have some better variety and quality. Truedan is kind of bland and lacks variety IMO, Pelican State has so much potential but the flavours just don't slap in the way I hoped, and there are no good coffee shops (Starbucks doesn't cut it)! I stick with Curzon because I love them and they offer cosy cafe vibes when you're not using the cinema. I'd spend so much more time in other businesses if there were more casual spaces to get coffee, buy/read a book, do some work and stay warm.

Ultimately, I think Brunswick should move towards trying to keep people in the space for longer rather than just passing through for one or two events/shopping stops.

It would also be great if there was a casual co-working cafe option (or even if existing businesses offered a daily deal like more places are doing these days.) Example: £10, 9-5 with a hot drink.

There's lots of potential and I hope to see things evolve in what's a lovely space and...