31 photos chart the rise of UK shopping centres during the 70s and 80s, featuring lost stores you may remember

But shopping centres are a relatively new phenomenon in the UK, despite their obvious advantage of providing shelter from the vagaries of the British weather.

They only started springing up in significant numbers in the 60s, before their popularity boomed during the 1970s and 80s.

These photos take you back to those early days in the 70s and 80s, when shopping centres were still new and exciting.

Back then they were mostly located within town and city centres, too, before the boom in out-of-town shopping centres, charged with killing off the country’s high streets.

This retro photo gallery shows shopping centres around the UK during the 1970s and 80s, many of which had just opened when these pictures were taken.

Most of the shopping centres pictured are still going strong all these years later, albeit with a few name changes.

But some look very different today, and the shops within have changed considerably, with Debenhams, BHS, C&A and Woolworths among the many casualties.

As well as the shopping centres and the stores they contained, these photos capture some special visitors, from royalty in the form of Prince Philip and Princess Anne to the then ubiquitous duo Keith Harris and Orville.

If you enjoyed these photos, you might like our look back at some of the most popular shops of the 60s and 70s which we have lost over the years.

What’s the best shopping centre you’ve ever visited? Let us know in the comments section.