In Stratford

InShops is a hidden permanent market within Stratford Shopping Centre, the old mall. It is worth seeing, because it is so surprising. I know of nothing in this country like the InShops. It is so insulating that I sense it will be the last place standing in post-apocalyptic Stratford. I was surprised to discover in this hidden passageway not just synthetic clothing stalls, but also foreign food and beauty stores. The other highlight of Stratford Shopping Centre are the markets inside and out. Long before Westfield Stratford City showed up, I did pick up some much complemented items of synthetic clothing at some bargain stores, but with the high turnover, many of the old stores are gone by now. In my opinion they should lose the stores and banks replicated across the tracks, bring in some tables in to eat on, and go full-on market.  It would be helpful to keep things like Tiger and Wilkinsons, which are now the closest things to Woolworths.  Incidentally, every time I go looking for something at Westfield Stratford City and the store does not stock it, I am sent to Argos.

I actually like the old mall structure itself, which has been recently concealed by a bunch of giant shiny trees called The Shoal.

Here is a comparison between the two malls. My favorites are in bold. Westfield Stratford City has much more on offer, of course, but sometimes you can save time and money at Stratford Shopping Centre, and there are more things on that side of the tracks past the mall.

	Westfield Stratford City	Stratford Shopping Centre (& nearby)
no comparison:	NONE	outdoor market
	food courts	NONE
	ice cream shops	NONE
books:	Foyles	Stratford Library (in renovation)
cinema:	Vue	Picture House
digital electronics:	Apple Store, Samsung Store	electronics pawn shops
entertainment:	All Star Lanes	Stratford Circus,  Theatre Royal Stratford East
exhibits:	Getty Images Gallery	Discover Children's Story Center
gambling:	Aspers Casino	betting shop
groceries:	Waitrose	Sainsbury's
handout:	Evening Standard	religious information pamphlets
household:	Lakeland	Wilkinson
junk food:	McDonald's	Burger King
market:	Great Eastern Market	indoor food market and butchers
party supply:	Party Fiesta	pound shops
public restroom:	free in mall	pay in mall
seating:	foodcourt and also around mall (though usually taken)	none in mall
shoes:	leather	synthetic
sights:	John Lewis viewing room	InShops
stationary:	Ryman	Tiger
standard British:	banks	banks
	mobile shops	mobile shops
	drug stores	drug stores
	sports shops	sports shops
	WH Smith	WH Smith
	Mothercare	Mothercare
	Body Shop	Body Shop
	Claire's Accessories	Claire's Accessories
	Clarks Shoes	Clarks Shoes (good service)
	New Look	New Look
	Pizza Express	Pizza Express (good service)
	Nandos	Nandos (halal)
	Subway	Subway (halal)
	Greggs	Greggs
	pretzel stand	pretzel stand
	Starbucks	Starbucks