Blanch or Liffey Valley

cjmcork

so I've a rare sunday in Dublin next weekend and was planning on hitting a shopping centre - I've never been to Blanch or LVSC, any recommendations - which one is better

just fyi, I don't really like Dundrum, I'm more of a Dunnes, New Look, Penneys, Marks, Awear type shopper, so Hobbs and Coast, etc don't really do it for me (just in case this helps with recommendations)

Also don't really know either area, so ease of access via car is also useful info

eager tortoise

I think Blanch is better as it's a little bigger and has more shops - for me, the main drawback of Liffey Valley is that there is no Penneys and the one in Blanchardstown is pretty big. I think otherwise they both have all the shops you mentioned.

Also, Blanch accessible on N3, ; Liffey Valley on N4. Not much distance between them, both close to M50

How Strange

Blanch is bigger and has pennys, debenhams and Zara however I prefer Liffey Valley because it's smaller so it's not so exhausting getting around it.

I personally hate large sc which is why I avoid Dundrum at all costs.

Toto Wolfcastle

I prefer Blanch. I think it's a nicer shopping centre to shop in. Liffey Valley always seems a bit claustrophobic to me. As others have mentioned, if you want Penneys you'll have to go to Blanch.

Ivenus

Blanch is better than Liffey Valley.
Blanch has more clothes shops than Liffey valley such as Debenhams, warehouse, gap outlet, pennys, zara which Liffey valley doesn't have.

cjmcork

I think we have a winner so in Blanch!

Toast4532

Blanch definitely. Was there once & would definitely go back again. Much much better than Liffey Valley. I'm not a huge fan of LV anyway, there's little choice there I think.

xOxSinéadxOx

Blanch is waaaaaaaaaaay better for so many reasons. I think Liffey Valley is terrible.

Aoifums

Keep in mind that New Look and a couple more shops are outside of the main shopping centre in Blanchardstown. They're still easy to get to but I don't think they're signposted within the centre. You have to leave by the door beside Awear/Marks and Spencers to get to them.

phasers

Blanch has much better shops, but just FYI if you want to go to New Look, Next or Dorothy Perkins you've got to trek over to the Westend Retail Park which is right next to the main centre.

TK Maxx is way over the other side if you want to go there but you're driving so you'll be grand , the retail parks can be a bit confusing when you first get there. I still go to the wrong one sometimes :pac:

Toto Wolfcastle

phasers wrote: »

Blanch has much better shops, but just FYI if you want to go to New Look, Next or Dorothy Perkins you've got to trek over to the Westend Retail Park which is right next to the main centre.

Dorothy Perkins is upstairs next to Dunnes in the main centre.

Ccheidi

Blanchardstown definitely as more shops and choice! Only advise if going to blanch is look up their website to get idea where all shops are as some in outside retail parks which easy to miss as blanch so spread out!
Enjoy your day!

joi99

If you want ease of movement I would go to Liffey Valley, very easy to get parking and the traffic around the centre moves well, Blanchardstown is full of congestion and bottlenecks. So if you want less driving stress Liffey Valley.

handlemaster

Blach. defo. never thought much of liffey valley or dundrum for that matter plus all the parking is free

phasers

Bobblehead Panda wrote: »

Dorothy Perkins is upstairs next to Dunnes in the main centre.

Really? How come there's two? Actually better question: How come I never noticed that?

Toto Wolfcastle

phasers wrote: »

Really? How come there's two? Actually better question: How come I never noticed that?

I completely forgot that there was one in Westend too. No idea why there are two. I just double checked the Blanch map to make sure it's still next to Dunnes and it is.

Bobsammy

Theres two alright, the one in Westend is way better. I'd prefer Blanchardstown to Liffey Valley, it has everything LV has plus more. Parking is usually a lot easier in LV though!

Alqua

Agree with the other posters in that Blanch would win on sheer selection of shops. That said, if you prefer less of a treck while shopping Liffey Valley is more compact and it's easy to find your way around, and very easy to get to. Parking is free there too and there's plenty of it! Happy shopping!

cjmcork

thanks so much - been on the websites for the 2 centres.........noticed Blanch also has a Thorntons.........NOM NOM!!!

Joe Hart

The Square Tallaght.

cjmcork

eeekkk - saw pics of blanch this morning, might have to re-think my day shopping there on Sunday, I can't swim!!!

Perfect Ring

Blanch has all the shops you mentioned an more!

Toto Wolfcastle

I live very near Blanch. I was there today. What pictures did you see? Seemed grand around the area today.

cjmcork

it looked like the road was completely flooded and the cars were stranded in the middle of v high flood water

Toto Wolfcastle

This one? That doesn't look like it was taken today. It looks like there are trees in that photo that aren't there any more. I stand to be corrected though.

cjmcork

that's the one I saw alright - so it wasn't taken today then?

Toto Wolfcastle

I don't think so but I can't be sure. Nothing about it in the Dublin 15 forum anyway and nothing on AA Roadwatch. Worth asking in the Dublin 15 forum to be sure though but by Sunday it should be fine. It would be rare enough that there would be flooding there.

the_syco

Pretty sure that picture is from the Bray side of the M50.

Depends what time you plan on getting to the shopping centre.

Before 10; goto Blanch.
Midday to five; goto LV.

I say this as anytime I've been to Blanch after the 10-12 timeslot, traffic is mad, and there's no carspaces

Toto Wolfcastle

the_syco wrote: »

Pretty sure that picture is from the Bray side of the M50.

Nope, you can see the sign for Cavan. Plus it's the N3.

Karen23

That pic is just outside Blanch , you can see the shopping centre masts on the top left but its an old pic ,definitely wasn't taken today.

I prefer Blanch to Liffey Valley too , much more choice of shops and the retail parks are all in within walking distance so not a major hassle.

Plus no toll bridge to pay if you're coming from the northside.

cjmcork

the_syco wrote: »

Pretty sure that picture is from the Bray side of the M50.

Depends what time you plan on getting to the shopping centre.

Before 10; goto Blanch.
Midday to five; goto LV.

I say this as anytime I've been to Blanch after the 10-12 timeslot, traffic is mad, and there's no carspaces

going on Sunday though.........

cjmcork

2 questions re Blanch:

is there a time limit on the parking (do I have to feic off after 3 hours?);
is the thorntons a full shop or just an outlet (like the one in stephen's green)?

quinevere

Hi the parking is free all day plus the thortons is a shop with the foundation and icecream if thats what your looking for

Ccheidi

No in Blanch you can park for as long as you want for free! With this weather I would use the inside car park! Entrance to it across from westend retail park! Map available on blanch shopping centre website!

There is a Thorntons shop up stairs in main building just a little bit down from Debenhams entrance! Never in one in st Stephens green so can't compare! Probably fit about half dozen people in one in blanch!

Really would look up blanchardstown shopping centre website for map of shops so you can plan your day and not miss out on anything!

Toto Wolfcastle

I saw a thread about Westend introducing a 3 hour limit but I'm not sure if that's in place yet. No limits in the other car parks.

cjmcork

well now - just back from a day in Blanch

arrived at 11am on the button just as most of the shops were opening, what a fab shopping centre, I even went across to the retail park, but it was well worth it

lots of the shops are having fab sales - it got a bit manic around 3pm (looked like every child in Dublin was there!), and all the staff that I met were all super-friendly

but all in all, a fab shopping centre, would definitely recommend it over Dundrum if you're not into the expensive places that are in that shopping centre and it would run a very close second to Grafton Street for me, and it was only 25 from Stillorgan door-to-door

thanks to all for the advice - will certainly be visiting it again

Ccheidi

Glad you enjoyed your day! Would loved to have been there myself:( Sunday seems to be busier than Sat for some reason! Getting hungary now thinking of Nandos in Blanch

amtc

pic is from 2009. I live just to the right of that. Sloppy reporting!