The Brent Cross shopping centre was the first experiment in this style of shopping experience in the UK when it opened at Brent Cross in 1976 and it was initially constructed in an I shape parallel to the North Circular Road, with the two largest stores placed at either end. Suffering later from a rather dated look, subsequent expansion started in 1995 and saw the open parking areas to the north replaced by further shops, mid-market restaurants and multi-storey parking giving the present inverted T shape.

The original malls still retain a 1970s look, even though the shops have been modernised over the years. Despite its small size, the shopping centre has one of the largest incomes per unit area of retail space in the UK.