Right from it opening, the centre changed the whole concept of shopping from a tense, unpleasant chore to a pleasant, relaxed outing. The Centre aimed to remove the strains and stresses from the normal hustle and bustle associated with shopping,

Shoppers visiting the Centre in 1967 would have encountered a very similar atmosphere in the malls to that of today. Yet the focal point of the Centre then was a lighting effect in the centre court, comprising hundreds of glass fibre stalactites, varying in shape and colours from pale lemon to deep orange. Also in the centre court was a small pool and fountain.

Down the centre of the malls there were places for sitting among plant and shrub arrangements. Relaxing soft music was piped through the malls to aid an overall atmosphere of calmness.

The Arndale Centre was also ground-breaking in that it featured a state-of-the-art new heating system, allowing the Centre to be heated in winter and cooled in summer, maintaining a pleasant temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.