[1] The first tenants moved into the complex in 1988 and it was completed in 1990, being opened on 25 October of that year by Princess Alexandra of Kent, Marcus Bradford and Angus Ogilvy.

[3] Thurrock Council wants to make it a "regional town centre", with plans to build new shops, facilities and 3,000 homes.

There are over 250 shops (including the anchor stores of Marks & Spencer and Primark - Debenhams and House of Fraser were also anchor stores until their closures in May 2021 and January 2024 respectively), 50 cafes and restaurants, and a 26-acre (110,000 m2) lake named Alexandra Lake with a PADI certified diving school complex.

[8] The centre has a direct link to Chafford Hundred railway station where c2c trains run to London Fenchurch Street via Upminster and West Ham or east towards Southend Central via Grays and Stanford-le-Hope.

The centre is connected to the M25 motorway which is London's outermost ring road running south towards Dartford and Gatwick and North towards Enfield, Watford and Heathrow.

It is connected to the Transport for London bus network by 370 to Romford and 372 to Hornchurch with other operators such as Ensignbus to the surrounding Thurrock area and First Essex's route 100 to Basildon.

[citation needed] The Lakeside Pavilion, a market area adjoining the main shopping centre via a covered bridge, was closed in 2006 for refurbishment, re-opening in June 2007 as 'The Boardwalk'.

[13][14] Superdry brands opened its largest-ever store at the centre in July 2010, in the unit previously occupied by Woolworths.

[17] On 8 December 2012, US fashion giant Forever 21 opened a 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m2) flagship store at intu Lakeside, in a three-floor unit.

Intu Lakeside was granted permission in 2012 to extend to include 30-40 new stores, a new footbridge across the Alexandra Lake to the Lakeside Retail Park, a new leisure area, a new 80 bed Travelodge hotel overlooking the river and a brand new transport hub where the current railway station bridge is to allow easier interchange.

[19][20] In spring 2022 it was announced that Marks and Spencer would relocate from their longstanding position in the centre of the mall to take over the premises vacated a year earlier by the closure of Debenhams.

The fractious working relationship between Essex FM's breakfast show DJ Martin Day and his boss Paul Chantler also featured.