Three hotels are planned for London’s newest shopping complex which has just opened its doors next to Stratford International station at the Olympic Park.

The £1.8 billion Westfield Stratford City retail project will be the gateway to the London 2012 Olympic Park and is the largest urban shopping centre in Europe. It features 1.9 million square feet of retail and leisure space, with over 300 shops and 70 food and beverage outlets.

The site will also include three hotels by the time of the London 2012 Olympics, with the Premier Inn London Stratford opening today, and Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites properties set to open next year.

Stratford City also includes three hotels - with the Premier Inn London Stratford opening today, and Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites properties set to open next year.

There is 130,000 square feet of office space which is the first phase of a total of 1.1 million square feet office precinct and 1,200 residential dwellings which are expected to be developed after the 2012 Olympic Games.

This is the second Westfield complex to open in the capital, following on from the opening of its first London shopping centre in Shepherd’s Bush in 2008.  Mayor Boris Johnson attended the opening ceremony.