Southampton Shopping

Southamptoners love to shop and the compact city centre provides a choice of covered malls, weekly markets and wide pedestrianised streets. Traditional brand name street shopping is found on the traffic free Above Bar Street, while to the south off High Street (a continuation of Above Bar Street) is Dolphin Lane.

The distinctive independent shops here are worthy of some time as is perhaps a spot of lunch at one of the terrace cafes located here. Around a ten minute walk from the city centre is Southampton's antiques, curios and collectables centre on Old Northam Road. It's this choice and quantity that has elevated Southampton into the top five retail destinations ranking in the UK and the most visited shopping destination on the south-west coast.

The three main shopping centres in Southampton are: Westquay, which has been voted best of its kind in the UK. This vast 3-level mall is a hot bed for fashionista's with labels such as French Connection, Karen Millen and Kookai. Marlands Shopping Centre, north of the centre dedicates itself primarily to high street fashion, lifestyle, furnishings and toys. Located next to the Bargate Monument, Bargate Centre attracts the trendy niche market of the young and young at heart. Purveyors of Extreme sports, urban wear, music, technology are all represented in 26 specialty outlets.