Southampton sells itself as the shopping capital of the South Coast and the
West Quay shopping center does nothing to dispel you of that opinion. John Lewis and Marks And Spencer are the major draws, but there are 97 other shops happy to separate you from your hard-earned cash. An extension to this popular shopping center opened in 2016 and includes a 10 screen 4k Cinema, up to 20 extra restaurants, and a public square.
The Marlands is a smaller shopping center constructed to a PostModern design in 1991. The rent is lower than West Quay and hence the retailers are less salubrious. Retailers include Route One, CEX and The Disney Store.
For more shopping, Above Bar Street is the main pedestrian thoroughfare joining the shopping centers to each other with even more retailers, large and small. You won't be surprised to find that the same stores as are on most British high streets such as TK Maxx, HMV, Topshop, and Primark have made this their home. Above
Bar Street is also the home of special shopping events. The
German Market runs in December, and the area around the Bargate has the
Farmer's Market on the second Saturday of each month.
Immediately to the east through either the independent side streets of Hannover Street or East Street is a large Debenhams department store.
A short walk to the north of Southampton's main city center are Bedford Place and London Road. By day and night, the bars, coffee shops, pubs, and restaurants are a hive of activity.
South East of the city center,
Oxford Street hosts independent boutiques, salons, bars, and restaurants and maintains a more historic feel.