Shop till you drop at the Marlands, one of the city's most popular shopping centers with stores selling everything from clothes to footwear and toys to food. The variety of restaurants and cafes at this center will provide the much needed energy boost after a tiring shopping session.
Beatnik Emporium brings back fashion of a bygone era with its fabulous vintage collection. Dedicated to the fashion of 1990s, this store features some of the most uncanny yet appealing designs. Home to a collection of clothing, accessories, antiques and collectibles, this is where you will find all things quirky yet interesting. Best known for their clothing collection, the store features a fine choice of shirts, skirts, dresses, suits, trousers and denims for men and women.
WestQuay in Southampton is one of the UK's top shopping facilities. WestQuay contains a huge John Lewis store and a large Marks & Spencer, along with other shop units. Major fashion retailers such as The Gap and Next have moved in. The top floor food terrace contains restaurants and kiosks from the likes of Costa Coffee and Pizza Hut.
Gunwharf Quays is a massive and magnificent shopping center that offers visitors the ultimate shopping experience. With an array of over 90 different stores that offer some of the biggest international brands along with numerous local brands and businesses, there's something for every budget. Michael Kors, Nike, Marks & Spencer, Superdry, and Ralph Lauren are among the many leading fashion outlets. After some tiring shopping, grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants in the mall. This place definitely has something for everyone and deserves a visit when in the city.
This traditional and very high-class shoe shop has been around since 1803 and has a beautifully laid out interior with open wrought iron staircases connecting different levels. There aren't many actual shoes on display at the W.J. French & Son, helpful staff will bring a selection of footwear to you and there is a tasteful absence of price stickers. Don't expect high fashion footwear; the emphasis here is on class and style. There is a good children's section, again fairly expensive, and the shop provides a comprehensive repairs service, including re-soling and re-heeling gentlemen full length riding boots.
If you are visiting Winchester, a trip to this delightful toy store is a must. It is arguably the most famous shop in the town and stocks a huge range of items, from early learning toys to adult games and puzzles. It is renowned for its novelty goods and buckets stuffed with creepy crawlies, which can be found on the ground floor together with a large selection of Brio goods, baby mobiles, baby walkers, Lego sets and an extensive range of Thomas the Tank Engine items. The top floor stocks toys for older children, including a large range of model cars and bikes, plus board games and jigsaws.
The household items stocked on the ground floor of this high street store may not be to everyone's taste, but the first floor is a bargain hunters dream. Rack upon rack of shoes, designer labels and high fashion clothes are sold at rock bottom prices. T.K. Maxx buys up surplus stock and sells it on at a reduced rate because all the items are seconds, or last season's style, and you can get some terrific bargains. You can also kit out your kids in the children's section.
This branch of the worldwide music store is the place to purchase all the latest sounds. It is spread over three floors with the ground floor housing a huge contemporary music section, mainly pop, rock and dance. Classical music and a medley of other musical styles, from jazz to world music, can be found in the basement, while the first floor is mostly taken up with videos of films and TV shows as well as music videos. HMV is also a ticket outlet for all the major music events in the south of England.
This women clothes store is one of those shops that likes to give an impression of exclusivity by displaying only a small number of items. Based inside the WestQuay Shopping Centre, in the heart of Southampton's main shopping precinct, it stocks the latest looks and seasonal trends including fabrics, knits, tops and accessories. Its clothes are usually in the cheap-to-middling price range.
WHSmith sells everything from cute pencil boxes to greeting cards to top 40 hits and the latest video releases, along with every magazine and publication on the market. It is a stationers, booksellers, confectioners, tobacconist and music and video store all rolled into one. You will find a branch on every high street in the UK and if you are a regular visitor it is worth signing up for their points scheme.
There is not a pack of economy tea bags in sight in this specialty tea shop in Southampton's Marlands Centre. Whittard of Chelsea imports tea from around the world and specializes in an exotic range of flavored teas. If suitable crockery is needed, an array of hand painted tea-drinking paraphernalia is on display. On the other side of the shop is an equally enticing array of coffee beans, which the staff will grind on request, plus everything you could need to make the coffee.