West Quay

West Quay Shopping Centre is split into two parts, the interior undercover part and the West Quay retail with the larger department stores. It caters for everybody and everything, also including two car parks offering over 3000 car parking spaces in central Southampton. In West Quay Retail there is JJB, Argos, Borders, Furnture Village, Tesco Home, Staples, Halfords, Boots, and Brantano. With McDonalds and TGI Fridays opposite them, and a Starbucks in Borders, and a Novotel, Ibis, and Etap hotels also there offering cheap stays. It also has The Quays a swimming pool and leisure centre and also the only Ikea on the south coast (recently opened). ...  Read the complete review

West Quay opened back in 2001. However, I did not visit until 2007 as up until then I tended to go to Portsmouth if I wanted to shop on the mainland (I live on the Isle of Wight). As soon as I went I wondered why I hadn't been before and it has been a regular place for me to visit since. I love the location of West Quay. If you are coming over from the Isle of Wight like me it is only a couple of minutes drive away from the Red Jet or Red Funnel ferry terminals and there are free buses which run to West Quay which are useful. Free buses also run from the train station. If you are driving in it is well signposted and fairly easy to get to. When you get there ...  Read the complete review

My girlfriend and I went to West Quay on the Saturday just gone and we had a great time. We went in search of a present for her mum and for some work trousers and shirts for me for work. There so are many shops at West Quay I won't bother listing all of them, i don't want to be accused of filling out my review nor do I want to bore you! I will mention the ones I personally experienced however. -------- Parking Firstly arriving at West Quay from the West was a little confusing and frustrating; at first the signs point to a car park by TGI Fridays but if you keep going you'll soon see a sign for 'Podium' parking which has a covered ...  Read the complete review

As a child growing up in Southampton we had a couple of shopping centres to visit. The Marlands and The Bargate. Although these seemed good at the time they were nothing compared to the shopping centres in other places. Then in 2001 West Quay was built slap bang in the middle of Southampton high street. To get to West Quay by car you need to follow any of the main roads into Southampton and then basically follow the signs and the traffic until you get there. There are also many bus services into the City from outside. From the train station there is a free bus service that runs to West Quay although it is only a short walk. There are a number of ...  Read the complete review

I don't like shopping centres! They take the heart out of a city or town. I used to much prefer the traditional High Street, mainly because there was a much better mix of shops. What shopping centres have acheived is to keep the big names aloft (they can afford the rents) and the closure of small and more interesting independents. But, anyway, life goes on and culture evolves. Your shopping experience in Southampton is likely to revolve around West Quay, because you are more than likely going to park in one of the adjoined car parks. Parking is 'affordable' and it is generally easy to park EXCEPT on a Saturday - don't even think about shopping in ...  Read the complete review