Shopping in Swansea
Swansea is the hub of South West Wales shopping, with good shopping reaching wider than just the city-centre. There’s a host of high street names and independent boutiques to be explored, so roll on down to any of the several shopping hotspots and spend or window shop to your heart’s content.
City-Centre Shopping
The Quadrant Centre
The Quadrant centre - your first stop for convenient, quality, high street shopping, all under the shelter of one roof. You’ll find the best in British chain stores, including Debenhams, Boots, HMV, WHSmith, Republic and Oasis. For refreshments there are several cafes around the Quadrant including one in the centre and in an upstairs gallery, and within shops such as Debenhams and WHSmith.
Oxford Street
Located in a pedestrian zone and lined with shops, Oxford Street is a shopping hot spot, home to TK Maxx, Top Shop and Marks and Spencer, and many other high street names and independent retailers. There are even visiting international markets here throughout the year.
Enjoy one of a plentitude of coffee houses, sandwich shops and cafes if you want to stop for some food or eat on the go.
Indoor Market
The largest in Wales, Swansea’s indoor market offers an array of different stalls, selling everything from fresh fruit and veg to Welsh souvenirs. There’s also opportunity along the way to enjoy some Welsh cuisine in relaxed cafes, and a plentitude of local Gower produce can be found under the same roof.
High Street
With the train station at one end and Castle Gardens at the other, High Street is host to many an interesting shop, selling everything from Welsh tartan to computers. Independent stores mingle with national chains including Argos and outdoor adventure shop Blacks to provide yet more great city-centre shopping.
Plymouth Street
A short road leading on to Lower Oxford Street, Plymouth Street has some great independent stores and quirky little shops. Gringo and Attica offer ethnic and arty goods, while Eden is full to the brim with jewellery and In2Surf caters for aspiring surfers. For coffees, cream teas, and continental lunches, give the popular Sapore or Tiffany’s a try. A truly pleasant shopping experience!
The Arcades
Slow the pace down a bit a pop into one of the arcades off Oxford Street. Picton Arcade has designer clothing and surf shops, and the opportunity to buy local art work from Frameworks. Across the road, Shopper’s Walk arcade sells dance wear, has a good hairdressers, and is also home to a body piercing parlour! There’s even an arcade off High Street to be explored too, with a whole miniature world in a shop selling doll’s house goods, and an Italian delicatessen.
Belle Vue Way & The Kingsway
This area has bridal shops, a florist and designer clothes shops, as well as new and and old local independent businesses.
Parc Tawe
Parc Tawe, found in the city centre opposite Sainsburys is home to Toys ‘R’ Us, Odeon cinema, 10-Pin bowling alley, a Joe’s ice-cream kiosk and more, and is surrounded by a plethora of shops, including Next, Currys, Borders and Pizza hut amongst others.
If you're parking here, access to the town centre can be found by taking the stairs opposite the bowling alley and crossing the bridge. You’ll then find yourself behind lower High Street.
City-Centre Parking
A multi-storey carpark is situated beside the Quadrant Centre, and Parc Tawe has its own car park which is free for up to 3 hours. The Strand car park near Wind Street and multi-storey near Salubrious Place provide parking in the centre of town. More car park information can be found at www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2794.
Parc Fforestfach
On the outskirts of Swansea, the retail park at Fforestfach has some excellent shopping, with less of the clamour of the city-centre and still a winning line-up of shops. Boasting Tesco Extra, Outift, Boots, Argos, River Island, Marks & Spencer, and Swansea’s only Borders store, and more, it’s great for convenient shopping.
Mumbles
Offering everything from keyrings and flip flops to luxury furniture and Gucci clothes, Mumbles offers real shopping variety. Newton Road is the place for fashionistas, with several designer boutiques selling top labels for both men and women. The street is also home interior design shops, arty gift shops, a bookshop and more! More central to the village is a small shopping arcade with a surf shop and cafe, and several gift shops.
