West Quay is an undercover shopping complex in Southampton City Centre. It is a short distance from Southampton train station, and provides 4,000 parking spaces for those who wish to drive there. As with anywhere, the parking is fairly pricey, but not excessively so.
***WHAT SHOPS ARE THERE?***
West Quay is on three levels. The top level is where you will find places to eat and drink: such as KFC and Singapore Sams.
Benetton Levis Marks and Spencer John Lewis La Senza (women's underwear) Goldsmiths Next Faith (shoes) Schuh (shoes) H & M Jane Norman New Look Claire's Accessories Dixons (electricals) Game Orange Phone Shop Clinton Cards Wallis Monsoon Warehouse Evans
(and many many more...)
Lower Shopping level contains shops such as:
Gap Waterstones (books) Waitrose (supermarket) Habitat Natural World Pumpkin Patch (children clothes) French Connection Karen Millen Oasis Kew Gamleys (toy shop) Bear Factory (you can chose a bear to be made for you)
Of course there are many more shops in West Quay, please take a look at there website www.west-quay.co.uk
***GOOD POINTS***
Undercover shopping so you don't get wet in bad weather.
A good selection of shops.
There are more shops outside West Quay on the highstreet such as Topshop, Primark, Miss Selfridge, TK Maxx (about 5 minute walk). Plus there are two other undercover shopping centres within minutes of West Quay....(Marlands and Bargate). Marlands contains shops such as West One, Mark One and Bay Trading. Bargate contains more unusual shops and a place where you can have your nails done. Debenhams is also within walking distance of West Quay. It is a little pain that it is all spread out, but all the shops are within walking distance.
There are places to eat in West Quay so you don't have to venture outside if you don't want to.
***BAD POINTS***
I would personally try and visit West Quay before lunchtime on a Saturday as it does tend to get busy. I always find that 9.00 or 10.00 is a good time to arrive and find a parking space with ease. Sundays aren't usually as crowded. During the week crowds aren't much of a problem, and West Quay stays open till 8.00pm on a Thursday evening. It is open till 6pm all other days (apart from Sunday which is 5pm).
Parking is quite expensive, but you pay for convenience....and you can get money off your parking if you spend a certain amount on your shopping in Waitrose.
***CONCLUSION***
I personally really like West Quay, it is a huge improvement on what we had before in Southampton. We have a wider range of shops (I especially like the shoe shops Schuh and Faith and also the women's clothes shop Jane Norman).
I would prefer West Quay if it had lifts or stairs on both sides. At one end of the complex it is designed in a circular fashion, where you have to walk all the way round in order to reach the lifts and stairs to get to another level. The design is intended to make you look at other shops as you walk round to the lifts and stairs. It would make it easier if there were two access and exit points in that part of West Quay.
Overall, despite these few criticisms, West Quay is a lovely place to shop and you are sure to find something there that you like.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Attractive shopping area, Lots of Attractions (food, cinema, bowling, shops etc), designer clothes at reduced prices. Disadvantages: The shops will not appeal to everyone, complex is not undercover.
very helpful by (23%):
helpful by (77%):
