Catering to its big population of young, chic urbanites, Southampton is a great place to shop. The West Quay complex on Portland Terrace offers shoppers a good selection of designer boutiques, high street retailers and traditional shops. The West Quay Retail Park off West Quay Road brings together a selection of retailers that are normally located on the outskirts of towns.

Other good shopping areas include the Marlands Mall, Portland Terrace, and the Bargate Centre, off the High Street on East Street. For more traditional shops and specialist stores, head to East Street, Bedford Place and Above Bar Street. Most museums sell a range of tourist souvenirs and gifts. Southamptonians love to shop and most of the bigger chain stores are open seven days a week. Some of the smaller, traditional shops close or have restricted opening hours on Sundays.

At the Bargate Market Place, there are a number of regular and speciality markets. The Friday Market is open 0900-1700 with over 90 attractive continental-type stalls selling all kinds of high-quality food items. Hampshire Farmers Markets take place here one Saturday every month from 1000-1400. Southampton Artists Market comes to Bargate on the last Sunday of every month (open from 1000-1600).