10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Swansea

Swansea Market is the largest independent indoor market in Wales. It’s a popular meeting spot for both tourists and locals, with a beautiful glass dome ceiling as its centrepiece.

Opened in 1961, Swansea Market houses over 100 independent stalls varying from fresh local produce to artisanal handicrafts. If you’re feeling hungry, be sure to stop by any of the bakery stalls to try homemade cakes and pastries or step into any of the cafés to refuel for the day.

Quadrant Shopping Centre is a popular shopping centre set in the heart of Swansea. It offers a unique single-storey shopping experience with big-name stores such as Debenhams, The Body Shop, and Boots. Students can receive further discounts from participating stores, so be sure to approach the information counter for extra details.

At the end of Quadrant Shopping Centre, you'll discover a covered walkway with direct access to the Swansea Market. This makes your shopping experience in the city centre a seamless one.

Oxford Street is a prominent shopping area in Swansea’s city centre. All the main British high street chain stores are along this street, such as River Island, H&M, and Marks & Spencer.

The pedestrianised area invites over 50,000 shoppers a week. Along the way, you’ll come across buskers and aspiring artists as you stroll down the streets. Oxford Street is known to be a key route that connects visitors to other prominent Swansea shopping places, such as Swansea Market and Quadrant Shopping Centre.

Parc Tawe Retail Park is an out-of-town shopping mall on the west bank of River Tawe. This outdoor retail park includes 2 establishments – the original Parc Tawe area and a newer Parc Tawe North building. It houses a variety of name stores, such as JD Sports and Mothercare.

Due to its outdoor setting, Parc Tawe Retail Park may be difficult to visit on rainy days. Luckily, you could always count on its onsite cinema and bowling alley if you're looking to hide away from the rain.

The Independent Quarter is a sprawling shopping area in Swansea city centre. It covers Plymouth Street, Nelson Street, Oxford Street, Picton Arcade, Dilwyn Street, Singleton Street, and the Shoppers Walk.

As its name suggests, you’ll find a variety of independent boutiques selling artisanal jewellery and fashion goods. The Independent Quarter is also where you can find the iconic Rowberry Shoes, a shoemaker dating back to 1898. You can expect warm hospitality like no other, as the traders pride themselves in offering excellent customer service.

Gower Gallery is an arts and craft gallery in the heart of Mumbles village. Previously known as Mumbles Fine Art, this decade-old establishment overlooks Mumbles Bay, creating a scenic shopping experience.

From unique home décor to sculptures and handcrafted jewellery, Gower Gallery is the one place where you’ll find it all. If you’re interested in a piece of local art but are worried about finding the right frame back home, the store supplies bespoke frames on-site to complete your purchase.

Uplands is a suburban community just 1 mile west of Swansea city centre. Often listed among UK's top hip hangouts, it features a shopping experience that takes you through independent boutiques and unique gift stores.

Be sure to stop by the Uplands Market, which takes place each last Saturday of the month. It’s a great spot for sampling homemade dishes or buying one-of-a-kind trinkets. Visit the 'Do Not Go Gentle' stage, where aspiring artists and poets perform for free.

Siop Tŷ Tawe is a Welsh gift store that sits by the corner of Christina Street in Swansea. Established in 1987, it’s one of the rare stores that proudly presents Welsh culture to tourists in Swansea.

Pronounced Shop-tee-ta-we, you can find anything Welsh on display, including books, home décor, and greeting cards for every celebration. If you’re looking to practice your spoken Welsh, Siop Tŷ Tawe partners with the National Centre for Learning Welsh to supply courses across all levels.

The Gamers’ Emporium is a boardgame establishment along Swansea’s High Street. Featuring a variety of board games, comics, and modelling collectables, this is a must-visit for every board game enthusiast.

If you'd prefer to play games during your visit, the store's 2^nd level doubles as a gaming space with 6 spaced out tables for all your needs. On lucky days, you may even catch special card game tournaments happening in-store. As the Gamers' Emporium strives to be family-inclusive, it imposes a strict ban on smoking and drinking.

Cover to Cover is an independent bookstore in The Mumbles, about a 10-minute walk of Our Lady, Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church. The owners themselves in curating a variety of book selections, including contemporary fiction titles and children’s choices. The store also carries non-fiction books related to local history and music.

In a bid to support local writers, it often holds book launches and meet-and-greet sessions in store. For those looking for unique gifts to bring back home, Cover to Cover has a handpicked gift section for every occasion.