Shop Local - Boscombe

Here, a pedestrianised precinct offers shoppers a traffic free environment, where every Thursday and Saturday there's an all-day open air market, with stalls offering bargains on a wide range of products. On other days this space affords outdoor seating where you can enjoy refreshments from one of the many cafés and coffee shops, which reinforce the community spirit found in Boscombe. Also, from here you can take the land train down to Boscombe pier and beaches. Central to this precinct is the Sovereign Centre; a lively, bright and attractive retail destination in the heart of Boscombe. Here you'll find over 40 stores, and again there are many places where you can relax, such as Costa, BB's and the Garden café, and for those who like to stay on-line, free wi-fi will be available in the centre from Autumn 2012. Adjacent to the centre is the famous O2 Academy, and just along from this is the Royal Arcade, a beautiful Victorian, grade II listed building, which is home to a number of alternative shops. Moving away from this centre, towards Pokesdown you can explore an eclectic mix of businesses, including a number of quirky antique and vintage shops, fashion outlets, second-hand shops and many more.