[1] The bombing necessitated the complete rebuilding of the city centre, a task which fell upon the county borough of Swansea.

Preliminary plans were drawn up in 1943, a Compulsory Purchase order was obtained in 1946 and reconstruction work began in 1947.

At the time of the initial post-war rebuilding, the River Tawe riverfront and the South Dock (now the Maritime Quarter) were still port and industrial areas, separated from the commercial district by railway viaducts and roads.

In this residential stretch, there is one wedged-shaped building on the corner with Prince of Wales Street: this is the Palace Theatre, where Anthony Hopkins staged his first professional performance.

Apart from the nightlife venues, The Kingsway has a number of banks, shops, fast food outlets and a branch of the YMCA.

Swansea's former main Post Office was on this road too but moved to WH Smith inside the Quadrant Shopping Centre about 250 yards (230 m) away.

The subway has been filled in and the roundabout replaced with a traffic light crossroad and wider pedestrian walkways.

The eastern end of the street, close to Castle Square, is pedestrianised and dominated by chain stores.

The western end features mass-market/down-market multiple stores and links to two arcades of very small independent retailers.

Wind Street was once a haunt of the poet Dylan Thomas and location of the covered alleyway 'Salubrious Passage'.

The street developed a reputation for drunkenness and bad behaviour, leading to the council introducing a curb on new pub and club licences in the city centre.

[12] In 2007 the development of the street's lower, south-eastern end was completed, as 'Salubrious Place',[citation needed] including an Aspers Casino, a Vue Cinema, a Premier Inn hotel, parking and additional eating and drinking venues.

[14] Princess Way (Welsh: Ffordd y Dywysoges) links Kingsway Circle to the north with Oystermouth Road to the south.

The southern section is fronted with pubs, restaurants and offices and has a Travelodge hotel, a Vue cinema and Aspers casino.

The square is faced to the south by Caer Street which is lined with shops in buildings with a mock Tudor facade.

It is home to a campus University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) which has several premises in the area.

Swansea College of Art's main centre is in a building that once housed the Dynevor Secondary school.

St Helens Road is the main route to the city centre from the south west of Swansea.

Walter Road is the main route from the city centre to the west, including the Uplands district.

Most of the road is lined with substantial three-storey town houses, many of which have been converted for use by small professional practices like accountants, solicitors, estate agents, civil engineers and surveyors.

Carmarthen Road is a dual carriageway stretch of the A483 which runs NW from the Dyfatty traffic junction in the city centre.

Carmarthen Road has a mix of developments including residential, retail and commercial parks and industrial units.

This is considered as the main gateway to the city centre from the east, because of the connection to the M4 and Neath Port Talbot.

In January 2007, developers Hammerson and Urban Splash were chosen for a £1 billion redevelopment of the city centre.

The plan by architects BDP,[16] includes more than 60,000 m2 (650,000 sq ft) of additional retail space; 1,000 homes; new leisure, office, hotel and conference facilities;[17] and a "European Boulevard" incorporating Oystermouth Road and Quay Parade.

In December 2008, the Council sought expressions of interest from contractors for the redevelopment of the Quadrant bus station.

A single bus rapid transit route marketed as Swansea Metro runs through the centre.